Hiring graduates is an essential process for businesses looking to inject fresh energy, innovation, and new perspectives into their workforce. Traditionally, this process has involved a blend of in-person interviews, resume reviews, and aptitude tests. However, with the rapid evolution of technology and the rise of remote work, online video assessments have become a highly effective tool for hiring graduates. This method is not only convenient but also allows recruiters to assess a candidate’s skill set, personality, and communication abilities in ways that static resumes or written tests cannot.
In this blog, we’ll explore the growing importance of online video assessments in hiring graduates, their benefits for recruiters and candidates, and how to optimize the process for maximum success.
1. The Shift to Online Video Assessments
The recruitment landscape has undergone a massive transformation over the last decade, and the pandemic only accelerated this shift. As businesses pivoted to remote work and virtual operations, the need for remote hiring solutions became more pronounced. In particular, the rise of online video assessments revolutionized how companies evaluated candidates—especially recent graduates—during the hiring process.
These assessments involve candidates recording video responses to pre-set questions or prompts provided by the employer. Recruiters can then evaluate these responses at their convenience, using AI-powered tools or manual review to assess key competencies. For graduate hiring, this model is ideal for screening a large number of applicants, making it easier to identify those with the most potential without needing to rely on lengthy in-person interviews.
2. Why Online Video Assessments Are Ideal for Hiring Graduates
Graduates represent a unique talent pool. They often lack extensive work experience but have up-to-date knowledge, enthusiasm, and potential. Online video assessments allow recruiters to tap into this potential in ways that traditional recruitment methods can’t.
a. Assessing Communication and Presentation Skills
Graduates may have strong academic credentials, but one of the most critical factors for success in the workplace is their ability to communicate effectively. Whether a graduate is applying for a customer-facing role, a technical position, or a creative role, strong communication and presentation skills are essential.
Online video assessments provide a real-time window into how well a candidate can articulate their thoughts, present ideas, and express themselves under pressure. Recruiters can see how candidates perform in front of the camera, how well they structure their answers, and how they react to time-bound or spontaneous questions. This is crucial for gauging a candidate’s ability to succeed in professional environments, particularly those that require presentations, meetings, or client interactions.
b. Efficiency in Handling High Volumes of Applicants
Hiring for graduate positions often means dealing with large volumes of applications. In traditional recruitment, screening resumes and conducting in-person interviews with hundreds or even thousands of graduates can be a logistical nightmare. Online video assessments solve this problem by automating the screening process.
Recruiters can pre-set interview questions and have candidates submit their video responses, which are then evaluated at a convenient time. This not only reduces the time and resources required for initial screenings but also ensures that every candidate gets a fair shot, as all applicants are assessed on the same set of criteria.
c. Standardized and Fair Evaluation
In-person interviews, while valuable, can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in the evaluation process due to unconscious bias or differing interview styles. Online video assessments, especially when combined with AI analysis, allow for a more standardized approach to candidate evaluation. By using structured questions and criteria, recruiters can more objectively compare candidates and avoid bias.
Additionally, many AI-driven video assessment platforms can evaluate a candidate’s performance based on specific factors like word choice, tone, facial expressions, and even enthusiasm. This helps ensure that every candidate is judged based on relevant skills rather than subjective impressions.
d. Showcasing Adaptability and Digital Literacy
In today’s digital-first world, the ability to navigate online platforms and adapt to technology is essential for most jobs. Online video assessments not only test a graduate’s skills and communication abilities but also demonstrate their comfort with digital tools. Graduates who excel in these assessments are often more adaptable and tech-savvy, qualities that are invaluable in modern workplaces.
This is particularly important for industries like technology, marketing, and media, where comfort with digital tools and platforms is non-negotiable.
3. Key Benefits of Online Video Assessments for Graduate Recruitment
Online video assessments offer numerous advantages for both recruiters and candidates. Here are some of the most significant benefits:
1. Saving Time and Resources
Traditional interviews require scheduling, travel, and coordination, which can be time-consuming and costly for both parties. Online video assessments eliminate the need for in-person meetings during the early stages, allowing candidates to record their responses at their convenience and recruiters to review them on their own time. This asynchronous approach speeds up the hiring process and reduces logistical challenges.
2. Broader Access to Talent
By utilizing online video assessments, recruiters can broaden their reach beyond geographical constraints. Graduates from different regions or even countries can participate in the hiring process without the need to travel. This not only expands the talent pool but also promotes inclusivity and diversity within the hiring process.
3. Improving Candidate Experience
For many graduates, applying for their first job is a daunting experience. Online video assessments provide a more flexible and accessible way to showcase their talents without the pressure of in-person interviews. Candidates can take their time to prepare, record their responses in a familiar environment, and feel more comfortable during the process.
This also allows introverted candidates, who may struggle with in-person interviews, to perform better in a less intimidating format.
4. Early Identification of Soft Skills
Many roles require strong interpersonal and soft skills—qualities that can’t be easily captured on a resume. Through online video assessments, recruiters can quickly assess a candidate’s emotional intelligence, adaptability, and ability to think on their feet. For example, a question like “Describe a time when you faced a challenge and how you overcame it” gives insights into problem-solving abilities, resilience, and self-awareness.
4. Best Practices for Conducting Online Video Assessments in Graduate Hiring
To maximize the benefits of online video assessments in graduate recruitment, it’s essential to follow some best practices:
a. Set Clear Expectations for Candidates
Graduates are often new to the professional world, so it’s important to provide clear instructions and guidelines. Make sure candidates know what to expect during the assessment, how much time they have, and what criteria they will be evaluated on. This clarity will help candidates feel more confident and perform better.
b. Ask Relevant, Open-Ended Questions
To get the most out of an online video assessment, ask open-ended questions that allow graduates to showcase their skills, creativity, and thought processes. Focus on questions that reflect the actual responsibilities of the role. For example, for a marketing position, ask how they would plan a digital campaign for a new product.
Open-ended questions also reveal more about a candidate’s critical thinking and communication skills, which are essential for most roles.
c. Integrate AI-Powered Analysis
Many online video assessment platforms offer AI-driven analysis tools that can evaluate candidates’ responses based on factors such as communication style, confidence, emotional intelligence, and even non-verbal cues. These tools can help speed up the review process and provide deeper insights into each candidate’s suitability for the role.
However, it’s important to balance AI evaluations with human judgment. While AI can flag key trends and behaviors, human recruiters should make the final decision based on a holistic view of the candidate’s qualifications.
d. Provide Feedback to Candidates
Since graduate recruitment is often their first professional experience, offering feedback—whether positive or constructive—is invaluable. Providing feedback on their video assessments can help graduates improve their interview skills, increase their confidence, and leave them with a positive impression of your company, even if they weren’t selected.
5. Industries Benefiting from Online Video Assessments in Graduate Hiring
Online video assessments are making waves in industries that hire large volumes of graduates and need to assess soft skills and adaptability:
1. Technology
With an increasing demand for graduates with programming, coding, and digital marketing skills, online video assessments allow tech companies to assess technical skills as well as communication abilities. These assessments help tech firms identify graduates who can solve complex problems while clearly articulating their thought process.
2. Healthcare
Healthcare organizations often rely on graduates for entry-level clinical and administrative roles. Online video assessments can help healthcare recruiters gauge a candidate’s empathy, communication skills, and ability to handle stressful situations.
3. Finance
Graduate roles in finance require strong analytical thinking and attention to detail. Online video assessments can be used to present problem-solving scenarios, allowing recruiters to assess how candidates respond under pressure and whether they have the skills to thrive in high-stakes environments.
Conclusion
Online video assessments have become a powerful tool in the graduate hiring process. By offering a flexible, scalable, and efficient method for assessing skills and potential, these assessments allow recruiters to make more informed decisions while improving the candidate experience. Whether you’re hiring for technical roles in the tech industry, customer-facing roles in hospitality, or analytical positions in finance, online video assessments offer the precision, inclusivity, and efficiency needed to find the best talent in a rapidly evolving workforce.
In a world where time is of the essence and the competition for top graduate talent is fierce, integrating online video assessments into your recruitment strategy can help your business stay ahead, streamline your hiring process, and build a more skilled and adaptable workforce.
Interviewer.AI is a technology platform purposely built to support Recruiters and HR teams in finding top talent for their companies. We also work with universities to help them with admissions and coaching, helping them use technology to solve for talent and training. Our mission is to make hiring equitable, explainable, and efficient. to screen in advance and shortlist the candidates that meet the criteria set.
Schedule a demo today to learn more about how AI interviews can help your hiring.
Gabrielle Martinsson is a Content Writer at Interviewer.AI. She’s a tech geek and loves optimizing business processes with the aid of tech tools. She also loves travelling and listening to music in her leisure.
