INDUSTRY TIPS FOR YOUR VIDEO INTERVIEW
Some states (ie Victoria) require prospective graduates to complete a video interview with a set of pre-selected questions as a critical component of your grad application.
Unfortunately, evidence shows that many candidates do not prepare adequately for this format, and this is immediately obvious to selectors.
Failure to prepare and a poor interview can ultimately lead to low scores and negatively impact overall ranking, thus the final outcome for your graduate program offer.
Below are some industry tips to help you prepare for your graduate video interview from those of us who recruit to the graduate program.
While many may seem straightforward and obvious, they reflect some of the most common mistakes we see when reviewing these videos—and are often the easiest to correct.
Ensure you record your interview somewhere with stable internet connection. Yes, one of those very obvious ones, but issues such as blur, interruption and pausing to the signal, poor sound, static noise etc can be very distracting for both the candidate and selector. The candidate often appears more distracted by the internet connection than answering the question. Solution: Allocate the time you are going to record your interview and go somewhere you know will be uninterrupted the internet is stable. This might be your university, local library or community hot-desking office where it is their responsibility to ensure the connection is fast and stable. If you have access to a Country University Centre they are an excellent example of somewhere that will provide both an appropriate space and high-speed internet for you to undertake your interview.
Put some effort into your appearance, it forms part of your overall interview score. Consider the old saying “dress for the job you want, not the one you’ve got”. Selectors don’t expect a suit (unless you want to wear one which is absolutely fine!), but it is really distracting to see candidates in clothing such as hoodies (especially with the hood on), t-shirts with large logos or slogans (ie music t-shirts), torn clothing, sunglasses, anything really revealing (all genders included in this statement), tracksuits, gym gear, the list goes on. The video generally only shows your face and mostly from the waist up, consider a top half that reflects your personality but is basic enough that it doesn’t distract recruiters from the answers you are providing. We love seeing your personality, but we want to know you care enough about your application that it looks like you have made an effort. Same goes for hair and make-up, facial hair etc.
Check the background of your video before you hit record. One of the most common mistakes we see in grad application videos is a distracting background. This includes a candidate moving around rooms, large mirrors, unmade beds, hanging washing, loud music, food cooking on a stove, family walking through the background, dogs barking or children screaming that drowns out the candidate. Similarly really bright windows can create reflection or a blinding effect, again the list goes on. Try to position yourself somewhere in a quiet room in front of a relatively blank background, limit distractions from outside sources and check you are visible with the lighting. We want to be able to see and hear your interview clearly and with the least amount of distraction possible.
If you are given open book questions-ensure you have prepared answers. It was evident in the 2026 graduate recruitment that while candidates were given open book questions, many did not have answers prepared. This is one of the most basic things you can correct and will dramatically improve your interview. Open book questions are usually provided 1-2 weeks prior to the interview period opening, this is plenty of time to review the questions, collate some answers and practice them. These are generally clinical examples or topics such as team work, conflict resolution or de-escalation of a particular situation. Consider your student placements and situations when you have either experienced or witnessed interactions that fall in these categories. You may wish to have these written on a post-it note or some sort of prompt (off camera) that can assist you.
Know the time allocation to each question. Another common mistake we see is candidates either rushing their answer and finishing within 20-30 seconds, or waffling on with no real substance to the answer for the maximum time allocation of the question. Both are equally off-putting for a recruiter. We want to hear you speak clearly and succinctly using the time allowed to the specific question that has been asked. Extend your answer as much as possible to provide relevant examples of clinical knowledge or personal reflections of real-world examples. A maximum point answer will be something that is both clinically correct and is clearly evident that the candidate confidently knows what they are talking about.
Get into the habit of documenting experiences on your placements so you have something to authentically speak about. Recruiters want to hear answers that reflect your time on student placement or during your time as a RUSON. Most healthcare interviews will include questions that are clinically based or as mentioned in point 4 include topics such as teamwork, conflict resolution, escalation/de-escalation of a patient or deteriorating patient examples. If you get into the habit of documenting examples during your placements, this will make it easier to reflect on or refer to when undertaking your interview.
Try not to to use non-healthcare examples. Many candidates will use examples from part-time jobs that are completely irrelevant to the health environment. At a push this might be ok for a question related to teamwork, but it is always preferable to use healthcare examples. It is ok to say that you have not experienced something specifically, but just make sure you follow this up with what you would hypothetically do in a particular situation.
Do not mention specific hospitals or health services during your interview. It is imperative you do NOT mention the specific name of a health care service (whether good or bad) during your interview. This should be part of the advice coming from PMCV, your university or any of the career events you attend. We have seen examples of students using discussing poor behaviour or speaking negatively about specific hospitals while also applying to that very hospital for a grad program. We have also seen candidates speaking about how much they want to get a program at the Alfred, while their video is in review for Monash. It is an instant distraction and in a competitive field will almost certainly result in a poor ranking. Under no circumstances should you mention where you have ranked a particular health service during your interview.
Confidentiality is key. Please don’t forget your privacy and confidentiality obligations when you are giving examples. Keep everything general and avoid specific name, locations etc. A breach of confidentiality will almost certainly result in you being unranked by almost all health services. It would seem obvious, but it happens way more than you think.
Prepare early, get some practice in and know your dates! The interview and graduate application dates are clearly stated on all the state portals, meaning you have ample time to prepare all components, including your video interview. Prepare early, consider getting some advice and practice in with someone who can give you valuable feedback, and don’t leave it until the last minute!