How to pass a pre-recorded video interview?
Have you been asked to do a pre-recorded video interview and need some interview tips? Read on to find out what this type of interview is and how to build your interview skills
Pre-recorded job interviews are being used more and more by recruitment agencies and organisations as part of their recruitment process. Previously, it was mainly graduate recruitment processes that included pre-recorded job interviews. More recently, my clients report they are being requested to take these types of interviews for more senior roles, either by recruitment agencies, or by the organisation themselves.
In this article, we shall answer the questions:
What is a pre-recorded interview?
Why are pre-recorded interviews used?
How do I prepare for a pre-recorded job interview?
What are the sort of questions normally asked in a pre-recorded job interview?
How do I pass a pre-recorded job interview?
What is a pre-recorded interview?
In a nutshell, a pre-recorded job interview is when a candidate for a job takes an online interview that is filmed. The recruited watches the recording afterwards and assesses whether you will proceed to the next stage.
In more detail, the process from the recruiters’ side will be to advertise the job and shortlist candidates to record an interview. The recruiter will set up the pre-recorded interviews on a platform that is available on a desktop or via mobile. The recruiter will send out invitations to candidates to log in to the platform.
If you are the candidate, you will log into the platform. There are often microphone and camera tests and perhaps practise questions to complete before the interview. You are alone in front of the camera and several pre-recorded questions will be asked. These questions can be written or have a videoed person asking the questions. There is no actual interaction with a recruiter. After you complete the interview, you will submit it and the recruiter will receive the video.
Using specific recruitment software, such as Vid Cruiter or Shineinterview, is one way pre-recorded interviews can be done. Alternatively, a recruiter may ask you to record a presentation or answer questions yourself and then email your video to them. These videos can be recorded on your mobile phone or on platforms such as Zoom. The advantage of these types of interviews is that you can re-record the interview until you are happy with it. Interviews run on specific interview software, often allow one attempt at the answers.
Once the recruiter has assessed all the client’s videos, you should be told whether you have been successful to progress to the next stage.
Why are pre-recorded interviews used?
Recruiters use pre-recorded interviews for a variety of reasons:
Pre-recorded interviews are often used to pre-screen candidates and reduce the number of candidates to take to the next stage. Interviewing is an expensive and time-consuming process, so it is obviously helpful to have motivated and appropriately qualified candidates being interviewed. This is especially the case if it involves many people in the recruitment decision-making process.
If there is a preselection interview process, you go through the process faster as there will be fewer candidates to arrange to interview face-to-face. The faster the recruitment process, the better. You can get other job offers or lose interest if a recruitment process takes a long time.
Pre-recorded interviews can be useful to find out about specific skills required for the job. For example, a question could be about technical skills that are vital to have knowledge of in order to be successful in the role. These interviews can also assess proficiency in languages. And, of course, they can assess how people communicate and come across on screen if that is a job requirement.
These types of interviews can also assess motivation for the job. Having to do a pre-recorded interview involves effort. Many people dislike seeing themselves on screen, so it is a good way of testing motivation for the job. If you have done the pre-recorded interview, you are already showing that you are motivated and interested in the role.
Recorded interviews are also helpful for candidates. For example, you do not have to take time out from your work as you can choose when and where you do the interview, as long as you complete it within the recruiter’s timescale. The interviews take less time as there is no travel or conversation with an interviewer.
Pre-recorded interviews are also a chance to show enthusiasm for a job. So you may not have a great CV but you can show enthusiasm and explain how you match the role in your videoed interview.
How do I prepare for a pre-recorded job interview?
Tips to prepare for a pre-recorded video interviews:
1. Treat it as a normal interview and remember to prepare beforehand. This includes understanding the job description and what the job involves. It includes having knowledge of the organisation and, of course, knowledge of yourself and your skills and abilities and how they match to the role.
For other resources on this see: Top Tips for Video Interviews
2. Practice in front of a screen, such as recording on Zoom or Teams. You will be used to seeing yourself on screen and be able to act more naturally when the video starts.
3. Dress professionally for the interview. Treat it as a face-to-face interview.
4. Ensure that you are in the right “state” before the interview. This means feeling calm and confident and controlling your interview nerves. For more resources on this, see: Do you get interview nerves?
5. Look at the camera when you speak. This means you look more confident than if you are looking down or to the side.
6. Ensure that you are audible. It is acceptable to use a microphone and headphones if this improves the sound quality. Remember to speak clearly and slowly to be heard.
7. As with online interviews, ensure there are no distractions or background noises. Makes sure your background is not too “busy” and distracting.
8. Try to sit upright in the chair and sit still. Moving your body about can be distracting.
What are the sort of questions normally asked in a pre-recorded job interview?
As a pre-screening interview, recruiters are likely to want to know if you have the essential skills and knowledge required for the job. They will also be interested in your motivation to get the job.
Questions can be open-ended, such as “Tell me about yourself,” “Why do you want to work for this company?” or “Why are you interested in this position?”. Or they could be competency questions, such as “Give me an example of a time when you had to plan a project?” or “Tell me about a time when you found it difficult to work in a team?” Or they could be about specific knowledge required for the role, such as “Describe how a 3 phase induction motor works!”
Prepare for a pre-recorded job interview as you would a face-to-face interview and ensure you have practised questions you might be asked. For more ideas on the most used interview questions and how to answer competency-based interviews, have a look at previous blogs here: Top 30 Interview Questions , Competency based interviews
How do I pass a pre-recorded job interview?
The main tip to passing a pre-recorded job interview is to be prepared! Follow the guidelines above and practice your interview skills in front of a friend or a mirror.
Get professional help as having feedback from someone who knows about what is involved in professional interviewing can be a game-changer. Find a qualified career coach or interview coach who will be able to give you pointers and tips for interview success!
I am Diana Dawson, Founder of Working Career. As a Professional Career Coach and expert Interview Coach. I have years of experience in recruitment and interviewing, including working as a recruitment consultant, an internal recruiter and behavioural interviewer, and an external assessor for various organisations.
Working with me will equip you to prepare effectively for both unstructured interviews and structured interviews, such as behavioural interviewing. You will be able to approach every job interview with confidence and demonstrate your interview skills and your experience in the best possible light. If interview nerves are an issue for you, I am also a cognitive-behavioural hypnotherapist and can help you combat those nerves.
I am an Accredited Master Coach with the Association for Coaching, a Coaching Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist with nearly 20 years of experience in the field. I work with professional people from different sectors and backgrounds to cope and flourish at work. I also run Career Workshops and Wellbeing Workshops for organisations.
I can provide one-to-one career coaching in Edinburgh or zoom sessions worldwide. I can provide Career Workshops at your organisation or remotely. Find out more about me here. I work with organisations and individuals to help manage their careers.