
The 5 Best Questions to Include in a Pre-Recorded Video Interview
“If you were a kitchen gadget, which one would you be?” Whether to assess creativity level, communication style, work ethic, or personality, all interview questions are intentional — no matter how unorthodox or random they seem to be. Video interviewing has grown exponentially over the past few years, with 79% of companies planning to continue using video as a key part of their hiring process. To help your teams capture quality candidates — and quickly — we’ve answered a few commonly asked questions about video interviews, and shared the five best questions to include in a pre-recorded video interview. A video interview, simply put, is a job interview that takes place remotely, using video technology to communicate. Many people immediately think of Zoom or Google Meet when they hear the term “video interview,” but it encompasses more than that. Video interviewing has developed to the point where employers can either schedule a one-way video assessment — where candidates record themselves answering questions from the company and submit their video responses — or a two-way video assessment, where candidates and recruiters are speaking to each other in real time using video interview software. Video has become a great way for recruiting teams to screen candidates and get to know them better before scheduling an in-person interview. It also drastically speeds up the hiring process, and with quality candidates on the market for an average of only 10 days, recruiters and hiring managers need to automate as much as possible. It’s a favorite among candidates as well: 94% report it as an enjoyable way to interview, and 83% state that they view employers that use video interviews as more innovative than their peers. Related: Lights, Camera, Action: How Video is Changing Hiring A pre-recorded video interview — also known as a one-way video interview or video assessment — is a style of video interviewing that allows candidates to answer questions on their own time. Recruiters send applicants a set of questions to answer with clear time limits and other criteria outlined in the directions, and those candidates respond through a self-recorded video. The recruiters and hiring managers then score each candidate (often on a scale of 1-5) based on a combination of predetermined criteria like communication style, leadership skills, strengths and weaknesses, and job-specific skill sets. There are key benefits to a pre-recorded video interview: Related: Fast-forward Candidate Screening with Video Assessments 1. Tell us something you didn't include on your resume. This prompt provides companies with a unique view of their candidates and allows applicants to share other skill sets or interests that, though they may not be specific to the job, could be helpful to the team or in their professional development as a future employee. 2. If you could do one thing differently from your past, what would that be? This question requires a candidate to think reflectively and critically about themselves — an important quality to have as an employee. Self-assessment is helpful for employee development, engagement, and retention as well, since employees like this are more likely to be engaged in their future career path, professional development, performance reviews, and goal setting. 3. Talk about your biggest success and failure with [job-related skill]. This question is important for three reasons: 5. Tell us anything else you think would support your application and make you a valuable team member. If there is something a candidate knows that would add value to your team, but it wasn’t asked in any of the previous questions, this is the place for them to share. Not only does video interview software increase time-to-hire, reduce recruiter bias, and optimize hiring team collaboration, it can also benefit your TA teams by: Want to dive deeper into maximizing video interviews?
“What book are you reading right now?”
“If you could have dinner with any famous figure, who would you choose?”
What is a video interview?
How does a pre-recorded video interview work?
A pre-recorded video interview also benefits the candidate, as it allows them to record their answers on their own time without having to schedule a day off at their current job or secure childcare to interview with your company.
What are the best questions or prompts TA teams should include in a pre-recorded video interview?
4. At our company, our core values are [insert values]. Which one do you identify with the most and why? This question hits on how potential candidates will fit in with your team, and the company at large. It also provides insight into what candidates find most important in the workplace.
What video interview tips should recruiters keep in mind for the future?
Why should TA teams use video interview software in their hiring process?
With a 67% increase in the use of video interviews by employers over the past year, it’s important to have a strategy that works for your TA teams and your candidates. Whether utilizing one- or two-way video assessments, ensuring your questions are clear and your scoring process is streamlined allows you to capture quality candidates before they disappear.
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Maggie is a writer at Phenom, bringing you information on all things talent experience. In addition to writing, she enjoys traveling, painting, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.
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