As is the case for all other stages of the recruitment process, the purpose of an asynchronous video interview (AVI) is to screen for strong candidates. These one-way interviews consist of a set of pre-prepared questions that appear on screen. You then record your responses in a video. You may be allowed several attempts if you’re not happy with the result. Or you may not. Make sure you know whether you will get only one shot at your video before you start.
Recruiters like to think that AVIs save time and create a level playing field for all candidates. Everyone receives the same questions in the same order and format, and has the same amount of time to answer them. But not everyone feels comfortable in front of a camera.
One disadvantage for you as the interviewee is that you are basically talking to yourself. You can’t interact with the recruiters or judge their reactions to your words. Here are seven tips and techniques to help you to prepare for these nerve-racking interviews.
Start well
Check that your webcam is at eye level, then look into the camera when you speak. That way, you’ll make eye contact with the recruiters when they watch your recording. Act confidently from the start. Don’t hesitate too long over your answers, but don’t make any assumptions about what you need to do, either. Read each prompt carefully. One of the early prompts is often “Tell us about yourself”. You could focus on your current role and skills, or describe your career path. Either way, try to do it in no more than two or three sentences. It’s a good idea to have printouts of the job ad, your application, CV, covering letter and interview notes on your desk to help you give a relevant answer.
Remember the bots
In many respects, an AVI is no different from other interviews, unless AI is involved. This might scan your video for facial expressions and specific key words, and use the information to decide whether your clip is even shown to a human recruiter. So, include relevant terms in your responses and refer to specific requirements in the job description. And remember to smile for both the bots and the humans.
Sell yourself
At some point, you’ll need to talk about your top strengths and the value you’ll bring to the company. As you won’t receive any feedback while you’re speaking — no nods or encouraging smiles — you might feel you should continue talking longer in order to make a more convincing case. It’s best to resist the temptation and to limit your answers to two or three sentences. You don’t want the recruiter (or bot) to fast-forward.
Be prepared
Recruiters often use the AVI format to ask some of the trickier interview questions, such as “Can you tell us about a time you made a terrible mistake?” Just as with a normal interview, you cannot prepare for every possibility. But you can have something up your sleeve that you can adapt. Use the STAR technique to prepare stories about significant changes in your career, challenging moments and learning opportunities. This means you start your story with some background information (“Situation”), talk about what you needed to do (“Task”), explain how you successfully dealt with it (“Action”) and highlight the positive difference you made (“Result”).
Use rhetorical questions
When used well, rhetorical questions allow you to introduce ideas that encourage the recruiter to think about how you can provide the answer. They can turn the monologue almost into a dialogue. The recruiter may feel they are having a natural conversation with you, even though they’re not. And that’s a good thing.
Guide the recruiter
Think of your answers as short presentations. Use signposting language to guide the recruiter through your responses and prepare them for what you are about to say.
Finish strong
End on a positive note and confirm that you are interested in the position. Also, consider inviting some kind of action from the recruiter. At the end, remember to say “Thank you for watching”.