HireVue Video Interview: 5 MISTAKES You Need to AVOID

The Independent Consultant

21 Nov 201905:32

Summary

TLDRThis video script offers a guide to acing video interviews, highlighting common pitfalls to avoid. It emphasizes the importance of preparation, controlling your surroundings, ensuring technology runs smoothly, reading instructions carefully, and knowing how to conclude your answers effectively. By following these tips, job seekers can increase their chances of making a strong impression and securing their desired position.

Takeaways

😀 Preparation is key: Treat a video interview like an in-person one and be ready with structured answers.
📹 Record yourself: Practice answering common questions on camera to improve your performance and comfort.
👥 Get feedback: Show your practice videos to trusted friends for valuable insights and make necessary adjustments.
🔇 Control your environment: Ensure a quiet, well-lit, and distraction-free setting for your video interview.
💻 Check technology: Ensure you have the latest versions of apps or software (like HireVue or Adobe Flash) and test your internet connection.
📶 Internet stability: Make sure your connection is stable with at least 2 Mbps for smooth video quality.
🔌 Power up: Ensure your device is fully charged or plugged in to avoid interruptions during the interview.
📖 Read instructions: Carefully go through the setup page, tutorial, and any guidance provided by the interview platform.
🎤 Use practice questions: Take advantage of practice questions to adjust lighting, audio, and body language before starting the actual interview.
📝 Close answers effectively: Relate your answers to the job role and end them smoothly by referring back to the question.

Q & A

Question 1
-What is the main purpose of the video script?
Answer 1
-The main purpose of the video script is to highlight five common mistakes people make during HireVue video interviews and provide tips on how to avoid them in order to improve their chances of securing a job.
Question 2
-What is the first mistake candidates often make in a video interview?
Answer 2
-The first mistake is lack of preparation. Many candidates treat a video interview differently from a traditional in-person interview, failing to properly prepare their responses or practice in front of a camera.
Question 3
-How can a candidate prepare effectively for a video interview?
Answer 3
-Candidates can prepare by recording themselves answering common interview questions, evaluating their performance, and seeking feedback from trusted friends. This helps them improve their answers, body language, and comfort in front of the camera.
Question 4
-Why is it important to control your surroundings during a video interview?
Answer 4
-Controlling your surroundings ensures there are no distractions such as noise, changing light, or interruptions from pets or people. A quiet, well-lit, and organized environment allows the interviewer to focus on your answers.
Question 5
-What should a candidate check before starting a video interview to avoid technical issues?
Answer 5
-Candidates should check that their device is running the latest version of the necessary software (e.g., HireVue app or Adobe Flash), test their internet connection speed, and ensure their device is fully charged or plugged in to avoid disruptions.
Question 6
-Why is it important to read the instructions carefully before starting the interview?
Answer 6
-Reading the instructions carefully provides important information about the process, including timing, button functions, and setup tips. It also helps candidates avoid misunderstandings and technical errors.
Question 7
-What is the benefit of practicing with the sample question provided in the HireVue app?
Answer 7
-Practicing with the sample question allows candidates to adjust their lighting, background, and body language before the real interview. It gives them a better sense of how they will appear on video and can reduce stress.
Question 8
-How much time do candidates have to answer each question during a HireVue interview?
Answer 8
-Candidates typically have 30 seconds to think about the question and up to three minutes to provide their answer. If they finish early, they can click the stop button to submit their response.
Question 9
-What is a common mistake candidates make when closing their answers, and how can they avoid it?
Answer 9
-A common mistake is awkwardly searching for the stop recording button or using filler words like 'um.' To avoid this, candidates should confidently relate their answer to the job role and refer back to the question as a way to conclude their response smoothly.
Question 10
-What can candidates do if they want additional tips for preparing for a HireVue interview?
Answer 10
-Candidates can watch additional videos or read materials on interview preparation, and they are encouraged to engage in the comment sections to ask for further tips and share insights from their experiences.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Handling Video Interview Disappointment

The speaker describes a scenario where an individual confidently completes a video interview but is later rejected, leading to confusion and disappointment. The aim of the video is to help viewers avoid five common mistakes in video interviews, ensuring they don’t miss important job opportunities due to easily preventable errors. Preparation is emphasized as the first key step to avoid these mistakes.

05:00

📋 The Importance of Preparation

Preparation for a video interview should be as thorough as for an in-person interview. The speaker explains that video interviews, like HireVue, are structured and repetitive for each candidate, making it crucial to stand out. Recording oneself answering common interview questions can help in evaluating delivery, body language, and confidence. Trusted friends can provide useful feedback to further improve responses.

🏡 Controlling Your Environment

The second common mistake is failing to control your surroundings during the video interview. This includes checking lighting, minimizing noise distractions, and ensuring a tidy background. The speaker advises communicating with housemates to avoid disturbances and managing pets, so the interview setting remains professional.

📱 Technology Check is Crucial

The third mistake to avoid involves neglecting technology checks. The speaker emphasizes ensuring that devices have updated software (like the latest HireVue app or Adobe Flash) and checking the internet speed to prevent technical disruptions. Plugging in devices is also critical to avoid losing power mid-interview.

👀 Read Instructions Carefully

Many candidates make the mistake of not reading instructions carefully before starting their interview. The speaker stresses the importance of reviewing all guidelines, particularly about timing and technical aspects. Completing the practice question is highly recommended to familiarize oneself with the format and make necessary adjustments before recording the actual interview.

🎙️ How to Effectively Close Your Answers

The final mistake is not closing answers effectively. Candidates often end awkwardly or search for the stop button. The speaker suggests tying the answer back to the role and referring to the question itself for a polished finish. For example, when discussing strengths, relate them to the job role in your closing remarks.

💼 Final Tips for Video Interviews

In the concluding section, the speaker encourages viewers to implement the tips provided to avoid common mistakes and improve their chances of success in video interviews. They recommend watching related videos for more guidance and invite viewers to share additional tips in the comments. The video ends with a call to action to like, subscribe, and engage with future content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡HireVue

HireVue refers to the structured video interview platform used in job recruitment processes. In the video, it is mentioned as the platform where candidates answer pre-recorded questions, and their performance is evaluated based on their responses. Preparing for a HireVue interview is emphasized as a key step in securing a job.

💡Lack of Preparation

This is the first mistake highlighted in the video. It refers to failing to adequately prepare for a video interview, treating it casually instead of treating it like an in-person interview. The script stresses the importance of practicing responses and preparing answers to common questions in advance, like 'Tell me about yourself.'

💡Control Your Surroundings

This concept stresses the importance of managing external factors like lighting, noise, and background distractions during the interview. The video advises candidates to check their environment and make sure their surroundings are suitable, ensuring that there are no disturbances or unprofessional elements in the video.

💡Technology Issues

This is the third common mistake candidates make. It refers to not ensuring that their devices, internet connection, or apps are properly set up before starting the interview. The video advises testing internet speed, making sure the HireVue app is up-to-date, and ensuring devices are fully charged to avoid technical disruptions.

💡Read Instructions Carefully

The fourth mistake mentioned in the video, this emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the setup and process instructions provided by the HireVue platform. The video encourages candidates to read the guidelines carefully to understand the timing, button functions, and other key details before beginning the interview.

💡Practice Question

This refers to a sample question provided by HireVue before the actual interview. The video stresses that candidates should take advantage of this practice question to assess their camera setup, lighting, and body language. It helps candidates feel more comfortable with the interview format.

💡Body Language

Body language is highlighted as a key factor that can influence the impression a candidate leaves during the video interview. Candidates are encouraged to review their recorded responses and adjust their gestures, posture, and enthusiasm to present themselves effectively. Non-verbal communication is critical in virtual settings.

💡Enthusiasm

This concept refers to the energy and interest a candidate expresses during their interview. The video recommends showing enthusiasm when answering questions to make a lasting impression. Candidates who express enthusiasm are more likely to stand out to recruiters watching multiple videos.

💡Closing Your Answer

Closing your answer refers to how a candidate wraps up their response to a question during the interview. The video warns against awkward or abrupt endings. Instead, candidates are encouraged to summarize their points and relate their strengths back to the role they are applying for, as it creates a more polished impression.

💡Video Interview Setup

The overall setup of a video interview, including the camera, background, lighting, and technology, is emphasized throughout the video. Candidates are reminded to check all these elements to ensure that their interview appears professional and polished, avoiding any issues that could distract the interviewer.

Highlights

Avoid the first mistake: lack of preparation. Prepare for a video interview the same way as an in-person job interview.

Hirevue interviews are structured, meaning the same questions are asked in the same order for all applicants.

Record yourself answering popular interview questions to evaluate how you look and improve your responses.

Show your practice recordings to trusted friends for valuable feedback you can't see yourself.

Control your surroundings by ensuring good lighting, reducing background noise, and eliminating distractions like pets.

Check your technology: make sure you have the latest version of the Hirevue app or Adobe Flash and verify your internet connection speed.

Avoid the third mistake: not checking your internet connection, which should be at least two megabytes per second.

Plug your device in during the interview to avoid it shutting off unexpectedly.

Read the instructions in the Hirevue app carefully before starting to avoid missing important details about timing and features.

Do the practice question provided in the app to adjust your lighting, background, audio, and body language.

You'll have 30 seconds to think about the question and up to 3 minutes to answer.

Avoid awkwardly closing your answer. Relate your response to the role and refer back to the question for a smooth conclusion.

End your answer with a summary that connects your strengths to the role you’re applying for.

Make sure to avoid saying fillers like 'um' when closing your response to prevent awkward moments.

If you've followed all these tips, you'll be better prepared to ace your Hirevue video interview and increase your chances of getting the job.