7 tips to prepare Students & Graduates for an online video Interview

1. Take advantage of being able to set your own time and place

Not having a face-to-face interview means you can complete the video interview when you’re at your sharpest.

This also means that you don’t have to wait to be invited which helps to speed up the process. You have the added benefit of no traveling stress – zero worries about traffic or public transport. So, make the most of the opportunity by doing it where you are most comfortable and at a time that suits you. This means you can be very well-prepared with no surprises along the way.

2. Do your homework on the company and the program

Just like in a face-to-face interview, you will fare better if you do some research beforehand. Learn as much as you can about Shell and the role you are applying for so that you can be clear on your motivations when answering the questions. Our recruiters are interested in knowing why you want to work for Shell, how your skills and strengths can make the company better and how we can help you progress in your career.

3. Prepare for competency-based questions

When preparing for your video interview, look back on your achievements and experiences. Write down instances where you explored new opportunities, resolved difficult situations, and successfully worked with others.

It is important not to confuse skill-based questions with competency-based questions. Competency-based questions focus on how you handle situations, such as handling conflict, addressing problems and achieving results for example.

Having a collection of real-life stories that demonstrate your role and contribution will be very helpful when responding.

4. Drive your CAR

Capacity, Achievement, and Relationships (CAR) is a framework we use to assess candidates whether they are online or face-to-face. Preparing examples of situations where you excelled in any of these three areas will really help you do well in your video interview. Read more about CAR.

5. Treat it like a video call

Interviews— whether in person or by video can be unnerving. Try treating it as though you are on a video call with a friend and you’d be surprised at how comfortable the experience can be!

6. Take advantage of your 30 seconds

You get 30 seconds to think and come up with your answer which is a big advantage that you don’t always allow yourself in a face-to-face interview. Use this time to craft your answers.

Practice at home using a timer and recording yourself using your own video recordings. The more you do it the better you will become and feel more comfortable with the process and the timings.

7. Answer using STAR

While presentation skills are important, our Shell recruiters value the context and quality of your answers over how comfortable (or uncomfortable) you may be on video. A good way to structure your answers is with the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

8. Focus on “me” versus “we”

While it’s good to show that you are a team player, don’t forget to highlight your achievements as an individual. Make sure to identify clearly what role YOU specifically played in any example you share.

Keep these tips in mind before heading into your ODVI and you could be well on your way to the next stages of the Shell application process!