One-Way Interview Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Hireflix is a one-way video interview software that’s used by some of the biggest companies in the world – Coca-Cola, the PGA Tour, and Chick-Fil-A, to name a few.

And we’ve seen the power of the one-way interview firsthand and how it provides flexibility, efficiency, and convenience to both job seekers and hiring teams during the recruitment process.

In this post, we’ll break down:

• What a one-way video interview is
• Why more and more companies are using them in 2024
• How a one-way interview works with Hireflix
• Sample one-way interview questions and example answers
• Tips for jobseekers on how to prepare for a one-way interview

Let’s dive in.

What is a One-Way Interview?

Also referred to as an asynchronous interview, a one-way interview is a job screening process where a candidate records their responses to pre-set questions without live interaction with an interviewer.

Rather than trying to arrange a time for a one-to-one conversation between a hiring manager and a job candidate, teams record videos with general screening questions they can send to each candidate.

The recorded interview often includes an introduction to the company and role in question, as well as some essential interview questions necessary for qualifying the candidate.

Unlike a traditional video interview, there’s no live face-to-face interaction here. Candidates respond to the video and answer questions in their own time, allowing for a lot more flexibility.

In essence, a one-way video interview allows you to capture genuine video answers from your candidates, to questions that you have from them.

This interview technique might seem unusual at first, but around 61% of hiring managers from Fortune 500 companies have already begun using the same asynchronous format.

While one-way video interviews can be utilized for all stages of the interview process, they’re best used for candidate screening.

With this strategy, companies can connect with hundreds or thousands of potential candidates at once and assess their responses in their own time, without having to manage complex schedules.

Why Do Employers Use One-Way Interviews?

Employers use one-way interviews because they’re efficient, flexible, and scalable. And just as important, they use them because one-way interviews help produce better live interviews.

They make sure employers move the right candidates down the interview funnel and only spend time on the ones that are actually worth their time.

In 2024, more and more companies are ditching the phone screening interview altogether and replacing it with the one-way interview because it allows them to narrow and improve their candidate pool much faster.

At Hireflix, we’ve heard from countless hiring teams about the various benefits they’ve received from our one-way interview software.

Here are some of the biggest advantages:

Time Saving

The hiring process can be extremely time-consuming, no matter how big your hiring team is or how efficient your hiring manager might be.

In fact, some teams today spend up to a month just on screening interviews alone.

With a one-way interview tool like Hireflix, hiring teams can record their questions and review candidate responses at their own pace, eliminating the need to schedule tens or hundreds of live screening interviews and saving a boatload of time.

Consistency

During the interview process, it’s easy for bias to get in the way of companies making the right choice on which employee to hire. Using different interview questions with each candidate, or even alterations to body language and tone of voice, can influence interview outcomes.

With a pre-recorded interview video, these problems aren’t as common.

Hiring teams can send the same video interview questions to every job seeker they want to assess, ensuring they can evaluate candidates using the same consistent criteria. This ensures employers are giving every person an equal opportunity.

Widens the Candidate Pool

In a world where skill shortages are growing, companies that want to find the perfect fit for their team are coming to find out that’s much harder than it seems.

Oftentimes companies can miss out on qualified candidates simply because the candidate can’t attend an in-person meeting or match their schedule with the interviewer.

As a much more flexible hiring tool, a one-way video interview reduces the restrictions around time and location, allowing both candidates and hiring teams to work according to their own schedules.

This remote interview setup gives employers the power to reach candidates and discover new talent from across the country — or the world.

Improves Candidate Quality

Not only can a one-way video interview increase companies’ access to a greater number of candidates, but it can also improve the quality of the candidates they receive.

Users of Hireflix echo this sentiment and say it helps their teams to better select candidates that match their ideal profile or skillset.

Think of it this way. When an employer sends out a one-way video interview link to a handful of candidates, those most interested in the position will likely complete their interview and send it back right away.

The ones who aren’t as interested? There’s a good chance they don’t even complete the online interview.

Which helps out the employer, because they don’t want to waste their time interviewing someone who’s not interested in their company.

With one-way interviews, they’ll instead be able to spend their time on candidates who have a genuine interest and have put forth the effort to showcase their skills and knowledge.

Better Candidate Experiences

While one-way interviews are great for hiring teams, they’re also super convenient for job seekers as well.

One way video interviews allow you to answer when you are in a good state of mind. If you are having a bad day, you can wait until tomorrow to reply when you are feeling better... which you can't do if a recruiter just called you.

With one-way interviews, candidates also benefit from a consistent and fair experience, since the process is the exact same for all other candidates and this is very reassuring.

Lastly, world-class one way video interviewing softwares such as Hireflix allow employers to add intro videos, video on the questions, outros etc... and hence for the candidate, taking the interview is also a way to be able to get an early sneak peek into culture of the employer.

Employers take note of this. They understand a bad interview experience can lead to a rejected job offer, so they turn to video interview software like Hireflix to help them give candidates a great first interaction with their brand.

Saves Money

Lastly (and arguably most importantly), one-way interviews help companies save money. And they help them save money in a couple of different ways.

First, businesses don’t have to worry about spending time or money on arranging travel accommodations.

They also don’t have to worry about the spending on the internal workforce it would take to actually conduct a large number of interviews at scale.

Because one HR employee can’t interview 100 candidates at once through the traditional phone screen method. It’d be a full team effort. Which means more workers, and more salaries to pay.

One-way interviews solve this problem.

They also help eliminate an even bigger problem: the cost of a bad hire. Which, according to recent data, can cost some companies nearly a quarter million dollars.

One-way interviews help weed out the wrong candidates (or at least the ones who can’t even give ~10 minutes of their time) and help companies spend their time on candidates who are truly interested.

How Does a One-Way Interview Work with Hireflix?

At Hireflix, we’ve worked hard to make the process of creating and sharing one-way interviews simpler than ever. Our platform provides the tools companies need to manage their interview process, sort through candidates, and connect with potential employees.

All companies need to do is record their video interview on the platform, making sure they show their brand in the best possible light.

Once companies have recorded their questions, they can send the video to hundreds or thousands of candidates at once. You can share video links over email, SMS, and even WhatsApp, covering everyone on your contact list.

Hiring managers can also share their video interviews with other team members, to ensure they’re asking all of the right questions for an effective job interview. Plus, Hireflix integrates with leading ATS tools, like BambooHR, as well as Slack and Zapier.

Once candidates receive the interview link, they don’t have to create an account or sign in to access the system.

They can record their responses from any device and see the deadline for submitting their answers in one convenient dashboard.

Responses are delivered straight back to the hiring manager or team through Hireflix and stored in the same unified environment, so that users can browse through responses at their convenience.

Sample One-Way Interview Questions (and Answers)

One of the most important steps in creating an excellent one-way interview process is ensuring the recorded interview includes the right questions — especially since they’ll be sent to the entire candidate pool.

We recommend employers stick to a few basic screening interview questions, which allow them to hit on what’s essential without making the interview take too long.

Here are some potential questions employers might use and tips on how to answer for candidates.

Tell me about yourself.

This is a fantastic introductory interview question that allows a candidate to highlight their key characteristics and background.

Candidates should tailor their answer to this question based on what they know about the company. Research the brand’s values and missions, so you can showcase characteristics you know the company wants.

What are your current job responsibilities?

This question gives a candidate an opportunity to show how prepared they are to handle the responsibilities associated with a new role.

It’s worth focusing heavily on responsibilities that show relevant experience for the position. For instance, in a job interview for a management position, you might draw attention to your leadership qualities.

What are your strengths?

Once again, this interview question allows candidates to show relevant strengths necessary for the role.

It’s worth reading through the job description again to see whether the employer has included any information about the qualities a good candidate should have.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Employers want candidates who show ambition and eagerness to grow.

When answering this question, candidates should show how they plan on improving their abilities and skills in the years ahead and what they want to achieve with the business.

Why do you want to work here?

This question ensures employers can see whether candidates are genuinely interested in their job opening, or just applying for anything.

A good candidate will be able to explain what they like about the business and why they believe they’re a good fit for the role.

What motivates you?

This question gives candidates a chance to demonstrate what factors keep them engaged and focused at work.

It’s a chance to show your commitment to your role, and provide hiring managers and supervisors with the information they need to inspire you in the future.

How do you manage stress?

Most jobs can have stressful aspects. Today’s employers are looking for candidates who show they know how to handle periods of stress and overcome challenges.

Explain how you deal with stress, and how you try to avoid stressful situations with proper planning.

How to Prepare for a One-Way Interview

Recruitment automation software and one-way interviews can make life a lot easier for candidates, as we’ve mentioned above. And one of the biggest upsides is that you don’t have to respond to questions on the spot. This means you have more time to prepare.

However, it’s still worth following a few interview tips to improve your chances of success. Let’s get into the best practices for candidates during one-way interviews:

Understand the Format

Some one-way video interview platforms require the candidate to create a profile or login, while others — like Hireflix — don’t require the candidate to sign up at all. Just click the interview link and start recording your answers.

It’s important to understand the platform being used and how it works to ensure you’re well-prepared and complete your side of the interview without any hiccups.

Research and Prepare

Get to know the company and role you’re applying for so you can tailor your responses specifically to that job. This will show a commitment to research and a genuine interest in the business.

After all, employers use these interviews not only to know more about you but also to measure how much you know about them.

Practice

You might think you don’t need to practice for a one-way interview, but that’s generally the wrong mindset. Because some platforms only allow candidates to record their answers one time. Which means you better be prepared to answer on the first try.

With Hireflix, recruiters and hiring teams can give candidates the option to redo their answers if they’re not happy with how their first response turned out.

Choose the Right Location

Make sure you’re recording your interview answers in the right environment. Choose a quiet space with no distractions and plenty of lighting.

Try to make sure no one will disturb you while you’re recording. You don’t want your roommate walking in on you while you’re in the middle of answering a question — especially if you don’t get any redos.

Dress Professionally

Although a video interview might not seem as formal as a face-to-face job interview, it’s still important to dress professionally.

You only get to make one first impression — make sure it’s a good one by dressing appropriately.

Maintain Good Posture and Eye Contact

Body language is an underrated characteristic that employers look for in candidates when reviewing interviews. Does the candidate look bored or engaged? Do they keep looking at something off-screen or are they focused on the camera?

How you present yourself in an interview can be just as important as the words you say. Look at the camera to maintain eye contact and sit up straight.

Monitor Your Timing

The last thing you want is to be in the middle of your answer, and then the recording stops because you reached the time limit. This is why it’s crucial to get to know the platform you’re using before you start answering questions.

At Hireflix, for instance, we give the employer the option to edit how much time a candidate gets to answer a question, and we show that timer in the top right corner of the screen so they won’t be caught off guard.

Be Yourself

Lastly and most importantly, be yourself and remember to stay calm and collected. Take a few deep breaths before you start your interview, and try to show confidence.

Remember to follow up with your potential employer after the interview too. At Hireflix, we notify the employer after you submit your response, but it’s worth sending an email to say thank you for the opportunity. This will help to present you in a stronger light.

The Power of the One-Way Interview

A one-way interview can be an incredible way for business leaders to transform the hiring process for both hiring managers and candidates alike. Not only is the process much simpler, but it’s a great way for teams to save time and money on recruitment too.

With Hireflix, companies can access all the tools they need for a powerful screening interview process in one environment.

Find out how you can use Hireflix to transform your recruitment strategy today. Request a demo of the platform here.