An interview for a video editor role can be intimidating. However, the following set of interview questions and answers will help you prepare and have confidence for the interview.
1. Why Are You Interested In This Role?
The hiring manager may ask you this question to find out what drew you to this role. In your response, highlight why you opted for this role and how passionate you are for the role including the impact you would want to have in the industry.
Sample Answer
”I am passionate about this role because of the skills and experience I have in video editing. I have been following the latest report and progress that your company has made over the years. This has made me discover that what you are doing resonates with me. The values you uphold and the expertise you are looking for in a candidate match with my objective. Additionally, the techniques you use are very familiar to me and I would like to be part of this team.”
2. What Are The Roles Of A Video Editor?
The interviewer asks this question to know whether you are familiar with the roles that await you should you be hired for this job. Having the job posting in mind, highlight some of the roles done by the video editor.
Sample Answer
“A Video Editor takes the raw footage shot by a film crew and director and turns it into the final product. He or she follows the shot list or script and assembles the footage into one film or video. The video editor reviews all the footage and creates the best output by cutting and connecting several other footages, adding sound effects and graphics as well as fine-tuning the completed film.”
3. What are the Qualities That a Video Editor Needs to Be Successful?
The answer you provide for this question will help the interviewer to know whether you are aware of the qualities needed to be successful in this role. In your response, list a few qualities of a good video editor as you connect to the needs of the employer.
Sample Answer
“To be successful in this role, a video editor must have creative and artistic skills. He or she need also to have the ability to work on a tight schedule, translate ideas into a complete project, follow directions as well as have a creative eye for improvements. Knowledge of using editing software programs, and computers, as well as digital equipment including new and cutting edge technology, is also crucial in this role.”
4. What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Role? How Did You Manage Them?
The hiring manager asks this question to evaluate your problem-solving ability. The best strategy of responding to this question is to describe how the challenge took place and how you managed it.
Sample Answer
“The biggest challenge has been to meet deadlines when clients give unrealistic schedules. Sometimes, clients bring in the materials too late but provide a tight deadline which I have to meet. However, my ability to work under pressure helps me to provide a good quality video in the given time. I get to work long hours even at night just to meet that deadline. This leaves my clients satisfied and happy.”
5. Describe Your Daily Routine As A Video Editor?
The recruiting manager wants to evaluate how you prioritize your daily work. Describe all the tasks you perform in your recent role and align them with what your potential employer is looking for in the right candidate for the job.
Sample Answer
“I begin my day by checking in my emails and voice messages for anything that may require my urgent attention. From there I start my usual tasks which include:
- Reviewing the raw materials to decide on the shot list
- Manipulating video and film footage through modern editing techniques
- Ensuring that there is continuity while moving shots according to scene value
- Trimming footage as well as combining the rough project
- Inserting sound effects, dialog, graphics, music, and special effects
- Making sure that the project follows a consistent sequence
- Creating the final project for broadcasting
- Consulting with my director as well as the production team throughout the project.”
6. Describe Briefly About Your Experience
This question allows your interviewer to know whether your background matches what they are looking for from the right candidate. To answer this question, summarize your job history as you relate to this post.
Sample Answer
“For the last two years, I have been a video editor. Over this time, I have acquired a lot of expertise in taking the raw footage shot by a film crew and director and turning it into the final product; following the shot list or script and assembling the footage into one film or video; reviewing all the footage and creating the best output by cutting and connecting several other footages; adding sound effects and graphics as well as fine-tuning the completed film. Should you hire me for this role, I will use all the knowledge, skills, and experience I have gained to make a success in this role.”
7. What Kind Of Strategies And Mindset Is Required For This Role?
The interviewer wants to understand your attitude as you perform the job. The best strategy to respond to this question is to showcase the values you regard as important as far as this job is concerned.
Sample Answer
“Besides being creative and artistic, a video editor needs to know how to take new instructions as well as following directions to create a high-quality film. He must be ready to use his general understanding of computers, digital equipment, knowledge of new and cutting edge technology to succeed in this role. It is also important that he comes up with a strategy to meet unrealistic schedules as well as tight deadlines”
8. What Is The Biggest Challenge That You Foresee In This Job?
The interviewer wants to find whether you are ready for challenges and if you can handle them in case they happen. In your response, demonstrate that you are well informed about the potential challenges and you can handle them.
Sample Answer
“The biggest challenge that I see in this role is the technology advancement. Technology is evolving very fast and we need to be at par with it as video editors. I regularly take online educational training to keep myself up to date with the latest technology in this industry. Additionally, I am always in a constant state of learning and I take great measures to gain knowledge of modern editing techniques. I regularly take up all relevant courses. I make sure that my learning never stops.”
9. How Do You Stay Motivated In Your Work?
The hiring manager wants to know your interests and values. The best way to answer this question is to demonstrate your interests and values that help you perform well in your roles.
Sample Answer
“I am passionate about this job. Every time I create a film for my clients, I receive positive compliments that make me dedicated to always offering the best I can. This role can be challenging and interesting at the same time. However, I get motivated by the fact that I get to learn new things consistently.”
10. Describe a Time When You Failed in This Role and The Lesson You Learnt?
The answers you give for this question demonstrate your ability to own mistakes and whether you learn from them. As you respond to the question, share your recent failure and the lessons you picked from it.
Sample Answer
“One day a client brought in the raw materials and requested I make for cerate for him a film. He requested I do it in two days. However, knowing that the schedule given was unrealistic, I still went ahead and accepted the offer. I thought that I would work for long hours including working at night to deliver the film. Though a delivered a high-quality film, I missed the deadline by a day. This taught me to be realistic and honest with the client. If his deadlines are realistic, I should discuss it before beginning working on the project to ensure that I meet all the deadlines given.”
11. Why Do You Feel You are The Most Suited for This Role?
This is a common question asked by many employers to evaluate whether you are well aware of the skills they want from the applicants. In your response, highlight your top best traits, experience, and skills.
Sample Answer
“I hold a bachelor’s degree in film studies and a certificate in cinematography. I have 4 years of experience working as a video editor. While working as a video editor, I have had hands-on experience with editing software such as Final cut pro x, Avid Media Composer, Premier, Lightworks, and Adobe After Effects. I am also familiar with 3D composition and special effects. Additionally, I can work on a tight schedule, translate ideas into a complete project, follow directions as well as have a creative eye for improvements.”
12. Share With Us Your Greatest Achievement.
This question helps your interviewer to know what you refer to as a success. As you respond to the question, share what you are proudest of in your recent job.
Sample Answer
“The best achievement I can share is my ability to meet deadlines. Recently, a client brought in some raw materials for me to assemble and create a quality film for me. His timeline was very tight depending on the length of the film and the many materials that I had to review. However, I worked for 14 hours a day and at night and eventually, I was able to meet the deadline. The client was very happy and gave me some tips on top of the agreed payment. He also referred other clients to me and they have been very loyal customers since then.”
13. How Do You Handle Stress?
This is a common question during an interview where the interviewer asks to find out how you deal with stressful situations. The best strategy of responding to this question is by demonstrating how you stay calm under pressure.
Sample Answer
“Pressures are inevitable in most roles. I always realize when I’m about to feel stressed. When this happens, I ensure to take a deep breath. I exercise for 30 minutes every morning and evening to keep me on an even keel. Additionally, whenever I feel overwhelmed by work, I take periodic breaks to calm down.”
14. Do You Think Taking Breaks In This Line Of Work Is Important?
Having in mind that video editing requires a lot of attention since a single mistake can spoil the entire film, the interviewer may ask this question to test your skills in dealing with pressure and remain focused. This is a behavioral question and you should give a direct answer to it.
Sample Answer
“Besides being a creative work, video editing requires an editor to be attentive to details. However, an editor can only do this when you are calm. Periodic breaks will be of good help to an editor if he or she needs to be successful in this role.”
15. How Do You Feel When A Client Asks You To Make Changes When At The Middle Of Your Project?
This is a question to test whether you can adjust to changes and still deliver a quality product. In your response, demonstrate that you are a flexible candidate.
Sample Answer
“If a client asks me to make changes in a project, I have to oblige. I believe that a client has a right to ask for modification if he or she is not pleased with something. However, I ensure to discuss with him or her in case I may need more time to make the changes”.
16. As A Video Editor, You Will Work With Different Type Of Clients. How Will You Handle Difficult Clients?
Here, the employer is seeking to know your interpersonal skills. In your response, demonstrate that you have very strong interpersonal skills and that you can relate well with any kind of client.
Sample Answer
“I am a flexible video editor. If a client is being difficult, I delve deep to determine why he may be behaving like this, and what can I do to make things easier for him, and myself. It works every time!”
17. What Do You Consider To Be Your Major Strength?
This is a common question during an interview where the employer seeks to identify whether your strengths match the company’s needs and the job’s responsibilities. The best way to respond to this question is by describing the skills and experience you possess that match with the post of a video editor.
Sample Answer
“I can understand every aspect of video editing as well as being at par with every new technology advancement. Additionally, my strong communication and interpersonal skills enable me to relate well with my clients as well as other directors. I also have very strong organizational skills that enable me to meet deadlines”
18. What Do You Consider To Be Your Major weakness?
The hiring manager asks this question to find out your level of self-awareness. The best strategy of responding to this question is by picking a weakness that will not affect your chances of getting the job.
Sample Answer
“My passion for this work pushes me to take too much workload that makes me work extra hours to ensure that I complete all the tasks in due time. I have realized that this is a weakness since I feel that I often work too hard, and end up burning myself out. I am now focusing on taking more breaks, and lessening the impact of too much work so that I can contribute more.”
19 . Kindly Tell Me Why You Want To Leave Your Present Job.
The employer asks this question to find out the reasons you want to leave your current employer for their company. Keep off criticizing your previous employer or the job. Stay positive as you give your response.
Sample Answer
“I have gained a lot of skills and expertise from my current role. However, I am seeking a new and more challenging role to broaden my horizons. I believe that I can acquire more skillsets in this job and grow more in my career as a video editor.
20. Do You Have Any Questions For Us?
The hiring team asks this question to know whether there is any clarity you may require from them. This is an opportunity, to ask any question that you may have.
Sample Answer
“Yes, I have two questions for you. First, I would love to know more about your company and the kind of projects that it picks up. Second, When do I expect to get the results of this interview.
Conclusion
You can ace your next interview by studying and practicing these interview questions and answers. Most employers want to hire a confident candidate. So, be sure to demonstrate confidence as you answer every question.
