Video interviews are a way for employers to assess job candidates on their qualifications, soft skills, and more during the hiring process.

Video interviews are usually implemented as a preliminary interview meaning that the final hiring decision isn't made until later in the process.

There are two main types of video interviews: one-way and live video interviews.

What is a One-Way Video Interview?

A one-way video interview is an asynchronous video interview in which job candidates record video responses to interview questions on their own time.

One-way video interviews are also referred to as pre-recorded video interviews or on-demand video interviews because they don’t require the interviewer to be present.

One-way video interviews give companies a consistent interview experience which puts all candidates on a level playing field.

When setting up a one-way video interview, the interviewer has the ability to customize specific parameters such as:

• Think Time: the amount of time a candidate can think about their answer before the recording starts.
• Take Limit: the number of attempts a candidate has to answer a question.
• Answer Length: the maximum duration of a video answer to an individual question.

You’ll also have access to functionality that allows you to personalize the one-way video interview such as:

• Intro Videos: a video that plays before a candidate starts their one-way video interview
• Outro Videos: a video that plays when a candidate finishes their one-way video interview

Once job candidates submit their one-way video interview, the recruiters and hiring managers at the company can watch the interview at their earliest convenience. Need to collaborate on a hire? Video interviewing makes it easy, by allowing you to share one-way video interviews with all hiring stakeholders. With video interviewing, the hiring process can work around your schedule – not the other way around.

How One-Way Video Interviews Work

Before you start using one-way video interviews, you’ll be able to brand your candidate experience with your logo, colors, pictures, videos, and more. Next, one-way video interviews typically work as follows:

Determine the interview experience that your candidates will go through

• Come up with the questions that your candidates will answer. These questions can be text-only or accompanied by a video of you or a team member asking the question on video.
• Configure the interview parameters such as think time, take limits, and answer length.

Invite your candidates to complete the interview

• There are a couple of ways for you to invite your candidates to complete a one-way video interview:
• Send a customized email invitation one at a time or in bulk by entering the names and emails of your candidates or uploading a CSV file.
• Copy and paste an interview link in your communication with candidates

Candidates submit video responses to your interview questions

• Once candidates receive your invitation for a one-way video interview, they’ll be guided through the process with step-by-step instructions.
• Candidates can complete the interview using a computer with a webcam or on an iOS/Android mobile device.

Watch, evaluate, and share the completed one-way video interview

• You’ll get an email notification when the interview is completed with a direct link to watch it.
• You can review the completed one-way video interview anywhere, anytime, and from any device.
• Evaluate the interview by rating and commenting on it and collaborate with other hiring stakeholders by sharing it with them.

The end result: you’ll make better decisions about which candidates make your shortlist in a fraction of the time.

What is a Live Video Interview?

A live interview is a real-time interview in which an interviewer connects with a candidate face-to-face via a webcam. These interviews work just like their three-dimensional counterparts – minus travel costs and all the time it takes to schedule a traditional face-to-face.

Miss the interview but still want to weigh in? Live video interviews are recorded so they can be played back at any time. Its video interview collaboration made easy and convenient.

Typically, organizations use live video interviews as the step just before or as a replacement for the in-person interview for non-local candidates.

A dedicated live video interviewing solution differs from video chat (e.g. Skype, Facetime, Google Hangouts) and video conferencing (e.g. Zoom. GoToMeeting, WebEx) in a variety of ways. For instance, live video interviews are:

• Branded for a positive and professional candidate experience
• Recorded for improved collaboration and future referencing
• Accessed through a web browser (no downloading or adding people to contact lists)
• Surrounded by additional features which are specific to the interviewing process

In addition, you’ll have access to a dedicated account manager and a 24x7 technical support team for you and your candidates. Spark Hire even offers live video interview concierge services in which we’ll connect with you or one of your candidates for a test interview.

How Live Video Interviews Work

Live video interviews provide a custom, private, virtual room to conduct an in-depth interview. This type of interview allows organizations to connect with their candidates face-to-face before paying to bring them into the office.

Select a date and time to meet with your candidate

• After coordinating with your candidate on a mutually agreeable time, you’d create the live video interview for the scheduled time.
• Alternatively, you can automate interview scheduling with our interview scheduling tool.

Invite your candidates to the interview

• Enter the name and email of your candidates to invite them to a live video interview.
• The candidate will be taken to an invitation that’s branded based on your organization’s settings.

Conduct the live video interview with your candidate

• When the time comes for your live video interview, you’ll enter via a web browser.

Watch, evaluate, and share the completed live video interview

• After the live video interview is over, the recording will be processed so you can access it at any time.
• Similar to the one-way video interview, you’ll be able to rate the interview and submit comments for others to respond to.
• Easily share the live video interview with other hiring stakeholders in a couple of clicks.