Video Interviews
Video interviews have been growing in popularity in recent year - especially after the Covid-19 pandemic - as it allows companies to assess candidates 1 on 1 in a less resource-draining way. Whilst video interviews are notoriously difficult due to their impersonal nature, they offer advantages over traditional interviews. On this page, we will discuss the different types of video interviews and how to ace them.
Live Video Interview
Perhaps over Zoom or Skype, live video interviews will involve a recruiter asking you questions and is similar to a more traditional interview. To make sure your video interview is a success, make sure you:
​
-
Keep answers brief: Employers are looking for graduates who can collate information and communicate it effectively.
-
Mitigate against technical issues: Make sure you are plugged into your ethernet and have practised on the software beforehand. Whilst not essential, it is also recommended that you invest in a good quality USB microphone to make your interview easy and professional to listen to.
-
Play the part: Ensure you've dressed appropriately for the interview. Also, try to ensure you are the most confident version of yourself.
-
Make eye contact: Make sure you're speaking to the camera and not the screen. Raise your laptop to eye level so you are not looking down at whoever is watching.
-
Don't be robotic: It can be boring for recruiters having to conduct interviews all day, so be yourself and show some personality - it'll help you stand out!
Pre-Recorded Interview
With platforms such as HireVue being increasingly used, video interviews without recruiters will most likely be a part of your application process. Rather than a traditional two-way discussion, these video interview platforms will involve you answering questions to your web camera. You will be shown a question and normally given anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes to prepare an answer. You will then have a set amount of time to answer the question, with your answer being recorded and sent off to recruiters.
​
Whilst many of the tips for a live interview still apply, Bright Network lists three common mistakes candidates often make in pre-recorded interviews.
​
-
Not understanding the competencies assessed
-
Lack of familiarity with the process
-
Misjudging how long you have to answer the question
​
One of the best ways to counteract against these three mistakes is through practice. We recommend using The Bright Networks practice assessment which you can access by clicking here.
Sample HireVue Questions
-
Describe a time you worked in a team and members of your team differed on the details and direction of a project. What did you do?
-
Why do you want to work for (Organisation name)?
-
What is your understanding of the Corporate Investment Bank and the analyst role?
-
Tell me about a time that you have to make a decisive decision without full information
-
Tell me about a time you showed persistence
-
Tell me a time you failed and the lessons you learnt from it
-
Tell me about a time you acted with integrity
-
Talk about a recent story you read in the news and how it affects (Organisation name)
-
What is something you are passionate about?
Final tips...
Try to act natural and be in a good headspace when you're doing your interview as should increase your likeability as a candidate. Moreover, always try to give structured responses. One really easy way of doing this is by using the STAR method:
S - Situation
T - Task
A - Action
R - Result
The star method is incredibly effective as it ensures you communicate in a concise and clear way. With video interviews, it can be worth pre-planning and writing down different STAR responses that you can use to answer different questions. Finally, make sure you know specific statistics or news which relates to the organisation. Link this to why you want to work for the organisation rather than discussing childhood dreams or other anecdotes.
​
​
Typical HireVue Questions Document