Going beyond applications: the video interview

What do you do, and how do you do it?

I should start by explaining the procedure — it’s fairly simple. You’ll be asked one pre-recorded question, given time to prepare an answer, and finally, you’ll respond while your webcam and microphone record your answer. Check out the online interview web page for more information about what question(s) to expect.

This can sound intimidating at first, but realize that it’s much easier than a “real-life” interview, where you have to answer questions without much (or any) prep time. And think about it this way: if you get accepted to Engineering here, you’ll have to undergo a similar process anyway (but in real-life) because of Waterloo's co-op program.

On that note, you should know that I’ve never heard of a potential employer only asking one question during an interview, which means that this is much easier than what happens in real life! The entire online video interview process shouldn't take more than a few minutes. And, if that’s not enough, you get unlimited practice sessions before you submit your actual response. So, enjoy all these luxuries while you can!

Tips from someone who’s been there

Now that you understand how it works, here are some of my top tips — as someone who’s been through (and successfully survived) the process!

• Prepare for the interview by thinking about what you might want to say​. This can help you avoid awkward pauses and saying “um” too much.
• Although it’s good to have a general idea of what you want to say, over-preparing can cause your response to seem scripted and inauthentic. Don’t just read from a piece of paper, try to respond authentically in the moment.
• Find a quiet place to record your video responses​.
• Before you start, take a deep breath and try to relax. You don't need to perform; just show up as yourself!
• Don’t stress about it too much! This isn’t an actual job interview. The reviewers just want to see how you communicate and how you might do during co-op job interviews and work terms. 

Why, why, why must you go through this?

The admissions committee is really just trying to determine whether you’d be a good fit for Engineering at Waterloo. A ‘good fit’ doesn't just mean you’re book-smart, because they can already judge that based on the grades you submit. Being a ‘good-fit’ means that you’re also well-rounded.

As the admissions pool gets more and more competitive each year, it becomes even more important to find students who would be successful in an academic and co-op environment. This means that they want students who are comfortable answering questions, undergoing interviews, and can behave professionally. After all, co-op is where you'll spend at least four months, every other term!

What we’re looking for

This video interview will give the admissions committee the opportunity to virtually meet you, and get a sense of who you are, both of which are helpful in determining admissibility, as our applicant pool becomes increasingly more competitive.

The best way to do well is to be yourself and answer all questions honestly.

When and how can you get started?

Once you've applied, you'll get access to your personalized Waterloo applicant portal. Inside, you'll find a checklist of things to do, including your link(s) to the online interview. 

Depending on the program you've applied to, you'll see one or two interview links that take you to the Kira Talent platform. Each link is unique to you, so we can match your responses to your application. 

If you don't see the interview link in your checklist or run into any issues, just email enginfo@uwaterloo.ca and they'll help you out.