Interviewer FAQs - Live Interviews

Introduction

Talview’s Live Interviews are designed to help interviewers and hiring managers conduct efficient, engaging, and secure candidate assessments across geographies.

This FAQ is designed specifically for interviewers, panel members, and evaluators who facilitate and assess candidate live interviews.

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1. Before You Begin

Q1. What are Live Interviews and how does it differ from traditional video conferencing?

Live Interviews are a purpose-built interviewing experience that goes beyond standard video conferencing by integrating specialized assessment tools, real-time candidate verification, built-in evaluation forms, and AI-powered analytics. Unlike generic video tools (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet), Live interviews provides:

• Integrated coding environments (CodeJam) for technical assessments
• Digital whiteboarding for design and problem-solving discussions
• Real-time candidate verification and identity authentication
• Structured evaluation forms within the interview interface
• Interview Insights analytics to detect bias and measure interviewer effectiveness

Q2.  Do I need special setup or training before conducting my first Live Interview?

Yes. Before your first interview, you should:

• Receive access credentials and login information from your organization’s administrator
• Complete basic platform orientation (usually provided by your HR or recruiting team)
• Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection.
• Familiarize yourself with evaluation forms and question templates your organization uses
• Review your organization’s interview guidelines and protocols.

Q3. What candidate information is available to me before the interview?

You can access these by logging into the Workflow Tools platform:

• Resume/CV - Full employment history and qualifications
• Profile Details - Information the candidate provided during application (education, experience, skills)
• Job Description - Current role requirements and responsibilities

Q4.  What is the “Interview Builder” and how do I use it during preparation?

Interview Builder is an AI-powered tool which is available during the interview on the side panel, it provides:

• Pre-built Question Templates - Role-specific, bias-free questions relevant to the job
• Customizable Question Sets - Behavioral, situational, competency-based, and technical questions
• Follow-up Suggestions - AI recommendations for probing deeper into candidate responses
• Question Consistency - Ensures all candidates for the same role receive similar core questions

Q5. What devices can I use to join?

A Live Interview is compatible with:

• Computers - Desktop or laptop (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
• Mobile Devices - Smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android)
• Browsers - Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox (latest versions recommended)

We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer for the best experience, as it provides better video quality, stable positioning, and full access to all collaboration tools. If you must use a mobile device, ensure it has a strong internet connection and sufficient battery charge for the full interview duration.

Q6. What technical requirements do I need to meet?

To ensure a smooth interview experience, your device should meet these minimum specifications:

Requirement	Minimum	Recommended
RAM	4GB	8GB
Processor	Dual core at 2 GHz or faster	Quad-core at 2.5 GHz or faster
Graphics Memory	512MB internal / 1GB external	1GB internal / 1.5GB external
Webcam	15 fps minimum, 320x240 aspect ratio	Higher resolution with 30 fps
Microphone	Built-in or external	External quality microphone preferred
Sound Card	Required	Dedicated sound card preferred
Internet Speed	1 Mbps upload / 1 Mbps download	2 Mbps upload / 2 Mbps download

NOTE: If your device doesn’t meet these specifications, you may experience lag, video freezing, or audio dropouts. Contact your recruiter if you have concerns about your device’s compatibility

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2. Interview Experience

Q1. What should I do 15 minutes before the scheduled interview?

Final preparation steps:

• Join the Pre-Join Lobby - Click the interview link 10 mins before the interview
• Test Your Video - Ensure your camera is on and your face is clearly visible
• Test Your Audio - Verify your microphone is working and speakers are at appropriate volume
• Check Your Background - Confirm your environment is professional and tidy
• Review Candidate Info - Info can be checked in the email or in the platform
• Mute Distractions - Silence phone notifications, close non-essential tabs and apps

Q2. How do I know when the candidate has joined the interview room?

When a candidate joins:

• Their video feed will appear on your screen
• You may see a notification saying “Candidate [Name] has joined”
• If you’re using a participant list, their name will appear
• The chat or meeting status may update to show increased participant count

Q3. How do I use the Interview Builder or question templates during the live interview?

During the interview:

• Your question templates are accessible on your screen (usually in a sidebar or accessible from a menu)
• Reference the suggested questions while maintaining eye contact and natural conversation flow
• Don’t read questions verbatim; use them as a guide and ask naturally
• Follow up on interesting responses with deeper or probing questions
• Note follow-up suggestions from Interview Builder but adapt them to the candidate’s actual response
• Take notes on the candidate’s answers for your evaluation later

The templates are there to guide you, not to make the interview feel scripted.

Q4. What do real-time device monitoring alerts mean and how should I respond?

You may receive notifications during the interview:

Alert	Meaning	Action
Camera Switched	Candidate switched to a different camera	Note it; ask them if there’s a technical issue if concerned
Multiple Cameras Detected	Multiple camera sources connected	Ask professionally if they intended to connect multiple devices
Audio Device Switched	Candidate switched microphone/speaker	Confirm audio quality remains good; note for integrity
Multiple Audio Devices Detected	Multiple audio inputs connected	May indicate someone else is listening; note and possibly inquire
Face Not Detected	Camera is on but face not visible	Ask them to adjust their position or camera angle
Multi-Face Detected	Multiple people in video feed	Professionally ask if someone else is present in their space
Poor Network Detected	Candidate’s internet connection is weak	Offer to continue but be aware of potential lag

Q5. What if I notice multiple faces or people in the candidate’s video?

If multi-face detection triggers:

• Stay calm and professional; there are often legitimate reasons
• Ask: “I notice there may be someone else in the room with you. Can you confirm you’re in a private space?”
• The candidate may have a roommate, family member, or pet; ask them to move to a private area
• If they’re intentionally bringing someone unauthorized to the interview, this is a significant integrity concern
• Document what you observed and notify your recruiting team or compliance officer immediately
• You can continue the interview once they’ve moved to a private space, but escalate the concern

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3. Device Permissions

Q1. What device and media permissions do I need to grant to use Live Interviews?

To participate in interviews, you will need to grant permissions for:

• Camera – To be visible during video interviews
• Microphone – To communicate with candidates
• Audio Output (Speakers) – To hear the candidate
• Screen Share (if enabled) – To share your screen when presenting materials

Your browser will prompt you to allow these on first use. Test these permissions well before your interview.

Q2. How do I grant camera and microphone permissions in my browser?

When requested for permission:

• Chrome/Edge/Firefox – A popup will appear saying “Allow [site] to use your camera/microphone?” Click “Allow”
• If you declined previously, go to the browser's address bar → click the lock icon → Site settings → Camera/Microphone → Set to "Allow" → Refresh the page

Do this at least once before your interview to avoid permissions issues during a live session.

Q2.  What is screen sharing and how do I enable it?

Screen sharing allows you to show your computer screen (or a specific application) to the candidate. To use it:

• In the interview room, click the “Share” button
• Your browser will ask which screen/window to share; select your choice:
  • Entire desktop (shows everything)
  • Specific window (e.g., a Word document or job description)
  • Specific tab (browser tab only)
• The candidate will then see exactly what you’re displaying
• Stop sharing when done

Common interviewer uses: Sharing the job description, walking through role expectations, showing organizational materials, or presenting a coding problem.

Q3. Is it necessary to use an external camera and microphone, or can I use my laptop’s built-in devices?

Your laptop’s built-in camera and microphone are sufficient for most interviews. However, for a more professional appearance and better audio quality, consider:

• An external USB webcam with higher resolution (candidates appreciate clear video of you)
• A quality headset with a noise-canceling microphone (reduces background noise and echo)
• This investment improves the candidate experience and ensures better technical reliability

Q4. What should I do if my camera or microphone is not working?

Troubleshoot by:

• Checking that no other video application (Zoom, Teams, Skype) is currently using the camera
• Restarting your browser
• Checking your system’s privacy settings to ensure the browser has camera/microphone access
• Verifying that your device’s physical camera/microphone is not blocked or muted
• Testing the devices in another application (like a video call tool) to isolate the issue
• Restarting your computer if the issue persists

If issues continue, contact IT support before conducting a candidate interview.

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4. Troubleshooting & Support

Q1. What should I do if I cannot access my account or login?

If you cannot log in:

• Verify your username/email and password are correct (reset password if needed via login page)
• Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again
• Check that you’re using a supported browser (Chrome, Edge, or Firefox)
• Verify if your account has not been deactivated by your administrator

Q2.  What if I cannot access the interview room at the scheduled time?

If you cannot join:

• Try a different supported browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
• Verify you have a stable internet connection
• Confirm the interview link is correct and the interview time has been reached
• Clear your browser cache and restart the browser
• You can also join through a mobile device

If still unable to join, contact your recruiting team immediately so they can arrange an alternative interviewer or reschedule with the candidate.

Q3. How do I handle a situation where the candidate and I are both present but cannot see or hear each other?

If there is no audio/video connection:

• Ask the candidate to check the pre-join lobby settings (camera/microphone enabled)
• Confirm that the candidate has granted camera and microphone permissions in their browser
• Ask the candidate to confirm no other apps are using their camera/microphone
• Have the candidate refresh the browser and rejoin
• If still failing, suggest they try a different browser as a temporary measure
• Use chat to communicate while troubleshooting

If the issue affects only you, restart your browser and rejoin. If it affects multiple users, contact support.

Q4.  How long should I wait for a candidate if they’re late to the interview?

If a candidate is late:

• Wait for 10 minutes, call the candidate from the platform if needed
• If you need to leave, send a message to your recruiting team
• Do not make assumptions about why they’re late (technical issues, wrong time zone, etc.)
• Your recruiting team will follow up with the candidate to understand the delay and reschedule if appropriate