Yobber
Guide

The right questions for a structured video interview

A structured interview gives every candidate the same questions in the same order. The answers become comparable, the selection becomes fairer, and you see who fits before you have met.

Why structured?

In an ordinary interview a lot depends on the day: your energy, the candidate's nerves and whichever follow-up questions happen to come up. Two candidates can get completely different interviews for the same job.

When everyone answers the same questions, you compare answer with answer instead of impression with impression. Every candidate gets the same chance, and it is easier to explain why someone moved forward.

The same questions, in the same order, for everyone.

Two kinds of questions

Putting the questions together is easier if you split them into two groups. Always ask for real examples: let candidates describe what they have done, not what they are like.

Getting to know the candidate

Works as a first step, right in the application.

  1. 1How would a colleague describe you?
  2. 2What makes you interested in this particular job?
  3. 3Tell us about the last time you got really good service. What made it memorable?

Skills and experience

Works after a first screening, when you want to go deeper with fewer candidates.

  1. 1Tell us about a time when you had a lot to do. How did you prioritise?
  2. 2Describe a situation where a customer was unhappy. What did you do?
  3. 3What have you learned that you enjoy most in a job?

Start from the job. Which situations will the new employee face every week, such as customer meetings, busy shifts or working in a team? Build the questions around them.

Where in the process the questions do the most good

  1. 01

    In the application

    Candidates record short video answers to your screening questions when they apply. Keep it to one to three questions so the threshold does not get too high. It works well when many people apply or when you accept applications on a rolling basis.

  2. 02

    After the first screening

    Once you have found the most interesting candidates, the questions can be more numerous and more challenging. The whole team can see the answers and compare candidates on the same basis.

  3. 03

    Remote interview

    Take the next conversation on video instead of the phone. You see the candidate, and nobody has to travel for a first meeting.

Try it in Yobber

In Yobber you add the screening questions to the job ad, and candidates answer on video right in their application.

For employers