How to nail a one-way video interview

If you’re like most International Studies students, you’re probably wondering how you can translate your degree into a career after you finish studying, and this is where government graduate jobs come in, along with their dreaded application processes. A big part of this process is the one-way video interview.

So what is it?

The one-way video interview is usually around the middle of the application process, and you might get a chance to do one if you’ve passed the initial written application stage. The actual interview works as follows:

You’ll log into a piece of software that will present you with a few pre-recorded questions from the department you’re applying for (that’s right, you won’t actually be talking to anyone). You’ll normally get 1 minute to read the question and prepare, and when that’s done the software will automatically begin recording and you’ll have 2-3 minutes to answer.

Before you answer the real questions though, they’ll give you a chance to practice with a generic question, and your response won’t be sent to the interviewer. Some departments will even let you record your answer to a question a second time if you weren’t happy with your first attempt. How generous!

So now that you know what’s involved, how do you prepare for one?

The most important thing here is to predict what kind of questions you might be asked. Usually you’ll get 1 or 2 behavioural questions, as well as a question that tests your knowledge of the department or the role you’re applying for.

Studying for the latter is relatively easy. Make sure you’ve read through the job advertisement thoroughly, as well as making sure you’re familiar with what the department does. You’ll often get asked what you think the biggest challenge for the department is going forward, so make sure you have an opinion on that.

Preparing for the behavioural questions is a little trickier, as there are dozens of different things they can ask you about. These questions might include, “Tell me about a time you overcame a difficult challenge in a group project?” or “Tell me about a time you found a creative solution to a problem at work or university?” for example.

Luckily, UNSW has some great resources to help you here, including this guide to the most common behavioural questions. If you want to be thorough, go through each of these and make sure you can talk about a situation that highlights your strengths for each potential question.

So now that you’ve prepared for the questions, the rest is about your setup and your presentation. Obviously, you’ll need to dress as you would for an interview. even though your bottom half won’t be seen, it can help you prepare mentally to be dressed fully for the occasion.

You’ll also need to test your camera and microphone and make sure you’re in a quiet and well-lit space. Your camera should be close to eye level, so get out the biggest books you have and stack them underneath your laptop!

Most importantly however, you need to show the interviewer your personality.

This is the first time in the process that they get to see you and hear you, so you’ve got to take this chance to make an impression.

When the clock is ticking down and the software is about to start recording your answer, make sure you’re already smiling so there’s no awkward change of expression at the start of the video, and you come across as open and friendly. It also helps to direct your eyes towards the camera rather than the screen, so the interviewer feels you’re speaking to them more directly.

Speak calmly and confidently. Try to use up all the time if you can, but don’t waffle. And don’t be afraid to put in a small joke or light-hearted comment! The most important thing is that they can see who you are, and why you’d be a good fit.

Ultimately, remember that everyone is nervous going into this, and nobody’s response is going to be perfect. Have confidence in your experience and your preparation and let your personality shine through, and you will have given yourself the best chance possible to advance to the final rounds!