SHL Smart Interview On Demand - Questions and Tips

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• What Is the Smart Interview On Demand
• SHL Video Interview Questions
• Tips and Guidelines

SHL is one of the leading job applicant screening assessment providers, used by over 10,000 organisations in the UK and worldwide. In addition to dozens of evaluation tests, SHL provides an AI-based virtual interview platform that enables remote hiring for the convenience of both applicants and recruiters.

The SHL Smart Interview On Demand (ODSI) is the testing giant's foray into AI-based recruitment solutions. It takes place on a bespoke internet platform and requires the candidate to record themselves answering a pre-set series of questions, typically between three and five.

But does "AI" automatically translate to "good"? 

The need for an AI interviewing platform like the SHL Smart Interview may differ depending on who you ask.

• From HR's perspective, any opportunity to create automated pipelines reduces the workload on human workers and allows the company to consider a much larger number of applicants. This may not be very convincing to the candidates themselves, however, especially if they are made to feel forced to jump through hoops before ever talking to a human.
• From a psychometric perspective, job interviews have long been known to have limited validity. In layman's terms, they're not very good at predicting job fit, despite seasoned HR managers who insist they "have strong intuition" and "trust their gut" when it comes to discovering talent.
• The best way to improve interview validity is through structure. When every candidate is asked the same question and assessed against predetermined criteria, those who pass the process are much more likely to be satisfied and competent at their job.

Ultimately, it's your decision whether to go ahead with a recruiter who asks you to take an AI interview.

If you choose to take on the challenge, you'll find it's not so dissimilar to a regular interview, but more rapid-fire. There will be much less chit-chat and much more pressure to fit all the self-promotion into succinct answers, and to do so with subtlety. 

Let's talk about how to do this.

SHL ODSI questions follow a simple structure. First, you'll be given time to prepare. This prep time varies by employer, but SHL caps it at 2 minutes. Then, you'll need to start recording. Each question is also timed, typically 2-3 minutes.

The SHL AI Interview contains two question types:

Firstly, there are catalogue questions. These come directly from the SHL library and are written by researchers.

These questions will primarily take interest in your past experience, motivators, and skills. They look like typical interview questions you might already be familiar with:

However, SHL also allow their clients to write custom questions. This is where your employer might ask you a role-specific, competency-based question to assess your level of expertise in the field you're applying for.

Such questions may include:

1. How would you analyze a large customer database to uncover trends or valuable insights?
2. Describe your approach to decision-making with limited information. What key factors would influence your process?

For both standard stock questions and customised specialty questions, a good approach to showing your worth without looking like you're compiling a dry list of your own virtues, is to use the S.T.A.R method.

Now that we know what type of questions to expect, let's get down to the actual test: What to wear, how to feel prepared, and how to impress your recruiters.

Video interviews may feel awkward and unfamiliar at first, but they've become a vital part of the modern job market, offering a chance to leave a strong first impression.

Embracing the unique nature of this format and focusing on your performance can give you a distinct advantage over other candidates. Here are some helpful tips to get started:

As with any interview, review your company's values and mission statements to understand what recruiters are looking for. You can almost always find these on the company's website.

Although the SHL Video Interview is conducted virtually, you need to regard it in the same way as a face-to-face on-site interview.

This means you need to dress appropriately, sit up, ensure your background looks clean and presentable, and find a well-lit, noise-free environment to take the interview in.

Be aware: The SHL AI interview is analysed by an AI that examines your body language and non-verbal cues, such as voice pitch, facial expression, eye contact, body movement, and so on. Thus, it is crucial you be aware of how you present yourself during the interview – sit straight, smile, and look straight at the camera as if it were your recruiter’s eyes.

Also, to leave a good impression, make sure to test your mic, webcam, lighting, and internet stability before the interview begins.

As mentioned, you'll have time before each question to prepare.

Use this to write down key points and organise your thoughts. This will help improve your clarity, fluency, and confidence when responding.

Avoid memorising responses word-for-word. Over-scripting can make your delivery seem stiff and unnatural, which the AI can pick up. Besides, you won't have enough time to do it well.

Learn more about mastering interviews.