Does Madison Reed use a video interview? What to expect

A one-way video interview is a recorded screen where you answer set questions on your own time, with no live interviewer. Madison Reed has used Willo for exactly this to hire stylists, according to a published Willo case study. That is recent vendor data, not an official policy, so confirm the format with your recruiter before you assume your role uses it.

Does Madison Reed use a video interview?

The honest version: based on a published Willo case study, Madison Reed has used Willo for one-way video interviews, specifically to screen stylists for its Hair Color Bars. That is a vendor-published source, not an official Madison Reed hiring policy, and it does not mean every role uses video or that yours will. The case study is centered on high-volume stylist hiring, so a video stage is most likely if you are applying for a client-facing Color Bar role and less certain for corporate or warehouse positions. The case study is undated, so treat it as a recent snapshot rather than a current guarantee.

What is clearer is the shape of the wider process. Candidate accounts on Glassdoor describe a path that usually starts with a recruiter conversation, can include a recorded video stage, and moves into interviews with the hiring manager and team. Reviewers there tend to describe the experience as positive and not especially difficult, so the process reads as thorough but not brutal.

What to expect in the Madison Reed process

The flow most stylist candidates describe looks like this:

• A recorded one-way interview. This is the Willo stage. You get a link, answer a few set questions on your own time, and record each response within a time limit, with no live interviewer present. Per the case study, Madison Reed used Willo to replace a 30-minute phone screen with a roughly 10-minute recorded one, and candidates could respond by audio or video. The questions are values-based rather than technical: why Madison Reed, how you approach clients, how you handle a tricky service moment.
• Review by a hiring manager. Your responses are watched later by the team, not scored live while you record. The case study notes that no login was required for reviewers, which is part of why many managers could move through candidates quickly.
• Live interviews. If you clear the recorded stage, you typically meet a hiring manager and sometimes team members for one or more conversations. Some candidates describe a longer multi-step process for corporate roles, including assessments and senior interviews.

A note on the experience itself. Madison Reed’s recorded round is built around letting stylists show personality and client warmth, not catching them out. The case study frames the audio-or-video option and custom intro videos as a way to give candidates space to shine in ways a resume cannot. So treat the recorded stage as your chance to sound like someone clients would trust in a chair, not a test to survive. For a fuller picture of how the recorded format works and what reviewers see, read what it is like to take a Willo interview.

How to prepare

The recorded stage rewards preparation more than a live call does, because you control the timing and you can often re-record.

• Know the rules before you start. The start screen tells you how many questions there are, your think time, your recording limit, and whether re-records are allowed. Read it before you answer the first question. If recording on camera makes you nervous, check whether audio is offered for your interview. See whether you can record audio instead of video.
• Prepare for values-based questions. Have a clear, specific answer for why Madison Reed, not retail or beauty in general, and a short story or two about delivering great client service and handling a difficult moment with care. For role-specific practice, work through our one-way interview questions for customer service and, for the in-salon side, one-way interview questions for retail.
• Set up well. Use a phone or computer with good light and a plain background, and test your camera, mic, and connection first. Jot two or three keywords during think time and start talking before the timer forces you. Do not read a full script, it shows on camera and flattens the warmth that matters for a client-facing role.
• Walk through the format once. If you have never recorded a one-way interview, our guide on how to prepare for an asynchronous interview covers the mechanics end to end.

A snapshot, not a guarantee

This page is based on a published Willo case study, which is undated, plus candidate accounts. Hiring processes change, and they vary by role and location. So treat this as a well-grounded expectation, not a promise that your Madison Reed interview will use video or follow these exact steps. The reliable move is to ask your recruiter directly what the format is, whether there is a recorded stage, and whether audio is an option. They will tell you, and that beats any guide. You can also browse other employers in our companies using Willo roundup.