One-Way Interview Videos: The Right Approach for Your Hiring Process?

Some employers are finding efficiencies in holding first-round screening interviews with the use of one-way videos. A one-way interview, or asynchronous interview, requires candidates to answer up to five questions via video. Employers can require this step for all applicants or for only a group of pre-screened candidates. Recruiters typically set time limits for the video responses and vary those response times for each question. Frequently, employers use specialized technology platforms to support this process.

Once these videos have been submitted and made available for viewing, committee members watch them, rank the applicants and create the list of candidates for in-person interviews. If you are considering using this approach in your hiring process, below are a few essential points to help inform your decision:

PROS

Hiring Teams

• Saving time scheduling interviews

• Consolidating the hiring timeline

• Limiting travel expenses to bring only top-tier candidates to campus

• Ensuring that the initial interview questions are asked in a consistent manner

• Comparing answers side-by-side

Applicants

• Having time to develop meaningful responses

• Feeling confident that they are being asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond

• Saving themselves time and money getting to and from the interview location

• Creating the videos when it best fits their schedule and when they are at their best

• Not having to miss work to complete this initial round

CONS

Hiring Teams

• Not building connections with the applicants

• Not being able to ask follow-up or clarifying questions

• Not allowing the location/backdrop of the video to influence their selection

Applicants

• Feeling that it is an impersonal experience

• Not being able to ask questions about the institution

• Feeling undue pressure to create "perfect" videos

When utilizing this approach, there is much to consider. Be sure to review the legal and technical requirements your institution needs to implement to remain lawful and accessible, especially if you hire from abroad. With a quick search online, there are many online resources and platform providers in this sector to learn more about the use of one-way videos.

If you have additional thoughts about using one-way videos in the hiring process, email us at recruit@insidehighered. We would love to hear what you think about this topic. Additionally, Inside Higher Ed published an advice article this summer about how applicants can prepare for one-way video interviews. Click here to read.