What is a "one-way" interview?
Today, there are all kinds of ways to do an interview. Many of these came into being even before the pandemic forced us all on Zoom and GoToMeeting and FaceTime.
By now, you’ve probably heard about, and experienced, a video interview. These come in different forms. There’s the
two-way interview
where in real time, you the candidate are talking with the hiring manager. Just like an in-person interview, you ask each other questions and learn if you want to go on to another interview. Right now, these are the only interviews taking place at most companies, as opposed to "in person". This arrangement gives each party an equal chance to communicate.
THEN there are
one-way video interviews
.
One-Way Video Interview Type #1
I've written about this one before: This is the interview that’s online and records your responses using the camera on your computer. They give you a few trial questions, then real questions, giving you time to think about your answer, then gives you time to record your answer, then gives another question and time to think about it, records that answer, and so on.
An advantage to the company doing an interview this way is that all its decision-makers get to see the same candidate interview, wherever they are, whenever they can stream the interview.
An advantage to the
candidate
in using this method is s/he is well-briefed on the process and is given a chance to think and prepare, which introduces fairness into the process. So I have no problem with this style of “one-way interview”. HireVue and SparkHire are two companies who provide this platform.
One-Way Video Interview Type #2 - run away!
In
this
interview, imagine you’re on one side of the camera, at your computer, answering
live
interview questions from a
live
team at the company that’s set up a
live
video interview. You login, and you’re ON.
But
you can’t see the team, you don’t know who they are (they don’t introduce themselves nor are you given their names), and you can’t see their reactions when you answer questions.
Whoever dreamed up
this
style video interview on behalf of their company is a heartless manipulator. It puts the candidate in a distinctly powerless position: It’s as if the company is saying “We know your name and have seen your resume but you don’t know who we are, what we do, or what we really expect from you, heh heh heh.”
I think these are awful and it says volumes about the culture of the company who would use this method: So run away screaming, or you will be working for a feudal lord who thinks s/he can make you do anything they want. Cross this company off your target company list!
________________________________________________________
In a 1:1 Zoom video session,
I can help you
ace your interviewing -- you see yourself improve!
Your location does not matter.
