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In the early days of the pandemic, we haphazardly created makeshift offices in our home, and for those seeking work, it doubled as their interview location. Instead of leaving ample time to get to an office, job seekers allocated time to stacking books, so their eye-to-camera ratio was just right.
Virtual hiring tools, which started as a necessity during the pandemic, have become a permanent part of the hiring process. From one-on-one video interviews with a hiring manager, eventually came pre-recorded interviews, where candidates record themselves answering questions prompted by the platform. In 2024, video interviewing software was valued at $0.41 billion, and it is projected to double by 2033. In other words, video interviews are here to stay, and job seekers need to know how to properly navigate them.
What Is an AI-Assisted Interview?
With an AI-assisted interview, the candidate answers interview questions that appear on screen as text, spoken as a chatbot or a digital avatar. For most platforms, a candidate often has time to record their answers in “practice mode” first. Once the candidate is finished practicing, they record their final take and hit submit. Some platforms are trained to ask follow-up questions if the initial recorded answer is deemed incomplete or vague.
Beyond typical interview questions, some organizations are using AI-assisted interviews to create problem-solving scenarios to test a candidate’s appetite for risk-taking and adaptability. For example, the consumer-packaged goods company, Unilever, which recruits more than 30,000 people a year, has partnered with Pymetrics, an interviewing platform that has candidates play a selection of games in addition to a pre-recorded video interview.
An AI-assisted interview is trained to evaluate the submission for content (how well the candidate connects their experience to the skills the employer is seeking) and delivery (vocal variety, pacing, and confidence). After the interview, the system generates a report that often includes recordings, in case the hiring team wants to view them, an AI-generated summary, and a score. In some cases, the score is considered against an average score of high-performers in similar roles. The score from the AI-assisted interview is often used as a first-round screener. The recruiter will then determine who to bring in for a second round, more in-depth interview.
Is There a Way To Prepare?
As a career coach for the last 15 years, one of the ways I help job seekers is by preparing them for interviews (in-person, virtual, and AI-assisted). Out of the thousands of mock interviews I’ve conducted, I’ve yet to hear someone say, “Yes! I love interviewing!”Why? Because interviewing is a natural breeding ground for anticipation and anxiety (and even more so for the awkward pre-recorded interviews). After hours spent networking and resume-tweaking, interviews are the one thing standing between candidates and a job offer.
The good news? There are specific ways to prepare that can help job seekers move the needle from anxious to confident. The biggest difference when it comes to preparing for an in-person interview versus a pre-recorded interview is setting up the space properly and getting comfortable speaking to your laptop versus speaking to a human.
Set Up Your Space
Choose a quiet space free from distraction. Set your phone on silent, close unnecessary apps, and let your roommates know you’ll be recording. Wear professional attire, and not just the top half! Dressing head to toe will add to your confidence level. Consider your background. Opt for a simple background or download a free background image. Consider lighting. The lighting source should be in front of you. If you don’t have natural lighting from a window, consider investing in a ring light. Test your appearance on camera. The camera should be angled slightly above eye level. Make sure your head and shoulders are centered. Leave time for a tech check. Test your microphone and internet connection by doing a quick test recording.
Now that your space is set up, let’s focus on the interview. Much like an in-person interview, AI-assisted interviews primarily evaluate candidates on how well they match the required skills and competencies for the job.
Study the Job Description
This tip applies to both in-person and virtual interviews, but it’s the most important step and often what sets apart good interviews from great interviews. Read the job description and focus on the “key qualifications” or the “required skills, knowledge, and abilities” to get a sense of what types of questions might be asked.
For example, a recent Student Affairs job posting lists:
Provides day-to-day leadership and direction for the advising team and program in conjunction with the Assistant Dean, including staff meetings and campus service. Assumes the responsibility of the team in the absence of the Assistant Dean. Interprets academic policies for the advising team. Coordinates the academic advising portion of freshmen, transfer, and other new student orientation activities.
Based on the first item listed, a question that might be asked is: Tell me about your experience leading teams.
The key here is to tell a specific story that answers that question. Note: the story does not have to come from your work experience. It could also come from volunteer experience, consulting projects, or even teamwork-based class projects.
The story should have a beginning, middle, and end. A tried and true effective framework to tell a good interview story is the STAR method (Situation – Task – Action – Result). More on that here.
Practice and Evaluate
Perhaps the most difficult part of the pre-recorded interview is not talking to an actual person. Recording answers while looking at yourself on screen can feel uncomfortable and awkward, because it is. However, like most things, the more times you practice, get feedback, and incorporate that feedback, the better your content and delivery become.
Ideally, candidates should first practice with a career coach who has experience with behavioral questions and can quickly spot areas of improvement. However, even a trusted mentor/friend can provide valuable feedback. Additionally, candidates should also practice recording answers in a private video meeting and then play back the recording.
Here are three questions that you (and your practice partner) should consider when evaluating your answers:
How is my pacing: too fast, too slow, or just right? Do I sound confident and at ease? Or does my voice trail off at the end of a sentence? How is my vocal variety? Am I using inflection in my voice, or do I sound monotone? Am I using fillers “um, uh, like” sparingly? Did my stories have a beginning, middle, and end? Was it easy to follow along, or should I slow down or speed up my delivery? Did my stories end strongly by showing clear impact or personal discoveries?
Mastering the AI-Assisted Interview
Truly, the most important part of mastering any interview is to prepare. Reading the job description and having a clear understanding of how a candidate’s skill set is a match for the company’s hiring needs is crucial for both in-person and pre-recorded interviews. For pre-recorded interviews, setting up the space properly helps create a positive first impression, and practicing can reduce the awkward factor. By doing all of these, understanding the job, setting up the space, and practicing, candidates can feel a bit more at ease when hitting “RECORD.”
