Not too long ago, in our very own galaxy, the interviewing process used to be conducted entirely by humans. One could expect to talk to a real human, even if it were a brief 10-minute call with a recruiter. Nowadays, more and more companies are relying on AI tools and technology to shorten the time spent by humans on interviewing. Cue the music for…one-way interviews with nobody.
A one-way interview, also known as a pre-recorded interview, is one where job candidates record themselves on a video, answering pre-selected questions or prompts from the employer. There is no interviewer present; real humans will be evaluating your answers after you submit them.
Typically, you will be asked fairly introductory interview questions to help the employer get a first impression of you. Questions include: “Tell me about yourself,” “Why are you interested in this role?” and “What are your salary requirements?”
Some employers also use this format to gauge candidates’ presentation and speaking skills. Hence, candidates applying for jobs that require public speaking or client contact would do well to present themselves in their best possible light in one-way interviews. Last but not least, this type of interview is also a way to test how well you follow instructions—more on this later.
Few job candidates love one-way interviews. They hate the impersonal format with no live feedback. A common difficulty is fitting answers into the allotted time. Or interviewees may not have the proper equipment or place to record. This last issue can be solved by turning to your local library. Many libraries offer laptops and private rooms for patron use.
On the bright side, there are advantages to one-way interviews:
Most one-way interviews allow for you to record multiple times. You can practice, perfect and re-record your responses.
You can curate your background and choose a recording space that is completely comfortable for you.
You can write out your answers beforehand and refine them.
You can record at a time that is optimized for you. If you’re not a morning person, you get to record in the evening.
One-way interviews are not easy to do, but you can use the following strategies to ace them:
Give a lot of thought as to how you will look in the video. Pay particular attention to your background, sound quality and lighting. Do not record in a place where your dogs might be barking, your kids crying or the garbage truck rumbling along. Treat this as a professional interview, even if you are at home with pajama bottoms on.
On the subject of pajama bottoms, I recommend dressing fully in professional attire from head to toe during the interview to put you in a proper work mindset .
Be sure to check how your face is positioned and how it looks on screen. I have seen way too many people show up on zoom too close to the camera or with their faces cut in half. I have also seen too many people show up at professional meetings looking like FBI informants. Generally, direct light on your face is a bad idea, but a gentle light in front of your computer might be flattering. Experiment with all kinds of lights and lamp placement.
Check your background. Please do not have a background of the beach, the outdoors or Paris. You do not want your employer to think that you are focused on having fun, unless you are applying for a job as a naturalist, lifeguard or tour guide.
Be sure to follow all instructions to the letter. For instance, there may be a time limit to your responses. Be sure to adhere to this and practice accordingly. The employer might take it as a flaw if you are unable to follow their instructions. Another common instruction is the format in which they want your video. If they specifically ask for an mpg file, do not upload a different file format. Simple details matter at this stage of the interview game.
Leave plenty of time to record and edit your video. I would budget for this type of interview to take at least several hours if you want a polished product. Do not leave this until the last minute.
Before you hit record, think through and write out the main bullets you want to hit. You want to be able to record your answers in a natural way, but you also have a time limit.
Practice and time yourself first, then record and re-record as many times as you are allowed to.
Look at your camera lens, rather than your computer screen. Depending on your computer, you want to check that your recording shows good eye contact. You can put a photo of a good friend by your camera lens to help maintain eye contact and relax you.
Choose your outfit carefully so that it looks professional as well as shows well on camera. Remember that you will mostly be recorded from the chest up so pick a top that looks professional from that angle. My non-fashionista take on this is to avoid stripes, loud prints or any designs that look unprofessional or are distracting to the eye.
Check whether you are allowed to re-record. A few employers limit this option.
All interviews, no matter their format, tend to be nerve-wracking. However, one-way interviews are beneficial in the sense that they give you more control of the process and thus can be less stressful. Follow the tips above and you will be prepared to shine…even when talking all by yourself on camera.
Anne Chan is a career consultant and licensed California psychotherapist. She specializes in helping people find happiness in their careers and lives. You can reach her at an*********@***il.com © Anne Chan, 2026
