Ugh! I Did a Video Interview and I Sucked! @Hirevue Edition

First, let me say I’m a giant advocate for video interviewing. I think it’s brilliant and I absolutely love the technology and truly believe it’s only a matter of time until every single pre-screen organizations do are most likely done via video.

All that being said, I had never done a video interview, personally, until a few weeks ago.

No, I’m not looking for another job! I got asked to apply for a Board position with the new organization the Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals (ATAP). Being someone who probably spends too much time advocating for TA Pros, I couldn’t say no.

Part of the interview process was doing a video interview because the committee selecting the board members were located all over the world. Having candidates do a video interview would make it more effective from a time and cost perspective, plus this is for a TA Pro association. If we don’t use TA tech, how can we lead others in these efforts!?

Thankfully, Hirevue donated the use of their software to the selection committee to help with this process. I’ve known Hirevue for years when they were just a small up-and-coming vendor in a small 10X10 booth in the back of the vendor hall at SHRM national! The first time I saw the technology, I was a fan. I’ve demoed them a number times as they’ve improved and grown the system beyond just video interviewing. I don’t think there’s an analyst in HR or TA that has shown Hirevue more love than I!

So, doing a video interview with Hirevue should have been super easy for me!

I wanted to write about this because it wasn’t super easy for me. I sucked! It’s hard. It’s awkward. And, I still think it’s brilliant!

What you don’t get about video interviewing, unless you actually do one for real (real, meaning you actually want what you’re interviewing for, not some fake demo interview to see how it works) is that it’s hard talking to a camera and getting no facial or body language cues from your interviewers!

Normally, when you interview, you get asked a question and you start talking. Based on the non-verbal clues you get from those interviewing you, you continually auto-adjust. Your tone. The length of your answer. Your tempo. Etc. When you answer a question to the camera, you get none of this, and it’s a heck of a lot more difficult than you think!

I was even given the questions beforehand so I could prepare my answers, which might have made it worse since then you feel like you should memorize your answers. Regardless, the entire thing comes off like a bad monolog by a D-level actor!

This is important to talk about because I think if your organization is going to use video interviewing, you need to put every single one of your hiring managers, and yourself, through one of these interviews, then allow everyone to watch each other! You and your team need this perspective to understand, what you see on video might not be the best representation of that individual.

While younger generations will probably be more comfortable videoing themselves, we still have a great number in the workforce that will come across awkward. Hiring managers using this technology have to understand this, not everyone will rock the video interview.

I will say, using the Hirevue platform was super simple and easy, anyone could do it. It’s almost too easy!

For the record, I got the position. You are now looking at, err reading, about the next Board member to the Association for Talent Acquisition Professionals. So, apparently, I sucked a little less than some other folks! But, I’m super excited, along with the other board members, to begin growing and working with ATAP! I can’t tell you how long I’ve desired and hoped for an association like SHRM, but for Talent Acquisition.

Check us out and join! My goal is that organizations around the world will seek out ATAP members when they look to hire great TA Pros and Leaders for their openings.

Here’s how to JOIN the Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals!

7 thoughts on “Ugh! I Did a Video Interview and I Sucked! @Hirevue Edition

  1. You’re an HR and TA expert–and you still bombed? While I can see that happening–what I don’t get is why you would continue to support this process!? If someone with your background can’t perform well, how can you expect the rest of us to succeed? You had the questions in advance! I just went through this experience, and I will never subject myself to something this dehumanizing again! They missed out on a top notch employee. I consider this a form of age discrimination. Perhaps if I were 22 and used to Facebook Live or posting videos of myself on Instagram, I wouldn’t have felt so flustered. I’ve been into musical theatre for years. I have no issue being on stage, or public speaking in general. If you’re going to require this type of thing “comfort speaking on camera” should be listed in the job description. Why would you impose this upon some nerd like me that’s just going to end up in some cube crunching numbers for you??? Most people on the spectrum are not going to be able to pass these types of interviews. Tech companies are going to miss out on the sharpest minds. Like another poster said, it’s for the convenience of HR–and quite frankly what it says to me is that you’re cheap. I don’t need to ask what your benefits and compensation package looks like. I’ll just go ahead and expect it to be on par with your cheesy, corner cutting, hiring process that made me feel like less than a number. I didn’t answer a single question. As soon as I saw what it was I closed the window and immediately sent the hiring manager a “no thank you” note. I guess I’m too old school at 42. My husband said, “Would you really want to work for a company that doesn’t have the class or respect to take the time to speak with you directly?” The answer is a resounding NO from everyone I’ve spoken to about it. Have fun hiring 22 year old wanna be influencers with no work ethic.

  2. I feel uncomfortable with digital interviews. It’s like I’m talking to myself and having to just speak it just awkward. I ‘FAILED’ it, but I gave it my best shot. I rather interview face to face. Where I’m actually engaging with someone.

  3. I’ve just completed my HireVue interview and I feel like I bombed just like before. You would think I would be use to this process but it seems to get more awkward every time. I doubt I get a call back for a second interview. Congratulations on your new position!

  4. Just had a 2-on-1 video interview and it was very unsatisfactory. One of the reviewers was completely not paying attention, I was trying to look at the camera to simulate eye contact (lol) so couldn’t guarded their reactions, felt like I was rambling because there was no feedback. Also no way to reference materials/samples so it was only words…not proper for a design-oriented job opportunity to have no way to show my stuff during the convo. Just not a good experience.

  5. Completely dehumanizing experience for the sake of HR convenience; it is a further extension of ATS. So much talent gets overlooked trying to fit everyone into these “boxes,” categories, keywords, and rankings. I absolutely disagree with any positive feedback, as I suspect it is HireVue shilling.

  6. HireVue does a great job making the process easier for both the candidate and the company. I used it in my last position and got great feedback from the candidates and hiring managers who used it.

  7. I’m just starting to experiment with video in my own business. Once that camera light starts blinking everything you think you know about communication goes out the window. Great point about losing the non-verbal queues of standard conversation.

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