Video Editor Interview Questions To Choose The Best Talent
Video editor is a vital part of a creative team for any business. Video content is now common and they are important for brand image. Companies look for video editors to edit raw video footage and create cohesive videos. When videos can go viral, it boosts brand image.
Sometimes, video editors need to edit videos for marketing. At other times, they have to create videos for social media needs. HR professionals who want to hire video editors need to look beyond technical skills.
The video editor must know how to create interesting and catchy videos that the target market will love. They must keep up with the latest trends. They also need to know what the target audience expects from the business brand.
Common Interview Questions For A Video Editor
The first thing to look for in a video editor is their portfolio. Candidates who have a strong portfolio can explain their technical skills used in previous projects. Encouraging the person to talk about their work process can help evaluate their work ethic.
Some interviewers will assign a small task for candidates to test their on-the-job skills. If the candidate shows interest in creating the video, it means that they are interested in the job and confident about their skills. During the interview, one must ask questions to know whether the candidate’s personal goals align with the company’s mission.
The best questions encourage the candidate to showcase their technical and non-technical skills. Every candidate deserves the best chance to show their potential. The interviewer should go through the portfolio and know the professional achievement of the candidate before asking questions. It will keep the person more engaged with the interview process and the company. HR needs to ensure talent engagement right from the first touchpoint.
Some of the common questions that one can ask for interviewing a video editor are:
What experience does one have as a video editor?
How will one manage large video projects?
How one handles criticism of their work?
Share examples of video editing
What is the most important skill for a video editor?
Beginner Level Video Editor
Video editing is a job that blends technology and art. The candidate must have both technical and creative skills to create unique, enjoyable videos. Based on the nature of the job, video editing can be done on-site or as a remote worker.
Someone interested in getting a video editor job should have a portfolio or a demo reel showcasing their skills. Technical questions can be asked based on it. HR must ensure that the candidate also has creative and interpersonal skills to work on large projects.
Some of the questions for beginner-level video editors are:
1. How did you decide to become a video editor?
This question helps HR to know the candidate’s passion for storytelling, technical skills, and interest in the industry. The answer will also reveal the person’s work ethic. Choosing a candidate with a genuine interest in making videos that people will love is vital.
2. What are your biggest improvement areas as a video editor?
This question will help HR identify the candidate’s self-awareness. Their answer will also help one know whether the person is willing to grow. Job seekers who are proactive in their approach and willing to learn and improvise can bring so much creativity to the team.
3. Why did you apply for this company?
Asking a candidate this question will help HR know whether the candidate has done their research. Ideally, the candidate’s answer should align with the mission and vision of the company. Look for the person who talks about specific aspects of the company that they like. It means that the candidate has a genuine interest in the company. Such talent will prove to be a valuable addition to the team.
4. What do you think about the role of a video editor?
When an HR asks this question, the response from the candidate will help evaluate whether the person understands their roles and responsibilities. If the person shows an interest in storytelling and takes pride in creating high-quality videos, they can be an ideal fit for the company.
5. How well can you work under pressure?
HR should choose candidates who are comfortable working in stressful situations. If the person can answer that they can be calm under pressure and prioritize their tasks effectively, they can be ideal for the position. It is best to look for candidates who can demonstrate how they have delivered successful videos under pressure in the past.
Intermediate Level Video Editor
When interviewing for intermediate-level positions, the candidate is expected to have strong technical skills. The complexity of projects and their experience will be much better than beginners. Also, these members will be leading the team. So, HR should look for people with better communication and organizational skills. Sometimes, these senior video editors may have to work with client teams to understand the project’s needs. So, one should hire someone with good people skills.
The interview panel can ask the following questions to someone applying for an intermediate-level video editor:
1. What is your experience with different types of video editing software?
This question gives a chance for the candidate to show their technical skills. They should be comfortable talking about the different types of video editing software and how they have unique expertise in those. They should at least know about Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer, etc. Choosing candidates who have used multiple tools in their project to create a high-quality result is better. The HR can also know about the willingness of the person to learn new techniques to improve their skills.
2. Who do you admire as a video editor?
Asking a candidate this question will provide insight into their creative inspirations. While answering the questions, HR can evaluate whether they know about the industry leaders and innovators. Ideally, the candidates should talk about a few popular video editors who inspire their work. This will show that the person is willing to learn from others and work with current trends.
3. Talk about the best project in the portfolio, including budget, timeline, and guidelines.
This question will reveal more about the candidate’s technical skills and project expertise. They should discuss the requirements, budgeting, sources for videos, and how they met the deadline. Their answer makes evaluating whether they can adhere to project needs, work with tight deadlines and deliver high-quality videos easier.
4. How long did the projects in your portfolio take, and why?
As an HR professional, one must look for a versatile video editor. If the candidate has a variety of small and large projects, it means that they have experience in handling different types of projects. From this question, one can learn about work ethics, time management skills, and the person’s creative process. The candidate should be able to discuss the breakdown of project timelines, prioritize tasks, and work with other team members.
5. What is your favorite aspect of engaging with the team to complete a video editing project?
The response to this question will shed light on how well the candidate works with others. Companies need a team player who can communicate well, be open to feedback, and use criticism to improve the project. HR should look for people who find joy in working with others in the creative process and stay engaged with their work.
Advanced Level Video Editor
When HR is looking for candidates for an advanced-level video editor, they are looking for people with excellent technical and managerial skills. They should be able to handle huge volumes of raw footage, have deep knowledge of sound and imagery, and edit complex video sequences to tell a beautiful story. They must team up with other video editors and clients to deliver projects based on the changing requirements.
Following are some questions that can help HR evaluate advanced-level video editors:
1. As a video editor, how do you gauge your success?
The goal of this question is to find out whether the candidate has self-awareness and complex technical skills. They should talk about their measure of success. The answer reveals more about the person’s technical ability, creativity, and ability to complete the project within the budget and timeline requirements. Moreover, the person should be willing to work with other team members and clients to complete a project successfully.
2. Talk about a time when your vision was different from that of the employer/client.
Often, advanced-level video editors have to deal with complex projects, and their vision may be different from that of their employer/client. This question will help identify whether the person has good problem-solving skills. The ideal answer should discuss the person’s open-minded approach to a project and the ability to negotiate a compromise. The candidate should also show that they are willing to listen to other people’s suggestions. They must also be confident in their abilities.
3. What will you do if you can’t reach the project deadline?
The hiring team should look for candidates who follow a proactive approach to problem-solving. Ideally, they should communicate with their team members, prioritize tasks, and try to meet deadlines. Any problems should be reported to supervisors. They must motivate the team to work on possible solutions. The candidate should be open to having honest conversations with the team and clients regarding timelines. They must also be keen to learn from their mistakes.
4. What will one do when the client is unhappy with the video editing work and gives bad feedback?
Advanced-level video editors must deal with many clients and maintain professional relationships. This question will help understand the person’s ability to understand the requirements and make revisions as needed. Ideally, the candidate should have good communication skills and maintain professionalism even when the client is angry.
5. Describe the type of client that you don’t enjoy working with.
Advanced-level video editors must have good control over their emotions. This question will help evaluate whether the person can demonstrate tact, professionalism and commitment to customer service. An ideal candidate should not discuss any specific client’s negative aspects. They should talk about difficult behaviors and come up with solutions to such issues. Their answer should showcase that they are always willing to improve.
When hiring a video editor, HR should look for candidates who align with the business vision. The candidate’s portfolio is a good starting point to form questions. Some people may be good at storytelling, while some may understand the latest trends to go viral. Video editors need a wide array of skills to create amazing videos.
They must be detail oriented to choose the right image, sound, video footage, brand image, etc., to create videos that align with the brand. They are required to be versatile to create videos in any genre. Most importantly, they must showcase good communication skills to interact with other stakeholders in the company.
