Candidate Guide to Spark Hire Video Interview

Have an interview on Spark Hire scheduled? Here is everything you need to know about the video interview system as a job seeker and how to do your best.

With more and more companies using video interviewing software like Spark Hire to screen candidates, it's important to know how to make a good impression on a one-way interview. Here are some tips to help you ace your next Spark Hire video interview and get one step closer to your dream job.

What Is Spark Hire?

Spark Hire is a video interviewing platform that allows employers to screen candidates by conducting video interviews. Spark Hire offers both one-way video interviews and live-video interviews.

The Spark Hire One Way Video interview is called asynchronous because only you, the candidate, are present and doing the talking. For the live-video interviews on Spark Hire, both the employer and candidate are present.

Spark Hire also provides employers with a number of additional tools for the hiring process. This includes video messaging for candidate follow-up, interview scheduling, evaluation tools, and ways for everyone involved in the hiring process to collaborate.

How Does Spark Hire Work?

The employer will send you an invite to a video interview. Spark Hire allows employers to send the same candidate multiple interviews and all of these are kept together in your candidate profile for the employer to see. Spark Hire also provides the employer with a number of analytics about your performance in the interviews - for one or multiple jobs.

If you're invited to participate in a Spark Hire One Way Video Interview, you will be asked to record responses to pre-selected questions. These questions will be provided to you in advance, and you will have a set amount of time to record your response.

You can record your responses using a webcam, your smartphone, or a tablet. Once you have recorded your responses, they will be sent to the employer for review.

You must submit your interview answers before the deadline set by the employer that invited you. You will not be able to access the interview after the deadline. However, employers can extend your interview deadline on their end if you ask them to adjust the setting. But, you must talk to the potential employer and ask for this system adjustment.

Employers can also opt to integrate Spark Hire with their other HR systems including their applicant tracking systems (ATS). This means that the data and videos collected about you by Spark Hire will end up in the primary HR system or in all of them - depending on how the employer set up the connections. So, how you do in the Spark Hire video interviews matters.

Spark Hire Common Questions During 1 - Way Interview

Candidates interviewing on Spark Hire will receive a number of questions from employers. These can be shown during the interview by text or in a video. Employers can (and often do) use the same questions.

To prepare for your upcoming Spark Hire one-way video interview think about your answers to the following common questions used by employers:

• Tell me about yourself

• Why should we hire you?

• What's your greatest career accomplishment?

• Tell me about a big mistake, how you dealt with it, and what you learned from the experience.

• Why do you want this job?

• Where do you see yourself in five years?

• What type of work environment do you prefer?

• What are your biggest weaknesses?

• Tell me about a time you went over and above to get the job done.

• How do you evaluate success?

• Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult person.

• How do you handle stress and pressure?

• What are your strengths?

• How do you handle criticism?

• Why do you think you are a good fit for this role?

• How have your past experiences prepared you for this position?

• How have you succeeded with similar roles?

Tips to Prepare for Spark Hire One-Way Interview

Now that you know how the system works and common questions to expect in your Spark Hire interview, you can start preparing for your upcoming one-way or live interview. Here are the top things to remember in preparing for your Spark Hire interview.

Practice, Practice, Practice

The best way to ensure you'll do well on your Spark Hire video interview is to practice ahead of time. This means not only practicing your answers to common interview questions but also getting comfortable with the format and interface of the Spark Hire software. Test your bandwidth, the location, and your device. Practice recording yourself so you can get a feel for how the system works. The more comfortable you are with the system and your answers, the better you'll do in your actual interview.

Dress for Success

Another important tip is to dress for success. Just because the interview is taking place online doesn't mean you should treat it any differently than an in-person interview. Get dressed in professional clothing as if you were going into an office for an interview. This will help you feel more confident and project a polished, put-together image.

Create a Professional Setting

When setting up for your Spark Hire video interview, be sure to create a professional setting. Choose a quiet location with good lighting and limited distractions. You want the hiring manager to be able to focus on your answers and not be distracted by anything in your environment.

Avoid interviewing in places where there is too much background noise or where people are likely to walk by and interrupt the conversation. The last thing you want is for your perfect answer to be cut off by a loud dog barking or a delivery person coming through the door!

Be Professional from Start to Finish

Remember, these videos will become a part of your permanent candidate record with the employer and can be saved everywhere in the HR systems. So, make sure to keep your professionalism up in each of your videos that answer the questions on Spark Hire. This includes using proper grammar and speaking clearly.

It's also important to be aware of your body language. Even though the hiring manager can't see you, they will be able to sense through the video if you are slouching, fidgeting, or avoiding eye contact. So, sit up straight, make eye contact with the camera, and avoid any fidgeting or nervous gestures.

Be Enthusiastic

While it might be tempting to just go through the motions during a one-way video interview, it's important to remain enthusiastic from start to finish. The Spark Hire collaboration features enable everyone involved in the hiring process to see your video interviews.

You won't make it very far in the process if you look uninterested or mechanical in these interviews. Hiring managers and colleagues will want to see someone that is excited about the opportunity and who could be a good person to work with.

So, make sure to smile, sit up straight, and use hand gestures when appropriate. You want to come across as engaged and interested in the role, even though you're not speaking with someone in person.

Be Mindful of Your Body Language

Your nonverbal cues say just as much about you as your words do, so it's important to be aware of your body language during a video interview. Sit up straight, uncross your arms, and resist the urge to fidget.

Remember to maintain eye contact with the camera rather than looking at yourself on-screen during each recording of your answers on Spark Hire. This will prevent you from coming across as disinterested or distracted. And if you need to refer to notes during the interview, be sure to do so without breaking eye contact or otherwise disrupting your flow.

Keep in Mind the Technicalities

Of course, it's important to be aware of the technical aspects of your Spark Hire video interview as well. Make sure you have a strong internet connection and that your webcam is positioned so that the hiring manager can see you clearly. Be sure to do a test run prior to the interview so that you can identify and troubleshoot any potential issues in advance.

Be Smart about Re-recording Your Answers

Spark Hire gives employers the ability to set how many times a job seeker records their answers. Candidates can see how many times they can attempt an answer for a question before they view the question.

Spark Hire calls these "Takes." You will not be able to exceed the number of attempts or takes that are set by the employer. So, use them wisely as the most recent answer will be submitted when you run out of takes. You also cannot record more takes once you move on from the question.

Think Time is Limited

Employers can also give candidates a set amount of time to think about their answers before recording them on Spark Hire. This time to think is the total amount of time that you can think about your answer before the recorder automatically starts. You will have 1 take, or attempt when there is a question with "Think Time."

You won't know that a Think Time question is coming before you get started, so make sure that you have paper out by your computer. This will enable you to write down your thoughts and organize them before you get started. You get one shot at answering this question and will want to be as organized as possible when that recorder starts.

Video interviews are becoming increasingly popular, so it's important to know how to make a good impression on one. By following these tips, you'll be sure to ace your next Spark Hire video interview and take one step closer to landing your dream job.

Want help preparing for your upcoming job interviews? Submit your information below and our team of interviewing experts will be in touch to help you do your best.