Remote work has opened opportunities for small businesses to hire talent from anywhere. However, transitioning from traditional face-to-face to online interviews presents a significant challenge.
How do you pick the right video interviewing platform from an ever-growing array of options?
According to Indeed’s 2021 Hiring Trends Report, 82% of employers had turned to virtual interviews due to the pandemic, and 93% plan to continue using virtual interviews post-pandemic.
Why? The benefits are undeniable:
- 74% of these employers experienced faster hiring processes
- 79% found it easier to manage the process from start to finish
- 77% noticed an improvement in the candidate experience
Making the wrong choice, therefore, could leave your small business grappling with slower hiring processes, a complex management system, and a less-than-optimal candidate experience.
We’ve taken the time to analyze various platforms using comprehensive criteria so that you can choose the best video interview recording platform for your specific needs.
So before we look at the options, let’s delve deeper into the key factors you must consider when choosing a video interviewing platform.
Essential Features to Consider in the Best Platforms for Recording Video Interviews
These features are the backbone of an efficient and effective video interviewing process, making them essential to a suitable video interview platform. We will guide you through each feature, explaining its significance and importance in your decision-making process.
User-Friendliness
The platform’s ease of use directly influences the interview process’s efficiency and effectiveness for all parties involved. A complex platform can present challenges for the interviewer and interviewee, negatively affecting the interview experience. The best video interview platforms feature a clean, intuitive interface that requires minimal training for new users.
Quality of Video and Audio
Poor video or audio quality can significantly disrupt the interview process, leading to communication issues and a suboptimal experience. High-quality video and audio ensure a smoother communication process with minimal technical glitches. Considering this feature, look for platforms that promise high-definition video and high-quality audio, with good performance even in low-bandwidth situations.
Interview Recording and Playback Feature
This feature allows for post-interview analysis, which improves candidate comparison, feedback and documentation in the hiring process. Consider easy recording options, good storage capabilities, and straightforward sharing options for recorded videos.
Security and Compliance
With increasing concern about data privacy and the legal obligations to protect personal data, security and compliance are non-negotiable features in a video interview platform. Protecting confidential information and complying with privacy laws is essential, so look out for GDPR-compliant platforms with end-to-end encryption and transparent privacy policies.
Integrations
A video interview platform’s ability to work seamlessly with other software tools that you use can help streamline your processes, save time, and increase productivity. The best platforms integrate with popular HR and project management tools, calendar apps, and email platforms.
Pricing
Tighter budgets don’t mean you should compromise on essential features. Pricing is a critical factor in your decision-making, and you can find a platform that offers what you want at an affordable price. Take advantage of free trials or demos to better understand how the platform fits your business needs. Look for platforms with transparent pricing with no hidden costs that offer different plans based on available features or number of users.
Video Interview Recording Platforms for Small Businesses – Comparing Features, Pricing, & Reviews
Here’s a comparison table so you can quickly look at the key deliverables of each platform:
Willo | Hireflix | Spark Hire | VidCruiter | Jobma | |
User ratings(G2) | 4.8/5 | 5/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.7/5 |
Best for | High-volume candidate screening | One-way video interviewing | Ease of use | Multi-tiered video interviewing | Flexible video interviewing |
Pricing | Starts from $56.25/month15-day free trial | Starts from $70/month30-day free trial | Starts at $119/monthFree trial for the first ten interviews | Available upon request | Available upon request |
1. Willo
Willo is a versatile, browser-based video interviewing software designed to streamline hiring for entities ranging from freelance recruiters to large enterprises. It offers unique features like an Intelligent Question Generator and customizable functionality, enabling businesses to connect effectively with global talent. With its robust commitment to accessibility and fairness in recruitment, Willo optimizes hiring operations for businesses of all sizes, making it an essential tool in modern recruitment.
Pros
Users love Willo for the following reasons:
- GDPR Compliance
- 24/7 European support for every candidate
- Localized for foreign languages, including Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic
- Enterprise-grade encryption and optional App-based Multi-factor authentication
- Native integrations with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) like Greenhouse and Workable, plus over 5,000 apps
Cons
- Users have complained that the mobile experience is not user-friendly, as interview questions can be challenging to read on mobile devices
- Setting up some integrations for the first time can be difficult, but the support team is always available to help.
Pricing
Willo’s pricing starts from $56.25/month (billed annually) for businesses with 1-49 employees. The pricing includes a 15-day free trial. You can learn more about the plans here.
Demo video
Start hiring with video Interviewing from Willo
Customer support
Wiilo offers 24/7 stellar support via chat and mail, which customers have referred to as welcoming and helpful. The support team also responds to customers’ reviews on G2 to help users and gather feedback to improve the service. They showcase transparency through their resources, including their roadmap, blog and public changelog.
Client success story
Colin Fragar, Council Approval Group, talks about how Willo helped to reduce the time-to-hire from four weeks to one in this video interview.
Customer reviews
Willo has a G2 rating of 4.8, with most customers reporting the platform’s excellent user-friendliness. You can read more of the reviews here.
2. Hireflix
Hireflix specializes in one-way video interviewing. Built for simplicity and efficiency, it facilitates a hassle-free hiring process on a global scale. With its user-friendly interface, the platform doesn’t require logins or apps while offering essential features like customizable question and response settings. Hireflix offers one of the longest free trials in the industry, getting up to one month, ensuring clients can thoroughly test its capabilities before committing.
Pros
Customers love Hireflix because of the following reasons:
- Multi-branding capabilities and automated communications via email, SMS, and WhatsApp
- GraphQL API for custom integrations and native compatibility with most ATSs
- Multi-language candidate experience with over twenty available languages
- GDPR and SOC II compliance
Cons
- Focuses on one-way video interviewing, losing out on the level of engagement two-way video interviewing provides.
Pricing
Hireflix’s pricing plans start from $75/month(billed annually), based on the number of employees. Each plan provides all Hireflix features, including unlimited users, positions and interview responses. All plans have a 30-day free trial.
Demo video
Hireflix Demo [All Features] The best one-way video interview software
Customer support
Hireflix’s website features a support chatbot that typically replies within a few hours. You can ask questions around or interact with the bot to better understand the software. The customer service is responsive and always available to help users improve their setup.
Client success story
Akshay, CEO of Terminal49, shares his experience using Hireflix.
Customer reviews
Hireflix has an impressive 5 out of 5 G2 rating – the highest on our list. Customers enjoy how it has helped them save time and improve the efficiency of their hiring process. You can read more reviews about Hireflix here.
3. Spark Hire
Spark Hire streamlines recruitment with one-way and live interviews, enabling recruiters to screen, rate, and comment on candidates efficiently. With over 6,000 customers, it offers personalized, branded videos at scale and notifies when videos are viewed, making it a favorite among small to medium-sized businesses.
Pros
Spark Hire users love the video interview platform for the following reasons:
- Enables sharing of interviews with hiring managers for prescreening and feedback
- Allows job-specific customization of interview questions and response lengths
- Easy setup and user-friendly interface, even for infrequent users
Cons
- The scheduling module struggles with Daylight Savings changes, leading to occasional time confusion
- Video quality can sometimes be choppy, especially for overseas users
- Users would like the ability to supervise two-way interviews in real-time
- Limited customization options for email templates and the candidate landing page
Pricing
Spark Hire has several pricing plans, which all offer unlimited interviews. The difference between the plans regarding features is the number of jobs and users that can use the platform simultaneously. Pricing starts at $119/month(billed annually) with the Lite plan, and there’s a free trial for the first ten interviews. You can learn more about Spark Hire’s pricing here.
Demo video
Customer support
Spark Hire offers round-the-clock technical support through live chat, supplemented by a comprehensive help center. This center includes technical documentation for troubleshooting and requirements and a resource hub for customers. Additionally, Spark Hire provides customer playbooks with tips and best practices tailored to specific use cases and a candidate boot camp to enhance video interviewing skills.
Client success story
In this video, Julia Vlahos, Recruiter at Bentkey Ventures, shares her experience of how Spark Hire has helped save about 438 hours, making their hiring process more efficient.
Customer reviews
Spark Hire has a G2 rating of 4.8, with customers expressing how the video interviewing platform has helped them improve their recruiting process and is easy to use. You can read more reviews about Spark Hire here.
4. VidCruiter
VidCruiter is a comprehensive recruitment suite offering on-demand pre-recorded and live video interviewing capabilities. Its intuitive interface includes viewing mode options, comment panels, and evaluation notes. With features like automated interview scheduling and SHRM-approved interview guide builder, VidCruiter integrates seamlessly with leading recruitment tools, ensuring a smooth hiring process for global enterprises.
Pros
Users love VidCruiter because it:
- Has an excellent, dedicated support team that provides proactive design suggestions and troubleshooting
- Offers both live and pre-recorded interview options, providing flexibility for candidates
- Enhances efficiency by enabling email triggers at various stages of the recruitment process
- Allows for a unique, detailed customization of the candidate lifecycle
- Is accessible for individuals with disabilities
Cons
- Templates can be confusing for some users.
- Absence of screen sharing feature during pre-recorded interviews.
- Account lockout due to inactivity over a long period can be inconvenient.
Pricing
You have to request pricing from VidCruiter’s support team here.
Demo videos
VidCruiter: Video Interviewing and Online Hiring Solutions
Customer support
VidCruiter’s customer support team is quick to respond and efficient in providing solutions, proactively suggesting improvements and troubleshooting issues. There’s a resources hub for HR personnel, including how to use the platform to ensure GDPR compliance, video interviewing guides and a sitemap for easy navigation.
Client success story
Medavie Blue Cross, a leading health services partner in Canada, faced a significant challenge in managing the vast number of applications they received for diverse roles. With an average of 200 applications per opening, verifying skills, core competencies, work experience, and education was time-consuming. The need for enhanced security screening due to federal contracts further complicated the process. The reference checking process, in particular, was slowing down their recruitment efforts.
Implementing VidCruiter’s automated reference checking system revolutionized their hiring process. The time-to-fill decreased significantly, and the quality of references improved, providing more detailed and factual information about candidates. The system’s sophisticated anti-fraud measures added an extra layer of security, which was crucial for Medavie Blue Cross. The automated referencing saved the team between 900 – 1,350+ hours a year, allowing them to focus more on getting to know candidates and other recruiting projects. The team found VidCruiter’s solution to be a game-changer, becoming their new norm and significantly improving the quality of their hires.
Customer reviews
With a 4.8 rating on G2, VidCruiter is one of the customers’ favorites, getting awards like Best Support and Users Most Likely to Recommend. Customers appreciate the dedicated support team that feels like an integral part of their team. You can check out more reviews about VidCruiter here.
5. Jobma
Jobma is a cloud-based digital interview platform streamlining the hiring process for HR teams worldwide. Features like live and pre-recorded video interviews, audio interviews, digital assessments, and proctoring capabilities enhance hiring quality. Seamlessly integrating with existing ATS or CRM systems, Jobma is trusted by over 500 clients across 50 countries, supporting 14 languages.
Pros
Jobma customers love the interviewing platform due to the following reasons:
- AI features for proctoring and transcribing online video interviews
- User-friendly and easy to learn, even for first-time users
- Easy navigation and clear presentation of questions
- Reduces interview anxiety with a re-record option
Cons
- Occasional technical issues with changing or re-recording responses
Pricing
Jobma offers custom pricing and a demo upon request. You can make your request here.
Demo videos
Customer support
Jobma’s customer support team is available via mail and a toll-free line. There’s a resources section on their website. The section has explainer videos, blog posts, guides and ebooks to help users better understand video interviewing and how to use the platform to improve their hiring process.
Client success story
Unison Behavioral Health, a leading provider of mental health services in southeast Georgia, faced challenges in gauging genuine candidate interest and ensuring the security of sensitive data. Their existing platform could have been more user-friendly, and their core team, not being tech-savvy, required assistance in setting up online interviews.
Jobma’s video interviewing software provided the perfect solution. Its intuitive dashboard allowed Unison to create job posts and start interviewing with just a few clicks, accommodating their non-tech-savvy team. The platform’s scalability enabled them to handle many candidates, streamlining their interviewing process. Furthermore, Jobma addressed its security concerns, ensuring candidate data’s safe storage and protection.
Customer reviews
Most users appreciate Jobma for its flexibility in online video interviews and pricing. The platform has a 4.7 rating on G2, and you can read more reviews here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two forms of video interviews?
Video interviews come in two forms: live and pre-recorded.
Live interviews involve real-time conversations between the interviewer and candidate, similar to traditional in-person interviews but conducted online. This interview is suitable for hiring scenarios that demand real-time interaction and instant feedback, allowing the interviewer to gauge candidate reactions and responses on the spot.
Pre-recorded interviews involve questions set by the interviewer in advance, which the candidate answers in their own time, later submitting their responses for review. This flexibility is excellent for interviewing candidates in different time zones and can provide room for more in-depth assessments.
How can I make candidates feel comfortable and engaged in a video interview?
Video interviews can feel daunting for candidates, but you can make the experience comfortable and engaging with a little effort. Here’s how:
1. Explain the process and benefits: Clearly outline the video interview procedure when inviting candidates. Highlight that it offers a better insight into their fit for the company culture. Emphasize the convenience – no need for travel or taking time off work. By explaining these benefits, candidates can understand why a video interview has been chosen over alternatives like CV screening or phone calls.
2. Personalize the experience: Adding a personal touch helps candidates feel comfortable. Consider recording a video introduction from the hiring manager or team members. You can also ask questions via video rather than text to make the experience more personal.
3. Two-way communication: Remember, interviews should be a two-way street. Offering as much information about the company as possible encourages candidates to engage more enthusiastically. A company video at the start of the interview showcasing what’s great about your organization can enhance the candidate’s interest.
4. Branding matters: Professional branding for the interview can highlight your company’s forward-thinking approach. The more candidates see your logo and branding, the more they feel connected to your organization.
5. Provide a practice opportunity: Offering a practice interview can help candidates relax by familiarizing them with the process. You can offer candidates a few practice runs to ensure they are comfortable with the video interview platform.
What are the best practices for conducting a video interview using these platforms?
Here are some best practices you can use:
Set Up for a Live Interview: Before each interview, check factors like your network reception, mic and camera to avoid technical disruptions. Conduct the interview in a well-lit, private, distraction-free space, and remember to mute all notifications.
Avoid Interview Fatigue: Use pre-recorded interviews if you’re conducting multiple interviews across different time zones. With your questions uploaded onto the interviewing platform, candidates can record their responses at their convenience, and you can review them at your own pace.
Follow-Up: Always follow up post-interview. Thank each candidate for their time, provide feedback, and inform them about the next steps in the process. In the follow-up, asking for feedback about your interviewing process can help you improve your interviewing skills.
How can I measure the effectiveness of my video interviewing process?
Measuring your video interviewing process’s effectiveness can seem daunting, but several key factors can provide the insight you need.
Candidate Satisfaction: The candidate experience speaks volumes about how your company values its people, and it directly affects the hiring process. By improving the candidate experience, you can enable applicants to stay in your talent pipeline longer, saving you time and resources on continually attracting new talent.
Offer Acceptance: A positive video interviewing process can foster a positive perception of your company, increasing a candidate’s interest in working with you. With such an experience, they are more likely to accept a job offer when extended.
Quality of Candidates: The quality of candidates in your talent pipeline determines your hiring success. Video interviewing platforms help you broaden your talent pool and allow you to spend more time with the most fitting candidates.
You’ll know your strategy is effective when you notice improvements in these areas. But remember, regular reviews and adjustments are vital to a successful hiring process.
Elevate Your Hiring Process With Video Interview Recording Software
Video interview recording software can significantly streamline hiring, enabling quicker, more efficient decision-making. For small businesses, user-friendliness, quality, and cost-effectiveness are crucial when selecting the right platform.
In your decision-making process, consider the platform that best meets your unique needs and experiment with demos or free trials. Don’t get too stuck trying to pick the right one. Make your choice and transform your recruitment process for the better.