Self-paced interview software

Use self-paced interviews to hire faster and smarter

Q: How do self-paced interviews work?

The hiring team creates a custom set of questions tailored to the role, then shares a link with candidates. Candidates record their responses within a set time limit and submit them. Employers can then review responses at their convenience, replay answers, and share them with colleagues. There is no live interaction or scheduling needed.

Q: Are self-paced interviews better for candidates?

Yes. Self-paced interviews are more flexible and less stressful than live interviews. Candidates can choose when and where to respond, avoid scheduling issues, and some platforms allow answer re-recording for a better candidate experience.

Q: What kinds of jobs are a good fit for self-paced interviews?

Self-paced interviews are commonly used for high-volume or early-career roles in retail, hospitality, healthcare, customer service, and campus hiring. Startups and tech firms also use them to assess communication skills, mindset, and enthusiasm early in the process.

Q: How long does a self-paced interview usually take?

Most take between 10 to 20 minutes, with around three to six questions. Each question typically has a one to two-minute response window. The exact time varies depending on the employer’s preferences and whether re-recording is allowed.

Q: Can self-paced interviews replace traditional interviews?

Self-paced interviews are best used as a screening tool for early stages, not a replacement for live interviews. They reduce the number of live calls needed, but most companies still conduct at least one live conversation later in the hiring process.

Q: How does Truffle’s AI help screen candidates in self-paced interviews?

Truffle uses machine learning to assess candidate responses, reduce bias, and highlight top talent. It reduces the number of live interviews required and helps your hiring team focus on the best candidates faster, with AI-generated summaries and match scores.

Let candidates respond on their time. Review responses on yours. Eliminate scheduling coordination while accelerating your hiring process with more informed decisions.

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What is a self-paced interview?

A self-paced interview—sometimes called a one-way or asynchronous interview—replaces the back-and-forth of phone screens with a flexible video format. Instead of coordinating schedules, candidates record their answers on their own time. Hiring teams can then review responses when it suits them, speeding up the process, creating a fairer experience, and giving both sides more control.

Why teams switch to self-paced interviews (and why they choose Truffle)

Interview every candidate without scheduling calls

Let candidates respond by video or voice on their own time

Create custom workflows tailored to each role

Share interviews instantly with a link or email invite

More than recordings — intelligence built in‍

AI-generated summaries highlight strengths and gaps

Searchable transcripts make reviewing faster

Insights mapped directly to your intake criteria

Shortlists that align teams in minutes

Unlimited team access so the right people weigh in

Centralized comments to compare feedback

Ready to use from day one — no training required

See why teams love Truffle’s self-paced interviews

Organizations using Truffle’s self-paced interview software report faster time-to-hire, happier candidates, and more confident hiring decisions.

"I've tried a couple of different candidate screening tools and Truffle’s self-paced interviews are on another level."

Graham Clarke
Baseworx

"Finding the right Customer Service Rep felt impossible—until Truffle. The self-paced format let us interview every candidate fairly, and we hired someone who truly fits our culture."

Michael Sampson
Vibriance

"What I love about Truffle is that it doesn’t try to do everything — just the 20% of self-paced interview features that drive 80% of results."

Pamela MacElree
Urban Athlete

"We needed a Sales Manager who could connect with our client’s customers quickly. With Truffle’s self-paced interviews, we made a confident hire who hit the ground running from day one."

Adrian Jusufi
Pro Seal Roof Coatings

"We use Truffle’s knockout questions, automated analysis, and AI summaries to make self-paced interviews efficient. No fluff, no wasted time — just clear signals."

Eleni Varvitsioti
EnErgo Recruitment

"Finding a copywriter who understood our voice was a challenge. Truffle’s self-paced interviews delivered the perfect match — someone with clarity, creativity, and impact."

Gene Sigalov
Upfirst

Self-paced interviews vs. live interviews

Self-paced interviews (also known as asynchronous, one-way, or video interviews) let candidates record responses on their own time, instead of joining a scheduled call. With live interviews, both sides must align calendars — a process that slows hiring and often causes bottlenecks.

Self-paced interviews remove that barrier. You simply share a link, candidates record their answers, and your team reviews them when it fits your schedule.This flexibility benefits everyone. Candidates avoid the stress of coordinating times, while hiring teams gain the freedom to review responses at scale. Instead of juggling calendars, you can focus on evaluating skills, culture fit, and potential.

For recruiters, self-paced interviews streamline the entire process: less back-and-forth, faster evaluations, and a data-driven way to identify the best talent quickly. For candidates, it’s a fairer, more convenient experience that respects their time.

Aspect	Self-paced interviews	Live interviews
Scheduling	No scheduling needed — candidates record on their own time, teams review later	Requires calendar coordination, often leading to delays and rescheduling
Flexibility	Candidates respond when they’re ready; recruiters review at their convenience	Both sides must be available at the same time
Scalability	Screen dozens or hundreds of candidates in a fraction of the time	Limited by interviewer availability and time constraints
Candidate experience	Less pressure, more time to prepare thoughtful responses	Higher stress, candidates may feel rushed or judged in real time
Evaluation	AI summaries, transcripts, and structured scoring available for consistency	Notes depend on interviewer memory and availability
Speed to hire	Faster shortlisting and decision-making, reduces time-to-hire	Slower process, hiring bottlenecks are common

Frequently asked questions about Truffle's self-paced interviews

What is a self-paced interview?

A self-paced interview is a modern interview format that allows candidates to complete their interview questions on their own schedule, without needing to coordinate a time with a recruiter. Instead of meeting face-to-face or joining a live video call, candidates receive a pre-recorded set of questions and respond using video, audio, or text at a time that suits them. This type of interview is also known as a one-way or asynchronous interview, and it’s designed to streamline the hiring process for both candidates and employers.

How do self-paced interviews work?

In a self-paced interview, the hiring team first creates a custom set of questions tailored to the role. These can be open-ended, behavioral, or skill-based prompts recorded in video or text format. Once the interview is set up, a candidate receives a link to access the questions. They record their responses within a set time limit—often just a few minutes per question—and then submit them. The employer can then review the responses at their convenience, replay answers, and share them with colleagues if needed. There’s no live interaction, which removes the need for scheduling or back-and-forth emails.

Why are self-paced interviews used by companies?

Self-paced interviews help recruiters handle large applicant pools by allowing them to review all candidate recordings quickly and on their own timeline. Instead of juggling multiple live calls, busy hiring teams can simply watch short videos to identify top prospects swiftly.

Are self-paced interviews better for candidates?

For many candidates, self-paced interviews are more flexible and less stressful than live interviews. They allow people to choose the best time and place to respond, which is especially helpful for those balancing job searches with other commitments. Because the process is asynchronous, candidates don’t have to worry about time zones, conflicting schedules, or unexpected interruptions. Some platforms even allow re-recording of answers, giving candidates a chance to present their best selves without the pressure of getting it perfect on the first try.

What kinds of jobs are a good fit for self-paced interviews?

Self-paced interviews are commonly used in industries that hire at scale or have a high number of entry-level positions, including retail, hospitality, healthcare, customer service, and seasonal or campus hiring. However, more startups and tech companies are also adopting this format for early-stage screening because of how quickly it helps them assess communication skills, mindset, and enthusiasm—without the resource drain of traditional interviews.

How long does a self-paced interview usually take?

Most self-paced interviews take between 10 to 20 minutes to complete. A typical interview includes anywhere from three to six questions, and each question usually comes with a short time window to respond—often around one to two minutes per answer. The length may vary depending on how detailed the employer wants the responses to be, whether there’s an option to retry, and if follow-up questions are included.

Can self-paced interviews replace traditional interviews?

Self-paced interviews are best used as a screening tool, not a full replacement for live interviews. They are ideal for the top-of-funnel stages in hiring where recruiters need to narrow down a large pool of applicants to a shortlist. By helping hiring teams quickly identify promising candidates, self-paced interviews reduce the number of live calls required. However, most companies still conduct at least one live conversation later in the process to dig deeper into a candidate’s experience or answer any final questions.

How does Truffle’s AI help screen candidates in self-paced interviews?

Truffle uses machine learning algorithms to assess candidate responses, reduce bias, and deliver actionable insights to your hiring team, allowing you to focus on top talent quickly.f-paced interviews reduce the number of live calls required. However, most companies still conduct at least one live conversation later in the process to dig deeper into a candidate’s experience or answer any final questions.

I've tried a couple of different one-way interview tools and Truffle is unparalleled. It’s drastically reduced our time-to-hire, improved the consistency of our screening, and helped us spot high-potential candidates we might have otherwise overlooked. It’s been a game-changer for our lean team.

Rick Upton

Loggerhead Fitness

Use self-paced interviews to hire faster and smarter

What is a self-paced interview?

Why teams switch to self-paced interviews (and why they choose Truffle)

See why teams love Truffle’s self-paced interviews

Self-paced interviews vs. live interviews

How Truffle's self-paced interviews work

Get from application to insights in minutes

Frequently asked questions about Truffle's self-paced interviews

The best one-way video interview software