In brief

A video interview is now a standard part of hiring, and for many health and safety jobs the first conversation happens on Teams or Zoom. Some employers also use a one-way video interview, where you record answers to set questions with no one on the other end. Either way, treat it with the same preparation as a face-to-face interview: a quiet space, tested technology, and real examples ready for the questions you’re likely to be asked.

In this article

• Live or one-way: know which you’re facing

• Getting your space and technology right

• Preparing your answers

• On the day

• After the interview

• Common questions

• We’re here to help

Live or one-way: know which you’re facing

Before you prepare, check which kind it is, because they ask slightly different things of you.

Live video interview

• Who’s there: A hiring manager or panel, in real time

• How it feels: Like a normal conversation, on screen

• What to check: The meeting link, and who’ll be on the call

• What helps most: Building rapport and asking your own questions

One-way video interview

• Who’s there: No one. You record answers to set questions

• How it feels: More like a presentation, with a timer

• What to check: Whether you get a practice question or a chance to re-record

• What helps most: Short, structured answers that don’t rush

Getting your space and technology right

Choose a quiet, professional space

Find somewhere you won’t be interrupted. Close your email, silence your phone or leave it in another room, and make sure those online deliveries aren’t all arriving mid-interview. If you’re joining from site, find a quiet office rather than a vehicle or a noisy crib room.

Test everything beforehand

If anything can go wrong, it usually will, and at the worst possible time. Test your internet, camera, and microphone, check you can open the meeting link, and have the hiring manager’s phone number handy. If the connection fails, suggesting a quick switch to a phone interview is far better than losing the conversation altogether.

Preparing your answers

Build your examples

It’s still a formal interview, so the usual job interview tips apply. Read the position description and your safety CV side by side, research the organisation, and prepare a few questions of your own. Most safety roles include behavioural interview questions, so have five or six real examples ready, structured with the STAR method.

Questions to prepare for

• Tell us about a time you influenced a leader who didn’t see safety as a priority

• Describe a hazard you identified that others had missed

• Give an example of an incident investigation you led, and what changed

You’ll find more interview questions for safety roles, and how to answer them using the STAR method, in our guide to behavioural interview questions. It also helps to check that your examples match what the employer has already read in your safety CV.

On the day

These job interview tips apply whether the interview is live or recorded:

• Look at the camera, not the screen, when you’re speaking

• Dress as you would in person, and assume your camera will be on

• Keep brief notes nearby, but glance at them rather than reading from them

• Pause before answering, as a small delay on video is normal and gives you a moment to think

For a recorded interview, read the instructions carefully, keep each answer focused, and speak as if someone is listening, because they will be.

After the interview

Follow up with your recruiter promptly while it’s fresh, and share any feedback or questions. A specialist recruiter can pass on how the employer felt, help you prepare for the next round, and support you through to a job offer. If you’re working with a specialist recruiter, the sooner they hear from you, the more they can advocate for you.

Common questions

How do one-way video interviews work?

You record answers to a set of questions on your own, usually with a short time to prepare for each. The employer or recruiter watches the recordings later and decides who moves to the next stage.

What should I wear to a video interview?

Dress as you would for a face-to-face interview with the same employer. Plain, solid colours tend to look best on camera.

Can you look at notes during a video interview?

Brief notes are fine, such as a few prompts for the interview questions you expect and the questions you want to ask. Glance at them rather than reading from them, so you keep eye contact with the camera.

Is a phone interview different from a video interview?

Yes. A phone interview usually comes earlier and is shorter, while a video call is often a fuller conversation with the hiring manager. The same preparation helps with both, but on the phone your voice has to carry everything, so a quiet room matters even more.

We’re here to help

Interviews can feel daunting on any screen. When we arrange one, we’ll talk you through who you’re meeting and what they’re likely to ask, and stay with you right through to the job offer. Browse our current health and safety jobs, register with us for a confidential conversation, or get in touch if you’d like a general chat about your next career move.