As you prepare to apply for an internship or full-time opportunities, you may come across companies requesting you to complete a video interview through products such as HireVue as part of the initial screening. Your responses to interview questions will be interpreted by artificial intelligence to determine if you are a good fit for the company. Sometimes, your interview will not receive human review unless the AI determines that you meet their preset criteria.
How does it work?
Most AI-based systems allow you to interview at any time within a window of a couple of days. The questions are pre-selected, and often recorded in video form. Some companies provide the text of the question for you to answer.
Usually, there is a countdown timer after each question is read before you can record your answer. This is the time to make sure your camera is focused correctly, you are centered on the screen, and you have a professional background.
Be aware that normally, your computer screen will show you answering the question during the recording process. Look directly at the camera rather than your screen.
Many employers allow you two or three attempts to answer each question before submitting it, but that is not universal. Multiple attempts will allow you to restart if you make a mistake in an earlier iteration. Be aware that companies can keep track of the number of attempts and use that in their assessment. Instructions provided with the interview should clarify how many attempts you have per question and how long your answers can be.
Once you submitted to the company, the system analyzes the video of your face so they can interpret even the smallest movement of your lips and eyes. The system will also analyze whether it believes you are being truthful or exaggerating based on small movements in your lips and eyes. Hence, the lighting is so important. The AI will not get a reading if it cannot clearly see your face.
Prepare for an AI-based video interview
First, you should prepare for the interview just like you would be meeting with someone virtually. Try not to memorize the answer but practice your speech so it feels organic and genuine. In addition, try to speak a little slower so that the system doesn’t miss any words, and try to demonstrate your confidence through your tone of voice.
Most likely, the AI is looking for the use of certain keywords. Often the job description will contain most of those keywords. Make sure to use them during your answers, but remember the system is also judging you based on the content of your answers, so you will have to weave those keywords in your response. Stay focused, and attentive, and be aware of your facial expressions and body language. Don’t forget to smile!
Practice, Practice, Practice
Practice video interviewing by recording yourself via Zoom with a set of interview questions to get a better feel for how it works and how you present yourself. As opposed to a standard virtual interview, you will see yourself on your computer screen while you are recording your answers. Watch the recording and assess your performance. An even better idea would be to submit your practice interviews to your mentor or one of our career advisors to get additional feedback. Remember not to memorize your answer or follow any of the “googled” examples. There is a very good chance that other students are doing the same thing! This is your time to share more about yourself, and employers do not want a “template” answer from the internet.
