Video interviewing, a concept that once seemed unusual and even challenging due to limited connectivity around the world, has now become a central part of the recruitment process. Beginning around the turn of the 20th century, this method of video interviewing took hold when companies started exploring innovative ways to streamline their hiring process and save time and resources. The advent of low-orbit satellite internet technology and increasing WIFI connectivity were instrumental in bringing this idea to fruition.

The next major factor to drive the rapid adoption of video interviewing was the global transition towards digitalization. This trend was further accelerated by the advent of AI interview software, which offered capabilities such as tonal and facial expression analysis, providing companies insights into skills and personality traits that make candidates a good fit for a role. When coupled with the cost-effectiveness and convenience of video interviewing software, this new form of interview became the standard practice of today's fast-paced, high-growth companies.

Today, the video interviewing industry is evolving at a rapid pace, with the advent of smarter tools equipped with AI and machine learning technologies. These new solutions have reshaped the hiring process into a data-driven, equitable process, where candidates are evaluated based on their skills and competencies instead of the interviewer's "gut reaction." They also include interviewer coaching tools that offer video interview tips and training to help hiring managers conduct effective and efficient interviews.

No matter how skilled an interviewer becomes, there's always room for improvement in the hiring process. With video interviews, companies can review and analyze their past hiring decisions to identify areas of improvement. This data-driven approach has made the interview process more objective and transparent than ever before. As a result, companies are not only able to make better hires, but they're also building diverse and inclusive teams.

Tips for a Successful Video Interview:

Interviewing used to be more art than science. With the "best and brightest" filtering to the top of interview processes that relied upon who a candidate knew as much as their skills.

However, with the rise of video interviewing and AI technology, the interview process has become more standardized and data-driven. To ensure a successful video interview, here are some tips to keep in mind:

- Test your equipment beforehand: We've all had technical difficulties in a meeting, and they're frustrating. Make sure your camera, microphone, and internet connection are working properly before the interview.

- Choose an appropriate location: This is a key factor in staying focused and undistracted during the interview. Find a quiet space with good lighting and a neutral background to conduct the interview.

- Dress professionally: I know you've seen the hilarious memes of people who were caught off-guard on camera in their underwear... don't let this be you. Treat a video interview as you would an in-person interview and dress appropriately.

- Pay attention to non-verbal cues: This is very important. People hate things like being repeatedly interrupted and long, drawn-out explanations. Brevity is key in an interview - both for the interviewer and the candidate.

- Practice makes perfect: If you're uncomfortable with video interviewing, practice with a team member, manager, or colleague beforehand to get more comfortable. This way you're prepared.

- Be prepared: Have interview questions, a script, and a scorecard ready for the interview. Get familiar with the job expectations, timelines, and requirements beforehand so you can ask relevant questions.

Most of all, be yourself. You'll make candidates feel comfortable when you're laid-back, chill, and can clearly communicate the expectations of the role. Interview intelligence backed by interview question libraries and interviewer coaching tools can make a huge difference in your vital hiring metrics. Using platforms like Pillar can drive meaningful change in your hiring practices.

Video Interviewing Platforms

For those of you who've used traditional methods of interviewing or are new to the conversation of using online tools for hiring, you may be wondering what video interviewing is. Video interviewing is a modern method of conducting job interviews where the interviewer and candidate communicate remotely. This is typically facilitated via video interviewing platforms or video conferencing software like Zoom or Skype. The interview can be live, with both parties interacting in real-time, or pre-recorded, where candidates answer predetermined questions at their convenience. Video interviewing offers many benefits including (but not limited to) allowing companies to widen their talent pool, reduce hiring costs, and expedite the recruitment process. Tools like these have become especially relevant in the era of remote work.

Video interviews are often backed by assessment and analytical software called interview intelligence. Interview intelligence is an advanced technology that can provide additional insights into candidate skills, personality traits, and compatibility with the company culture. This allows companies to make more informed hiring decisions and build better teams.

One popular interview intelligence platform is Pillar. Pillar's interview intelligence software offers a host of unique benefits including candidate scoring, interview recording, transcription, and indexing so relevant parts can be shared with other members of your team who may either be decision makers, team members, or panelists in following interviews. Pillar sits in the background of your interviews using the power of AI to assess candidates' tonal changes, micro-expressions, and word choices to provide an understanding of how well they'd fit into the company culture. With these tools, recruiters can save time and resources while making more accurate hiring decisions.

Pillar also includes a library of video interview questions and answers that can be added to your interviews with just a few clicks. These interview questions act as prompts in the interview creating an equal playing field for candidates and keeping the interviewer on track. This also sets a baseline for a semi-structured - structured interview environment. The pre-written questions also ensure consistency across interviews, allowing for more objective evaluations of candidates.

In addition to providing tools for conducting video interviews, Pillar also offers interviewer training and coaching resources. These resources include video interview tips and strategies based on industry best practices. With the help of these resources, hiring managers can improve their interviewing skills and techniques to make better hires.

But enough about our platform, let's shift focus to the interviewing process.

Video Interviewing Process

Many people got used to being on Zoom meetings all day during COVID-19, but recorded video interviews are just starting to reach mass adoption.

What is a recorded video interview?

A pre-recorded video interview is a type of job interview where the candidate records their answers to predetermined questions at their convenience. These interviews can be used as an initial screening tool for candidates, allowing companies to narrow down their pool of applicants before conducting live interviews.

The process typically involves the company sending out a link or access code to the candidate, who then records themselves answering the questions within a certain category or subject. This is one step of the interview process. The video interviewing process normally follows a 5- 7 step process:

- Screening or pre-recorded interview

- Hiring Manager Interview

- Peer Interview

- Panel or Team Interview

- Assessments

- Referral Check

- Final Interview

- Offer

Over the last couple of years, as video interviews have gained traction, pre-recorded interviews have become someone many companies have tested to save time for HR, hiring managers, and recruiters. Pre-recorded interviews also offer a unique benefit to the candidate in that they're not tied to the hiring manager's schedule. If they're in another part of the world they can complete a pre-recorded video interview anytime they'd like within the confines of their deadline.

But great pre-recorded video interviews are a bit of an art. Many people aren't used to being in front of the camera and have difficulty talking about themselves, and showcasing their skills.

Pre-recorded Video Interview Tips:

To get the most out of your video interviews, be sure to have a list of pre-recorded video interview questions and answers to send to the candidate. Give them clear instructions on video time, and expectations of what to include in the video, and tell them what you're looking for, so that they can showcase the best of their skills in the interview. Some great video interview questions and answers to consider are:

1. If you could invent a new product or service to streamline your job, what would it be and why?

2. Describe a situation where you had to think outside the box to solve a problem.

3. If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

4. If our company was a superhero, what would our superpowers be and who would we most help?

5. Tell me about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most creative in your career.

6. If you were to write a book about your professional life, what would the title be and why?

7. Can you describe an instance where an innovative approach significantly improved the way you or your team worked?

8. How would you handle a situation where you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, but there was no conceivable way to finish them all?

9. How would you sell an unwearable product like a refrigerator to an Eskimo?

10. If you had unlimited resources, how would you change the industry that our company operates in?

Remember, the goal of these questions is not just to get a 'right' answer but to understand how the candidate thinks- assessing their creativity and their ability to handle unconventional scenarios.

Video Interview App

Many of the interview intelligence platforms today offer a video interview app that piggybacks on your video interview platforms assessing your candidates while you interview them. Our solution is one of the best interview platforms on the market, but it's one of several.

Best Video Interviewing Platform:

When choosing the right video interviewing platform to fit your needs, here are some things to consider:

- What is the price of the platform? Is it a one-time fee or subscription-based? and- does this pricing structure fit your budget?

- Does it have AI capabilities to analyze tonal changes, micro-expressions, and word choices?

- How user-friendly is the platform for both recruiters and candidates?

- Does it offer features such as a library of questions, interviewer training resources, and candidate evaluations?

- Are there any limitations on the number of interviews, storage space, or users on the platform?

- Is it compatible with popular video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams?

- Does it integrate with your current HR software and applicant tracking system?

Before making a decision, be sure to do thorough research and even request a demo of the platform to see if it meets your needs. Remember that investing in a video interview platform is one of the best ways to ensure that you're making great hiring decisions - so choose wisely.

If you'd like to see how Pillar's Interview intelligence can help you achieve metrics like increasing diversity hiring by 59% while lowering turnover by 50%, book your demo to chat with someone from our team today. Happy Hiring!