Video Interview: The Complete Guide [2026]
Video Interviews, also known as virtual interviews, have become a standard part of the hiring process. They can be taken instead of or in addition to other pre-employment assessments, such as cognitive ability tests and personality assessments.
Usually, the video interview does not replace the traditional face-to-face interview but rather another step in the recruitment process of job seekers, often used instead of a phone interview.
The purpose of the video interview is to get a first impression of you as a job candidate, your manners, and how you present yourself, and by that, save valuable time both for you and your recruiter.
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As the name suggests, video interviews are job interviews conducted remotely through an online platform, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Amberjack, and the most popular – HireVue.
In addition to the regular interview questions regarding your professional experience, additional skills, and areas of interest, the video interview can also include different job simulations, such as role-playing, case studies, and addressing various work-related scenarios.
The video interview can be administered live or in a pre-recorded interview format.
Live video interviews are conducted with both you and your interviewer in attendance. You will be scheduled a time slot in advance, and you will have no time during the interview to prepare your answers. Thus, you must be ready for any question or task that comes your way.
Pre-recorded video interviews are conducted offline, meaning you will not interact with your interviewer during the interview. Instead, you will record your responses, which will be reviewed later by your recruiters and hiring managers.
The number of questions in a video interview may differ depending on the company and position you applied for, but in most cases, it includes 5-8 questions. After being presented with a question, you will have between 30 seconds to 2 minutes to prepare your answer and up to 3 minutes to record it.
This type of pre-recorded video interviews is being used today by the most prominent companies and organizations, such as Amazon, IBM, Delta, and Deutsche Bank. Sometimes, your responses will be reviewed by AI programs, such as with the SHL Smart Interview.
As the video interview, live or pre-recorded, aims to know you better, both personally and professionally, the questions you will be asked will probably fall into one of three categories – professional experience, situational judgment, and personality and integrity.
💡 See more common video interview questions
Making a great impression in your interview introduction is key. Start warmly, express thanks, and briefly introduce yourself. Show your excitement for the role and mention why it interests you. Talk about 2-3 relevant skills and experiences, using a past achievement as an example. Connect your strengths to how you can help the company succeed and express your interest in the job. Keep it short, practice, and customize it for the role to make it stand out.
Know the Field
The most important aspects of preparing for your video interview are understanding the job needs, researching the company, and considering how your skills and professional experiences align with both the role and the company’s values and culture.
Dress for Success
Even though it’s a video interview and not an in-person meeting, your presence still matters! Your attire and overall appearance contribute to the professional image you project. So, treat it like any other interview, and dress accordingly.
Adjust Your Setting
Choose a quiet, organized, and well-lit space with minimal distractions. And don’t forget to keep family, roommates, and pets away from the camera view.
Setup Your Gear
Make sure your equipment is functioning well. Before your video interview, check that your camera and microphone are working properly. Test your internet connection, ensure your device is fully charged, and update Adobe Flash on your computer or the latest app on your smartphone if needed.
Make Eye Contact
Just like an in-person meeting, in a video interview, eye contact is the key to building a personal connection. You need to focus on the webcam while speaking to appear as if you're looking directly at your interviewer. This way, it will seem like you're making eye contact on their screen. When listening to their questions, look at the screen to see them.
Your Body Language Matters
Sit upright, make direct eye contact with the camera, keep facial expressions neutral, speak clearly and logically, and let your personality shine through with a friendly smile.
Practice Beforehand
A video interview can feel a little awkward. To ensure it will not be obvious to your interviewer, you should practice your digital interviewing skills in front of the camera beforehand. Record yourself answering mock questions to confirm you are comfortable and ready for your interview.
Stay Real
Ultimately, you reflect who you are. Authenticity and sincerity consistently lead to the most positive first impressions.
Just like face-to-face job interviews, video interviews aim to assess if you have the qualities and characteristics required for the position you applied for. As such, in the video interview, whether live or pre-recorded interview, you will answer questions regarding your professional experience and expectations from the role. It may also include job simulation tasks, like case studies and role-playing.
A live video interview is pretty much the same as an on-location in-person interview, in which you and your interviewer both attend the meeting. You will be asked questions about your past experiences and intentions regarding the role you applied for.
In a pre-recorded video interview, there will be only you and the camera, and you will be required to record your answers through an online platform, such as HireVue. This type of online interview usually includes 5 to 8. You will have up to 2 minutes to prepare and up to 3 minutes to record each. Your recording is later reviewed by your recruiters and hiring managers.
The duration of a video interview depends on the type of video interview and your recruiter. A live video interview takes the same time as an on-location interview, lasting from 15 minutes to an hour.
The duration of a pre-recorded video interview depends on the number of questions you will have to record. As it usually includes between 5 to 8 questions, with up to 2 minutes to prepare and up to 3 minutes to record, it sums up to an average of 30 minutes.
The clothes you choose not only represent who you are, but also make you adjust to the occasion. And as you will probably not wear flip-flops to a black-tie event, it’s the same in a video interview. Whether live or a pre-recorded video interview, you need to dress up the same as you would for an on-location interview, which means respectable clothes, solid colors, and fit button-up attire.
To ace your video interview, first, prepare and familiarize yourself with the role's requirements and the organization’s values and culture. Practice answering questions in front of a camera so that when the time comes, you will be confident and comfortable answering any questions that come your way.
Like an on-site, in-person interview, you need to answer video interview questions professionally, accurately, and concisely. Address the topic you were asked about while emphasizing your genuine perspective and professional knowledge.
Choose the location of your video interview carefully. Select a calm, tidy, and well-lit environment with few distractions. Also, remember to ensure that family members, roommates, and pets are out of sight of the camera.
Most video interview platforms are mobile-friendly, so technically, video interviews on the phone are possible. However, the location of the video interview, the sound quality, and overall appearance are essential for your success in the video interview, so it might be better to do it from a computer.
A recorded video interview is a remote interview conducted via platforms like HireVue. It's part of the hiring process, replacing or supplementing phone interviews. You'll face regular interview questions and possibly simulations. There are two types: live and pre-recorded. In a pre-recorded interview, you're given 5-8 questions and have 30 seconds to 2 minutes to prepare before recording a response lasting up to 3 minutes.
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