How Does One-Way Video Interview Work as a Pre-Screening Tool?

Pre-screening has always been a part of the recruitment process. But slowly, it is changing from pre-screening through phone calls to one-way video interviews provided by Interview-as-a-Service platforms. Most companies have started opting for it because it doesn’t require extra human resources and can be automated. It is likely to become a part of the hiring process of more and more organisations as technology keeps advancing and people keep looking for ways to ease the process.

What is a One-Way Video Interview?

Also called an asynchronous interview, a one-way video interview is a pre-screening tool used by employers to ease their jobs and filter through resumes to find the relevant ones. It is a pre-recorded video interview uploaded by the candidates, where they typically answer pre-set questions from the employers. Unlike typical interviews where there is an interviewer at the other end of your screen, in one-way interviews there is no audience.

How do One-Way Video Interviews Help in Recruiting?

In recent times, we have seen that most tech companies have started adopting a platform that provides technical screening or online interview services. Most of those platforms give the option of one-way video interviews because it makes the process easier and simpler while also cutting out the extra time required to pre-screen candidates. Companies opt for this service because it gives a set of unique advantages in comparison to two-way real-time interviews.

Scheduling: Instead of going through one candidate at a time, recruiters can screen as many candidates as they want together with the help of this tool. They can save a lot of their time with it and go through the videos at leisure after wrapping up their other important work. This tool also helps the candidates get comfortable with the interview as they are not answering to another person but pre-set questions. They can settle down and take their time with the interview.

Extended Talent Pool: Because one-way interviews are pre-recorded and uploaded by the candidates, they can choose the most convenient time slots for the interview. This gives the recruiters access to the talents that might be restricted due to geographical locations. This ensures that with the help of these interview services, you get a chance to hire the best fit without obstacles.

Improved Candidate Assessment: With the help of this pre-screening tool, recruiters can access them whenever they have the time. As they can go back and forth with the videos, they will have the option of going through each question in peace and making an informed decision as to which candidates they want to take ahead. The candidates get to give an introduction about themselves without rushing. They get to take their time and answer each question with a calm mind.

Unbiased Evaluation: Using a pre-screening tool or using an interview outsourcing company to do so helps in keeping the hiring process bias-free. As the tool is automated and has pre-set questions that are similar for all candidates, there is no space for any conscious or unconscious bias by any recruiter. Every candidate gets a fair shot at clearing the pre-screening and moving ahead in the process.

Flexibility: Instead of being a time-bound process, with one-way video interviews, pre-screening becomes a more relaxed process for both the recruiters and the candidates. For candidates, it allows them to record the interview at any time, from wherever they want without any restrictions. For recruiters, on the other hand, they do not need to invest time in scheduling and then interviewing with both parties present. Instead, they can evaluate the interviews on their own time.

Undivided Focus: Because this tool gives the liberty to both parties to sit for the interview and evaluate it whenever they deem fit, it allows them to complete all their other urgent tasks and then sit for the interview with a completely focused mind. It makes them better prepared for the interview as they can take their time and answer the questions patiently.

Skills Assessment: Skill assessment in an early stage of the process is extremely important as it helps in advancing the right fit into the next round. The interviewing platforms that provide this pre-screening tool have options of coding tests and architecture questions, etc which help you assess the candidate’s technological skills quite early on. This way, only the ones who can pass the tests have the required skills for the job.

How to Ace a One-Way Video Interview?

To ace your one-way video interview, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Maintain Eye Contact: Even though there is nobody at the other end of the interview, the candidate needs to maintain eye contact by looking directly into the camera instead of looking at their image. It will feel weird at first and will take some time to get used to, but it will give the impression of looking directly at the interviewer when the interview is assessed.

Maintain Proper Body Language: If the candidates are nervous or flustered, it is easily detectable through these interviews. So, they should try to fix their posture, sit up straight, not let nervousness show on their faces, and present a body language that comes across as friendly and accessible. This will help the interviewers get an idea about the candidates’ personalities.

Dress Properly: Even though it is a pre-recorded interview, candidates need to leave a good first impression. So, they need to dress professionally and fit the part they are interviewing for. If they look shabby, interviewers might dismiss them as disinterested or not fitting into the work culture of the company. Dressing the part helps them leave an extra impression and ensures that they are professionals.

Have a Tidy Background: Candidates should make sure to double-check their background before they hit record. They must ensure that the interview doesn’t have a cluttered or messy background as it might leave an impression that the candidate is not professional. Making sure that they take the interview in a place with enough light and exposure will also improve the quality of the recording and might leave a better impression on the recruiters.