Video interviews have caught on like wildfire since the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing in popularity for their convenience and easy accessibility, they are now an integral part of the recruitment process. There are two primary types of video interviews used today -  Live, (also known as in-person video interviews), and pre-recorded video interviews.  Live video interviews require the interviewer and the candidate to meet, whereas pre-recorded video interviews allow the candidate to record their answers in advance. In either case, as an interviewer, it's essential that you're prepared to give the candidate the best interview experience possible.

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How to prepare for a video interview, as the interviewer:

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1. Do your research: Before you can prepare for a video interview, it's essential that you're well-versed in the job requirements and expectations of the role. That way, when the candidate arrives, you'll have plenty of insightful questions prepared to drill down into their experience.

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2. Review video interview examples from previous successful candidates: It's always a good idea to review some successful video interviews from candidates you've already hired, so you can get an idea of how they presented themselves and the quality of their answers.

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3. Check your technology: You don't want technical difficulties getting in the way during the interview, so make sure to test your equipment ahead of time. This includes your wifi connection strength, headphones, and any software you'll be using during the interview.

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4. Give clear instructions: Make sure you provide the candidate with clear instructions about how to join the video call, as well as any other information they may need to know.

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5. Have a backup plan: Just in case something goes wrong with your internet connection or there's an issue with your equipment, it's always useful to have a backup plan. That way, you can continue the interview without any major disruptions. One of the simplest ways this can be done is by verifying a candidate's best contact phone number before you get into the meat of the interview.

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Video interviews are a great way to facilitate a more meaningful conversation with potential candidates. The vast majority of recorded video interview tips are about how to make the candidate feel comfortable and at ease. One way to do this is by using a video interview platform that includes interview intelligence software. Platforms like Pillar allow you to use AI (artificial intelligence) powered tools to detect and analyze nonverbal cues, as well as track and measure candidate responses so you can focus on the candidate experiences and let the software handle the rest.

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Pre-recorded Video Interview Tips

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One of the biggest mistakes made by interviewers in pre-recorded interviews is not giving clear instructions to the candidate. While the candidate may be familiar with how to record a video, they may not know what information you expect from them. To make sure your interviews are successful, here are some pre-recorded video interview tips to keep in mind:

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1. Provide clear guidelines: Make sure to provide the candidate with detailed instructions on what and how they should present themselves and their answers.

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2. Give the candidate enough time to prepare: You don't want the candidate to feel like they're being rushed, so make sure you let them know to plan time to prepare their responses before recording begins.

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3. Set a deadline for submission: Make it clear when the video must be submitted by in order for the candidate to be considered for the role.

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4. Reiterate the importance of honest answers: Remind your candidates you're interested in their honest perspectives and that it's ok if they need time to think about a question before answering.

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5. Provide specific questions: Provide the candidate with specific questions ahead of time so they can adequately prepare.

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6. Give feedback: Let the candidate know you'll be providing them with feedback after their video is submitted so they have a better idea of how to hone their skills and improve in the future.

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In order to create a fair and equitable candidate experience, use the same semi-structured pre-recorded interview questions and answers for each candidate. This will ensure that each candidate has the same opportunity to showcase their skills and experiences in a consistent manner.

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By following these pre-recorded video interview tips, you can ensure your candidates have an engaging and informative experience while providing yourself with quality insight into potential hires. With the right preparation, you set both yourself and your candidate up for success. If you do this right, pre-recorded video interview software helps you make sure every candidate has the same opportunity to succeed.

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Video Interview Questions and Answers

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As an interview intelligence platform that's helped our clients lower employee turnover by 50% in the last 12 months, one of the questions we're constantly asked is, "what questions should I ask in the interview to get the best results?" This is tough to answer, as there are many variables to consider.

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Let's say that hypothetically, you're hiring a new Account Executive. What questions would you need to ask to ensure that they'd be successful in the role? Here are some baseline video interview questions and answers to consider:

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1. Tell me about your experience generating prospects through cold-outbound?

This question will help you understand how the candidate has handled outreach in the past, and if they have any proven techniques to apply to your team.

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2. What did your previous sales cycle look like?

This question will give you an insight into how the candidate perceives success, and how they measure their own performance.

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3. How do you approach the customer journey?

This can help you understand how they handle customer service, and if they have any strategies to create a positive experience for your current customers.

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4. What strategies do you use to close deals?

This question will help you gauge how the candidate approaches closing deals, and if they're comfortable with negotiating terms.

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3. How do you manage objections from prospects?

This question will help you understand how the candidate has handled objections in the past and if they have any techniques to effectively handle them.

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These are all great questions to add to your "how to prepare for a video interview" file and can be shared with the candidate prior to the interview. Additionally, you can use this list of questions as a starting point and tailor them to fit your company's needs.

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If you'd like more questions tailored to sales roles, check out our free eBook, "How to Hire the Best Sales People."

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Remember, each candidate is unique and has their own experiences and knowledge to offer. Don't be afraid to actively listen for queues to ask follow-up questions during the video interview. That way, you have a complete picture of the candidate's abilities.

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Pre Recorded Video Interview Questions

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There are several pre-recorded video interview software options available. If you’re considering solutions right now, look for one that eliminates interviewer bias and allows you to focus on the competencies that are most important for success in the role.

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To get the most out of your pre-recorded video interview questions, it’s important to craft questions that focus on the key skills and competencies you’re looking for in a candidate. Here are some sample video interview questions and answers to consider:

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1. What challenges have you faced in your last role and how did you solve them?

This question will allow you to understand how the candidate approaches and solves problems as well as their level of resourcefulness.

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2. Describe how you’ve collaborated with other departments in the past to reach an objective?

This can provide insight into the candidate’s ability to communicate and collaborate with other teams.

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3. What techniques have you used to stay organized in a remote environment, especially when working on multiple projects?

This can help you gauge how well the candidate will be able to prioritize tasks and manage their own workflow.

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4. Describe a time in which you effectively dealt with a difficult customer?

This question will help you understand the candidate’s communication and problem-solving skills in customer service situations.

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5. Describe your experience with developing and implementing efficient processes?

This question can reveal how experienced the candidate is with project management and process improvement.

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If you're a Pillar customer, questions like these are already built into your instance and can be accessed in your dashboard to be used as prompts during the interview. That way you can focus all of your attention on the candidate.

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Pre-Recorded Video Interview Examples

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If you've gotten this far and are still asking, "what is a pre-recorded video interview?... think of it like a TikTok dance but for candidates. While this is a funny visual, it's actually an apt analogy. Candidates are following a pre-selected process for their video interview and respond to questions that the hiring manager has selected for them.

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Pre-recorded video interview introductions should be short and sweet. You want to include enough information to give the candidate a good sense of why they're applying for the role, but not too much that it becomes overwhelming. Here are a few pre-recorded video interview examples: 

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1. Welcome! We’re excited you’ve applied for this role and look forward to learning more about you.

2. Thank you for taking the time to apply and complete this pre-recorded video interview. We’re eager to learn about your experience and qualifications for the position.

3. Hi, we’re excited to get a chance to learn more about you and why you believe you'd be a great fit for this role.

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Once the introduction is done, you can dive right into the interview questions. Here are some sample video interview questions and answers: 

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1. Tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult customer. How did you handle the conflict?

The answer to this question should provide insight into the candidate's communication and problem-solving skills in customer service situations.

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2. Describe your experience using project management software. Are you familiar with tools like Monday, Trello, or Asana?

The candidate's answer should give you an indication of their proficiency with project management applications.

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3. How do you handle coaching and criticism?

This question can provide insight into the candidate's ability to receive and respond to feedback.

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4. Describe a project you led that was complex but ultimately unsuccessful. What made it unsuccessful and how did you respond to the perceived failure?

This question will give you an indication of the candidate's ability to reflect and learn from their mistakes.

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These are just a few pre-recorded video interview practices, but there are countless other questions that could be asked depending on the specific position. If you're hiring Software Engineers, we have a list of video interview questions and answers in PDF form, you can access it here.

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Pillar's mission is to help you make better hires - to see how we can help you integrate an efficient and effective interview process that's powered by AI, schedule a demo, and chat with someone on our team. We'd love to help you make better hires.