If you have not interviewed for a long time (or have been living under a rock), you may not be aware that Video Interviewing is in full swing for a lot of companies in their recruitment processes.
If you get anxious or dread a normal face to face interview – you may be squirming at the thought of recording yourself for a video interview. Hear me out, because I think this is positive step in the right direction to improve our (dated) recruitment processes a lot of companies are operating in 2019.
Let me explain further.
Firstly, video interviewing is typically introduced to the recruitment process as an additional step, which may sound like even more of an effort for job seekers (on top of what they already go through to get a job). However, having this extra step actually provides you with an increased chance of getting the job, where you may have previously been overlooked.
The Typical Recruitment Process:
A typical recruitment process, normally goes something like this:
- Step 1 – Submit application for job of interest (i.e. résumé, cover letter, application form, selection criteria, LinkedIn Profile)
- Step 2 – Your application is either screened in or out of the process, deeming you either successful or unsuccessful.
- Step 3 – If successful from step 2, you will receive a phone call that may be another screening stage (often unknown to job seekers). This phone call is often an exercise to shortlist further. For example, the phone calls can help to narrow the list of 10 candidates down to 3 to meet for an interview.
- Step 4 – Face to face interviews – most suitable candidate is selected
- Step 5 – Reference checks conducted
- Step 6 – Job Offer & Salary Negotiation
- Step 8 – Start your new job
Where the Video Interview comes into play?
The Video Interview will typically be introduced into the process between Step 2 & 3 or can completely replace step 3 (the phone screen).
Adding the Video Interview to the process allows the Hirer (recruiter and/or manager) to view more applicants than time would permit in an interview. In a standard recruitment process of one vacancy the interview panel will only meet with 3 or 4 candidates for interview. They will meet a larger pool if they are recruiting for multiple roles.
Video interviews increase the Hirer’s capacity to see, hear and a get a feel for more candidates than they would have met for a face to face interview. For example, the 10-15 applicants the recruiter was going to phone screen, can be the 10-15 invited to do a video interview. This gives you, the candidate more time to prepare and put your best foot forward. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to get in front of the Recruiter AND the Hiring Manager (whereas the phone screen normally only gives you the chance to speak to the recruiter not the manager of the vacant position.)
This is why I love video interviews.
Whilst I am a professional résumé writer, I am also well aware there is only so much you can get from a piece of paper. When our team take on a new client to overhaul their résumé, we like to do a phone consultation, this consultation allows us to get a greater insight into who our client is.
Think of it this way; you are able to package yourself up into a short video rather than relying a piece of paper to get you in front of the potential employer.
3 Tips To Prepare For Your Video Interview:
- Prepare for it like you would an interview.
- Practice typical interview questions
- Work out why you want the role and what motivates you
- Dress like you would for an interview
- Look at the camera, not at yourself.
- When recording look at the camera, this will make the viewer feel like you are look right at them and talking directly to them. Which is more engaging.
- Remember to smile and bring a positive energy to the video
- Practice and re-record if needed.
- You will have the opportunity to record your answer and upload within a timeframe (normally 10mins), so there is room to practice and choose your best recording.
The use of technology is a positive step forward for the recruitment industry, it also shows the employers using new technology are committed to improving their recruitment process to source the best talent for the job.
I am excited to see more changes and improvements to the recruitment field – such as video Cover Letters, I believe this is a perfect complement to a traditional résumé.
Ps. Keen to trial a video Cover Letter? Let me know I will be happy to assist to create this.
