On-demand video interview questions

When you configure questions for on-demand video interviews, you specify the question type you want to use (image, audio, text, or video) and then create the content for the question.

Question

Question types are categories of questions you can use when creating questions for on-demand interviews. Question types do not define the content of questions you want to ask candidates, but instead specify the format in which you want to present the question. For example, if you want to assess a candidate's ability to understand Spanish, you can use an audio question to present a clip of someone speaking Spanish. You can write text instructions within the question that ask candidates to listen to the audio clip and translate what they heard.

Select the following links to view information and examples for each of the available question types.

Audio questions

Use audio questions when you want to present an audio file for candidates to respond to during their interview.

Audio questions are comprised of an audio clip you want candidates to listen to, and instructional text to help candidates understand how to respond to the clip.

Audio question settings

Question: Text field you can use to provide introductory information and instructions on how you want candidates to reply. Text field supports basic HTML formatting.
Require candidate to answer: Indicates whether the candidate is required to record an answer to the question. When you select this option, candidates will be unable to move to the next question without successfully completing this one.
Audio: Audio recording controls that lets you record the audio file you want to play for candidates.
Upload: Opens a window where you can select and upload an .mp3 audio file from your computer you want to play for candidates. Audio files must be .mp3 or .m4a files no larger than 100MB.

Example and candidate experience

You are interviewing candidates for a customer service position and want to evaluate the way in which they handle difficult customers. You created an audio clip of an angry customer calling the customer service desk. You would like candidates to listen to the clip, and then respond as they would if they received this call.

To achieve this goal in Hirevue, you create a new audio question. When candidates complete their on-demand interview, they can read your question and select the Play icon on the audio controls to listen to your audio clip. They can respond to the question using the answer type you define.

Image questions

Use image questions when you want to present an image for candidates to evaluate and respond to during their interview.

Image questions are comprised of an image file (.jpeg, .bmp, .png, .gif, .tif, .tiff) and text that specifies the question you want candidates to answer about the image.

Image question settings

Question: Text field you can use to provide introductory information and instructions on how you want candidates to reply. Text field supports basic HTML formatting.
Require candidate to answer: Indicates whether the candidate is required to record an answer to the question. When you select this option, candidates will be unable to move to the next question without successfully completing this one.
Image: Image display and upload controls that let you browse for an image on your computer and upload it to your question. Once uploaded, the image appears in this window. Images must be no larger than 20MB and saved in one of the following supported formats: .jpeg, .bmp, .png, .gif, .tif, .tiff

Example and candidate experience

You are the hiring manager for a garden center, and are interviewing candidates for sales positions in the tree department. To assess the candidates' ability to identify common tree types, you want to show them an image of four-leaf types and ask them to provide the name of the associated tree.

To achieve this goal in Hirevue, you create a new image question and include the image you created. You configure a fill-in-the-blank answer type to allow candidates to type their response for each numbered image.

When candidates complete their on-demand interview, they can read your question and review the images. They type their answers in the associated text boxes.

Text questions (default)

Use text questions to write questions you want the candidate to read and answer during their interview.

Text questions are comprised of a single text field in which you type the question you want candidates to read and reply to.

Text question settings

Question: Text field you can use to provide introductory information and instructions on how you want candidates to reply. Text field supports basic HTML formatting.
Require candidate to answer: Indicates whether the candidate is required to record an answer to the question. When you select this option, candidates will be unable to move to the next question without successfully completing this one.

Example and candidate experience

You are interviewing candidates for a customer service position, and want to find out how they approach difficulties in their current position.

To achieve this goal in HireVue, you create a new text question asking candidates how they approach difficulties. When candidates complete their on-demand interview, they can read your question and respond to the question using the answer type you define.

Video questions

Use video questions to present a video you want candidates to watch and respond to during their interview.

Video questions are comprised of a video clip you want candidates to watch and text that specifies the question you want candidates to answer about the video.

Video question settings

Question: Text field you can use to provide introductory information and instructions on how you want candidates to reply. Text field supports basic HTML formatting.
Require candidate to answer: Indicates whether the candidate is required to record an answer to the question. When you select this option, candidates will be unable to move to the next question without successfully completing this one.
Video: Video recording controls that let you record the video file you want to play for candidates.

Example and candidate experience

As you interview candidates, you want to make sure they adhere to the cultural and ethical standards of your company. To screen candidates, you want to present them with an ethical dilemma and then ask them to respond.

To achieve this goal in HireVue, you create a new video question and include a video to present the dilemma.

When candidates complete their on-demand interview, they can read your question and select the Play icon on the video controls to watch the video clip. They can respond to the question using the answer type you define.

Answer format

When you configure answers for on-demand video interviews, you specify the response type you want to use, as well as system settings and recording options you want HireVue to use when collecting candidate responses.

Response types are the categories you use to specify how candidates can respond to questions during on-demand interviews. For example, if you use an audio response type for a question in an on-demand interview, candidates will be required to record an audio clip when responding to your question.

Response types include video, audio, fill-in-the-blank, single select, multiple select, or text.

Video

Use video responses if you want candidates to record a video of themselves answering the interview question.

To use this response type, configure the following settings:

Response Time: Determines whether candidates have an unlimited length of time to respond or whether they must complete their response within a defined time limit. If you are restricting the amount of time to respond, then you can enter the length of time (in minutes and seconds) that candidates have to answer the question. When the time limit expires, the system ends recording and moves to the next question.
Recording Mode: Specifies the time and retake limitations you want to apply to the answer.

Audio

Audio answers require candidates record an audio clip of themselves answering the interview question.

To use this response type, configure the following settings:

Response Time: Determines whether candidates have an unlimited length of time to respond or whether they must complete their response within a defined time limit. If you are restricting the amount of time to respond, then you can enter the length of time (in minutes and seconds) that candidates have to answer the question. When the time limit expires, the system ends recording and moves to the next question.
Recording Mode: Specifies the time and retake limitations you want to apply to the answer.

Fill-in-the-blank

Fill-in-the-blank answers require candidates type answers to the interview question in the text fields provided. Text fields configured for the answer should match those described in the question. For example, if you want candidates to identify parts of an image, then you could use an image question, accompanied by a fill-in-the-blank answer. Candidates could then evaluate the image and type their answers in the fields provided.

To use this response type, configure the following settings:

Fill-in-the-blank labels: Defines the labels you want to use for each fill-in-the-blank field in the answer. Type a label in the first field, and then select + to add additional fill-in-the-blank answers.
Recording Mode: Specifies the time and retake limitations you want to apply to the answer.

Single select

Single select answers require candidates select one answer from a list when answering the interview question. For example, if you want candidates to answer a yes or no question, you can use a single select answer to ensure they can only select one of the answer options you provide (yes or no).

When you use a single select answer, you can also assign scores to each answer, which helps you quickly evaluate and rate candidates based on their response.

To use this response type, configure the following settings. You must enter at least two options for each single select field you define.

Choice: Defines the labels you want to use for each single select answer. Type a label in the first fields, and then select + to add additional choice answers.
Score: Specifies the candidate score you want to assign to each answer selection. Candidates do not see assigned scores. For more information, see Assessments.
Recording Mode: Specifies the time and retake limitations you want to apply to the answer.

Multiple select

Multiple select answers require candidates select one or more answers from a list when answering the interview question. For example, you can use multiple select answers to request candidates select the shifts they are available to work.

When you use a multiple select answer, you can also assign scores to each answer, which helps you to quickly evaluate and rate candidates based on their response.

To use this response type, configure the following settings:

Choice: Options you want candidates to select from when responding to the question. Candidates can select as many choices as they like.
Score: Specifies the candidate score you want to assign to each answer selection. Candidates do not see assigned scores. For more information, see Assessments.
Recording Mode: Specifies the time and retake limitations you want to apply to the answer.

Text

Text answers require candidates type a string of text when answering the interview question. For example, you can use text answers during screening interviews to request candidates type written answers to simple questions, such as "why did you leave your last place of employment?"

When you use a text answer, you can restrict the amount of text candidates can enter by configuring the answer with a set character limit. For example, when you set the character limit to 1000, then candidates can only type 1000 characters when entering their response.

To use this response type, configure the following settings:

Character Limit: Maximum number of characters candidates can type when completing their response. The default character limit is 4000 characters.
Recording Mode: Specifies the time and retake limitations you want to apply to the answer.

Review format

Review format is the same for all interview types. For more information and a description of the fields available in the Review Format section, see Interview questions (Review format).

Recording modes

When you configure an answer type for an on-demand interview, you use Recording Mode to specify the time and retake limitations you want to apply to the answer. For example, when configuring a video answer, you can specify the time limit for candidates to respond, as well as the number of retakes they are allowed.

Select the following links to view more information about each available recording mode and the resulting candidate experience.

Spontaneous

Spontaneous mode requires candidates provide their answers immediately, with no retakes and with limited Think Time. Think Time is the length of time (in minutes and seconds) candidates have to access the question and prepare their response. Think Time begins as soon as the question is played or displayed, and ends when the configured time expires.

Spontaneous recording mode is available for all answer types.

Spontaneous mode settings

When Recording Mode is set to Spontaneous, the Think Time fields appear. Think Time is the length of time after which candidates either see or hear the question during which they can prepare their response. When Think Time expires, candidates are required to respond to the question.

When Think Time is set to "0" candidates must respond immediately. Best practice is to give candidates a Think Time of 10 seconds or longer in which to prepare their response.

Below is an example of the answer settings related to Spontaneous recording mode.

Spontaneous mode candidate experience

Below are examples of the candidate experience when you configure an answer to use Spontaneous recording mode.

Step 1: Candidates read instructions

When candidates reach the question page, instructional text informs them of the length of time they have to review the question and prepare a response.

To proceed, candidates select View Question.

Step 2: Candidates begin Think Time

When candidates select View Question, a pop-up appears, telling them how to begin their Think Time, and once they do, how long it will last.

If candidates want to:

Access the question and begin their Think Time, they select Start Think Time.
Exit the pop-up without answering the question, they select Cancel. If the question is required, candidates must return later to begin Think Time and answer the question.

Step 3: Think Time begins

When candidates select Start Think Time, the pop-up window closes and they are returned to the question page, where the question is now displayed. The Think Time countdown begins and is displayed in the counter above the video screen.

Note: The character limit for the question text to appear inline on the question page is 800 characters (inclusive of HTML). If the number of characters in the question exceeds 800 characters, the candidate will need to select Read Question and a popup will display with the question text. Keep this in mind when creating questions with restricted response time.

Step 4: Candidates record their response

When the Think Time expires, HireVue automatically begins to record the candidate's response. If you configured a Time Limit in the answer settings for the question, the Time Limit timer now begins to count down as the candidate delivers their response.

When the time is up, recording stops and the candidate can proceed to the next question.

Unlimited retakes (default)

Unlimited Retakes mode permits candidates to re-record or re-enter their answer as many times as they like before submitting their interview.

Unlimited Retakes is available for all answer types.

See the candidate experience

Below is an example of the candidate experience when you select the Unlimited Retakes recording mode.

Single take

Single Take mode allows candidates only one chance to record their answer to a question. Once candidates begin recording their response to a question, they must complete their response within the defined time limit, and then move on to the next question.

See the candidate experience

Below is an example of the candidate experience when you select the Single Take recording mode.

One retake - five retakes

One Retake through Five Retakes lets you specify the number of times candidates can re-record their video or audio responses during an on-demand interview. You can select one, two, three, four, or five retake modes.

One Retake - Five Retakes is only available for video and audio answer types.

See the candidate experience

Below is an example of the candidate experience when you select the Two Retakes recording mode.

Scoring

Scoring lets you assign values to candidate responses when creating multiple choice and multiple select answers. When you assign scores to a multiple choice or multiple select answer, then you can rate and prioritize candidates based on the answer they select. Scores are not visible to candidates.

For example, if you want to know if candidates are willing to travel, you can create a text question that asks candidates to select "Yes" if they are willing to travel, and "No" if they are not. You can then create a multiple-choice answer with two choices (Yes and No), and assign a score of 100 to Yes and 0 to No.

When reviewing candidates, you can rate, prioritize, or advance candidates by their question score. For more information about advancing candidates based on score, see Advancement.

Example and candidate experience

You are screening candidates for a call center position and need to know if candidates are eligible to work in the U.S. Candidates ineligible to work in the U.S. are automatically disqualified from consideration.

To save time in sifting through candidate interview responses, you want to be able to quickly identify eligible candidates and move them to the next interview stage.

To achieve this goal in HireVue, you create an on-demand text question asking candidates if they are eligible to work in the U.S. Next, you create a multiple-choice answer with two choices: Yes and No. You assign a score of 100 to the Yes answer, and 0 to the No answer.

When candidates complete the interview, they can read the question, and then select Yes if they are eligible to work in the U.S., and No if they are not.

When all interviews are complete, you can open the on-demand video grid to review the candidate interviews. You can select the Question Score column to filter candidate responses by question score. The following image shows two of the four candidates responded Yes to the eligibility question, thereby earning them question scores of 100. You can easily select those two candidates to move to the next interview stage, and then decline the ineligible candidates.