Video Interviews
I created this site because I had some video interviews coming up and I wanted to practice. Now I've made this public for everyone in case it's useful for other students and job seekers. Hope you find it useful ;)
Ben Ma - University of Michigan, Major in Computer Science.Section 1: Competency based interview questions
Video Interview Q1: Tell me about a time you needed to use teamwork to solve a problem.
There are usually lots of examples people can draw from for this, even at school you'll have had to work in a team. Think about a time you were pleased with your team performance. What happened, how did you deal with it, and what was the outcome?
Competency based interview question. I was asked this in my video interview with Mars.
- Tell me about a time you needed to use teamwork to solve a problem.
Video Interview Q2: Describe a situation where you made an important decision that you knew would prove unpopular with certain people.
For this question think about a time you had to give awkward or difficult feedback to someone. What happened, how did you deal with it, and what was the outcome?
Competency based interview question. I was asked this in my video interview with Capgemini.
- Describe a situation where you made an important decision that you knew would prove unpopular with certain people.
Video Interview Q3: Describe a time when you needed to develop an unconventional approach to solve an existing problem.
Here the interviewer is looking to see your creativity and problem-solving skills. Give an example of when you thought outside the box. What what the situation, what action did you take, and what was the outcome?
Competency based interview question. A friend of mine was asked this in her video interview with McKinsey.
- Describe a time when you needed to develop an unconventional approach to solve an existing problem.
Section 2: Strengths based interview questions
Video Interview Q4: What things get you excited about coming into work?
What makes you excited isn’t the issue, how you communicate that message is the key. Interviewers want to see passion and enthusiasm, and this question allows you to express that. Remember, resist the urge to say, “I never get excited about coming to work!”.
Strengths based interview question. My friend was asked this in his video interview with Intel.
- What things get you excited about coming into work?
Video Interview Q5: Which achievements are you particularly proud of?
Here, the interviewer gauges your ability to achieve and your attitude towards achievement. It’s worth discussing a major achievement that will impress the interviewer on its own, and then speak passionately about why you are proud of it.
Strengths based interview question. My friend was asked this in his video interview with Vodafone.
- Which achievements are you particularly proud of?
Video Interview Q6: Describe what a successful day looks like to you.
This question looks at your key drives, motivators, and ambitions in the workplace. By outlining your perspective on success, interviewers can contrast your perspective with that of the employing organisation.
Strengths based interview question. My friend was asked this in her video interview with IBM.
- Describe what a successful day looks like to you.
Section 3: Situational interview questions
Video Interview Q7: You are facing significant resistance from a prospective client over costs, how would you win them over?
Here, your interpersonal skills are being evaluated, especially your ability to be diplomatic. Dealing with resistance when convincing someone requires significant social tact, and interviewers will carefully examine the effectiveness of your suggested course of action.
Situational interview question. My friend was asked this in his video interview with PwC.
- You are facing significant resistance from a prospective client over costs, how would you win them over?
Video Interview Q8: You need to convince a more senior staff member to adopt a solution you recommend, how would you convince them?
This question will assess how you interact with internal senior members of staff, rather than external prospective clients. When convincing senior staff, you need to show respect for authority, while still getting your point across convincingly.
Situational interview question. I was asked this in my video interview with Johnson & Johnson.
- You need to convince a more senior staff member to adopt a solution you recommend, how would you convince them?
Video Interview Q9: A manager has assigned you a task which simply cannot be completed before the deadline, how do you break this news to your manager?
Here, the Interviewer will assess how you manage conflict, your attitude towards authority, and your diplomacy skills. A strong answer will effectively get your message across to the manager, while still acknowledging their seniority and authority.
Situational interview question. My friend was asked this in her video interview with Sony.
- A manager has assigned you a task which simply cannot be completed before the deadline, how do you break this news to your manager?
What is a video interview?
Basically, a remote interview conducted over webcam instead of in-person. Video interviews are quite popular because the candidate and recruiter can be anywhere in the world, and at any time. This is better than having to arrange a time that suits both parties for traditional in-person interviews.
What format will the video interview take?
There are two types of video interview: "asynchronous" where the candidate records their answers and the interviewer plays them back later, and "live" where the candidate and interviewer are both present on the video link at the same time.
Who uses video interviews?
According to the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) over 50% of employers use video interviews. And my experience is that's growing. I can see why; video interviews are extremely convenient and time-saving.
Do I need a good webcam?
No but it helps. Realistically you'll look better if your webcam has good depth of field focus, color rendering, and image enhancing filters. I'd say your best bet is a computer or laptop with an external webcam (not your in-built one). That's one of the reasons I made this website; so you can see what you will look like to the interviewer.
Do I need good internet?
Yes but most connections nowadays are fine, including all broadband and all 4G phone connections.
What about changing my answers?
I found that most video interview tools do not allow you to re-record your answers; if you mess up, just explain and move on, as you would in a 'real' interview.