The Growing Presence of Video Interviews

Written by Irene Soekiswo

Apart from looking sharp, those undertaking video interviews have to set up devices to record their responses. Moreover, since the software takes into account body language, one’s environment could impact what one’s body is portraying to the software, potentially miscommunicating the conclusions to the recruiters.

Stern students pursue a variety of career paths, but each student shares a common experience in their endeavor to find a coveted internship or a full-time job– tackling interviews during the recruiting process.

When thinking about interviews, traditionally one would imagine a suit-clad Sternie sitting across a table from a company representative in a tight space at Wasserman, the environment suffused with tension and anxiety. However, owing to technological advancement, another category of interviewing has emerged – virtual interviews. With the aid of the company HireVue, some companies have started using video interviews as the first step of the recruiting process.

Founded by Mark Newman and launched in 2004, HireVue is a company whose sole purpose is to aid recruiters in interviewing potential candidates. By recording interviews, recruiters are able to cast a wider net both in terms of the number and diversity of candidates, thereby not limiting themselves to select schools or majors. Aside from recording verbal responses, the new software now takes into account factors such as body language, tone, blinking, and word choice, providing greater insights about the candidate’s fit for the job and the company.

During video interviews, the software poses a pre-recorded question, and the candidate must respond accordingly. The software provides candidates with 30 seconds to think about their response before allowing for three tries to respond in a 3 minute recording. Companies currently using this software include Unilever, Goldman Sachs, HBO, Morgan Stanley, and Vodafone.

Excluding the recording aspect, on-demand video interviews are relatively similar to in-person ones.  However, preparing for the in-person interview is slightly different. Apart from looking sharp, those undertaking video interviews have to set up devices to record their responses. Moreover, since the software takes into account body language, one’s environment could impact what one’s body is portraying to the software, potentially miscommunicating the conclusions to the recruiters.

Although video interviews are for the most part similar to in-person ones, many may be more comfortable with being asked questions by a person instead of reading it off of a screen. In this respect, a downside to video interviews is mentally preparing to answer questions while recording yourself. Nonetheless, benefits arise from the ability to re-record your response to ensure that your best possible answer is sent to the recruiters, and online interviews places everyone on an equal footing, allowing students globally to apply for jobs even if they are not in a certain country.

With the development of AI and this recruiting software, HireVue is growing and gaining a presence in the recruiting process. As a result, students should now also prepare themselves for potential video interviews in the process of moving forward and acquiring in person ones.