Interviews · 6 min read
How do I do well in a one-way video or AI interview?
You record answers to set questions with a timer and no one on the other end. Prepare stories, check your setup, and know your rights to notice.
The short answer
In a one-way video interview you record answers to set questions on a timer, usually with one practice question and limited retakes. A recruiter may watch them later, and some employers use software to help sort them. Prepare the same way as a live interview: five or six true stories mapped to the post's must-haves. Then test your camera, light and sound, look at the lens, and answer in about the time allowed. In some places, such as Illinois and New York City, employers must tell you when AI is used.
On this page 4 sections
How they work
- You get a link and a deadline, often a few days.
- Each question appears on screen, with thinking time and a recording limit.
- There's usually a practice question that isn't sent.
- Retakes may be allowed, limited or not offered.
Set up in ten minutes
- Face a window or lamp so your face is lit from the front.
- Raise the laptop so the camera is at eye level.
- Use headphones with a mic, or test the built-in mic in a quiet room.
- Close notifications and other apps.
- Do the practice question twice.
Answering to a camera
Look at the lens, not your own face. Smile at the start of each answer, say the first sentence slowly, and end with a clear final line so the clip doesn't trail off.
OffLadder CV, our free Chrome extension, hands any job post to Laddie for a five-question mock interview for that role, weighted to the parts you're least sure of. You answer in your own words.
Questions people ask
- Does AI decide whether I pass a video interview?
- It depends on the employer. Some only record for people to watch; some use software to help rank or transcribe. You usually can't tell from outside, so prepare for a human viewer.
- Do I have to be told if AI analyses my interview?
- In Illinois, the Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act requires employers to tell you and get consent. In New York City, Local Law 144 requires notice and bias audits for automated tools used in hiring decisions. Rules elsewhere vary.
- Can I use notes?
- A few keywords stuck near the camera are fine. Reading a script shows on video, because your eyes move.
- How long should each answer be?
- Use most of the time allowed without running into the cut-off. For a two-minute limit, aim for about 90 seconds.
- What if I mess up a take?
- If retakes are allowed, use one. If not, correct yourself briefly and carry on. Recruiters expect small slips.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act, section 5 (820 ILCS 42/5) · Illinois General Assembly
- Automated employment decision tools (Local Law 144) · NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.