For employers tuning how candidates record their video interview responses.
Response settings are the four controls that shape how candidates actually record their answers. format (video or audio-only), thinking time (prep before recording starts), response time limit (max length of each answer), and retake limit (how many takes per question). They live in the Response configuration block inside the Video Interview section on Step 3, and apply to every question in the interview.
How to open response settings
To configure response settings, open the Video Interview section on Step 3 and scroll to Response configuration.
On Step 3: Configure interview, open the Video Interview section.
Scroll to Response configuration.
Adjust any of the four settings below.
Settings save automatically.
Format: video or audio-only
Pick how candidates record their answers.
Video (recommended). Candidates record themselves on camera. Gives you communication style, presence, and non-verbal signal in addition to the content of the answer.
Audio-only. Candidates record audio. Lower barrier for candidates who are self-conscious on camera or have limited bandwidth. You lose visual signal but still get the full transcript + AI evaluation.
You can't mix. The setting applies to every question in the interview. If you want different formats for different questions, split them into separate positions.
Thinking time
Thinking time is how long candidates have to read the question and prepare before recording starts. Presets range from None (recording starts immediately) to Unlimited. The default is 2 minutes.
Short thinking time (None to 30s). Closer to a live interview; you see more unscripted responses. Higher pressure on candidates.
Medium (1–2 min, default). The standard. Candidates can collect their thoughts without over-rehearsing.
Long (3+ min or Unlimited). For complex technical or case-study questions where preparation matters more than spontaneity.
See how thinking time works for the candidate-side view of the countdown.
Response time limit
The maximum length of a candidate's recorded answer, per question. Default is 2 minutes.
Shorter (30s–1 min). Forces concision. Good for high-volume screening where you're reading/watching many candidates.
Medium (2 min, default). The standard. Gives candidates room to tell a short story or walk through reasoning.
Longer (3+ min). For behavioral questions where you want depth, or technical questions with multi-step answers.
Candidates see a countdown timer. Recording stops automatically when the limit is reached.
Retake limit
The number of takes candidates get per question. 0 to 3, default 1.
0 retakes. One shot only. Most authentic signal; hardest on candidates. Use when you want to see unfiltered responses.
1 retake (default). Balances authenticity with a safety net. Candidates can redo if they stumble badly.
2–3 retakes. Lower-pressure experience. Useful for roles where polish matters more than spontaneity, or for candidates likely to be camera-shy.
More retakes means more time per candidate (each retake adds thinking time + response time to the total), so keep an eye on the estimated total duration shown on the candidate welcome screen.
Related
How do I add a one-way video interview to my position?. The parent article on the video interview component.
How do I add and manage interview questions?. The other half of Video Interview configuration.
How do I preview what candidates will see?. Walk through the interview yourself to feel whether your timing settings are right.