What are live interviews?

Live interviews are job interviews conducted over real-time video calls. It’s a synchronous mode of communication, so both the interviewer and candidate are present simultaneously.

While you can conduct live interviews using a general-purpose video call app, you may want to opt for specialized software designed for live interviews. Indeed Interview is a live interview platform available at no cost to any employer who places a job ad on Indeed.

Requiring no apps to download or links to manage, Indeed Interview is accessible directly through a web browser. It automatically sends reminders and interview tips to candidates. Interviewers also have the option to record their live interviews. They can then share the recordings with colleagues to get their input or watch them later to evaluate the candidates before making a decision.

What are one-way interviews?

One-way interviews are also known as prerecorded video interviews. While live interviews are synchronous, one-way interviews offer an asynchronous mode of communication that doesn’t require the interviewer and candidate to be present at the same time. 

In a one-way interview, the interviewer sends the candidate a prerecorded video containing the interview questions. The candidate records a video of their answers to the questions and sends it back to the interviewer.

The interviewer and candidate can send their videos through email or a file-sharing service. Alternatively, the hiring company can use an interview platform designed for this purpose. These platforms are either web-based, desktop or mobile apps. The interviewer can record their video on the platform and send a link to the candidate. Upon clicking the link, the candidate can watch the interviewer’s prerecorded video and record their answers, all on the same platform.

Recruiters and managers at the hiring company can then watch the candidate’s video and use it to assess whether the candidate is a good fit for the open position.

Live vs. prerecorded video interviews

Both live and one-way interviews let hiring companies avoid the expense of flying in candidates for face-to-face meetings. They also make the interviewing process more convenient for job candidates by saving them the time and hassle of traveling to the hiring company’s location.

In a comparison of live and prerecorded video interviews, each format has its pros and cons.

Pros and cons of live interviews

As a synchronous form of communication, live interviews allow the interviewers to probe the candidates by asking follow-up questions, but they also come with drawbacks.

Advantages of live interviews

• Natural conversations: In a live interview, the interviewer and candidate can have a normal back-and-forth conversation similar to a face-to-face interview. This natural flow of dialogue creates a more comfortable experience for the candidate, improving the hiring company’s appeal as an employer and helping to attract high-quality candidates.
• In-depth probing: The interviewer can probe deeper into the candidate’s experience and skill sets by asking follow-up questions based on the candidate’s previous answers. This in-depth probing helps the interviewer develop a more thorough assessment of the candidate, leading to better hiring decisions.
• The ability for candidates to ask questions: Live interviews support two-way interactions. The candidate can ask the interviewer questions about the open position, compensation, benefits, the hiring company and its culture. The interviewer can take this opportunity to present the company as a desirable workplace.

Disadvantages of live interviews

• Inefficient: Conducting live interviews is time-consuming for the interviewers, as they can only talk to one candidate at a time.
• Unscalable: The one-on-one nature of live interviews means that they’re unscalable. Talking to 10 candidates using live interviews takes 10 times as long as talking to one. There’s no economy of scale in live interviews.
• Scheduling difficulty: Because both the interviewer and candidate need to be present simultaneously in a live interview, scheduling can be a problem. If the candidate already has a full-time job, making time during business hours to attend a live interview can be especially difficult. This extra burden may discourage high-quality candidates from moving forward in the hiring process.

Pros and cons of one-way interviews

The asynchronous nature of one-way interviews offers unmatched scheduling flexibility and convenience, but there are also shortcomings.

Advantages of one-way interviews

• Efficient: One-way interviews can save a significant amount of time for the interviewers. They only need to record one video that they can reuse repeatedly. This economy of scale makes one-way interviews very efficient.
• Scalable: Interviewers can send the same prerecorded video to any number of candidates they like. This one-video-fits-all nature makes one-way interviews highly scalable. Hiring companies can evaluate dozens of candidates quickly using this format.
• Scheduling flexibility: The asynchronous nature of one-way interviews means there’s no need to schedule interview times. Candidates can record their answers any time they like. They don’t need to take a day off from their current job to attend an interview. This flexibility can attract more high-quality candidates.

Disadvantages of one-way interviews

• Unfamiliar format: One-way interviews require candidates to launch into monologues in response to the interviewers’ prerecorded questions. Some job applicants may find this format uncomfortable, especially in front of a camera. This discomfort can deter candidates from pursuing the open position.
• Lack of follow-up questions: Due to the asynchronous nature of one-way interviews, interviewers can’t ask follow-up questions to probe deeper into candidates’ answers. 
• No candidate questions: With one-way interviews, candidates can’t ask questions about the hiring company or the job. This can subtract from the candidate experience and discourage applicants from proceeding.

When to use live interviews

Live interviews are more time-consuming but allow a deeper dialogue between the interviewers and candidates. They’re ideal for later-round in-depth interviews of candidates who have already passed the initial screening.

When to use one-way interviews

One-way interviews are efficient and scalable. Use them as an initial screening tool to assess a large number of candidates quickly.

Live interviews best practices

• Test the system: Test your live interview system beforehand. Make sure the software works smoothly, the network is fast enough, and the camera and mic function properly.
• Use scheduling software: Use a scheduling tool to automate the scheduling of live interviews. This can save you and your candidates countless emails and calls.
• Prepare beforehand: Prepare a list of questions you want to ask. Use a structured interview format if possible. Read the candidate’s resume and application ahead of time.
• Reserve a quiet room: Make sure you have access to a private room for interviews. You don’t want noises or interruptions from colleagues negatively impacting your live interviews.

One-way interviews best practices

• Provide an introduction: In the prerecorded video, introduce yourself and your company and briefly talk about the open position before asking your interview questions. This helps the candidates understand your culture and what you’re looking for.
• Provide a tutorial: Give candidates a tutorial on how to complete one-way interviews, as many may not be familiar with the format. Provide a checklist of the things they’ll need, such as a camera, mic and any necessary software.
• Don’t overwhelm your candidates: Ask no more than five questions. Any more than that may deter candidates from completing the interview.
• Make your expectation clear: When you ask a question, be specific about what you expect from the candidates. For example, if you want the answer to be less than 5 minutes long, make that clear.