How to Ace a Video Interview

Job interviews can be nerve wracking enough without you having to worry about your internet connection, the dog barking because the postman has been or your potential new boss scrutinising your dining room décor.

With lockdown restrictions in place and businesses replacing the face-to-face interview with the likes of Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype, for both safety reasons and convenience, now is the time to get up to speed with how to ace that video interview. The following tips will make you feel more prepared, which will hopefully in-turn help you relax and therefore you will be able to impress just as much as you would in person. They may also make you look like a pro on your Zoom calls with friends and family, and that can only be bonus!

Test Test Test

You’ve had the video interview confirmed via email and you know what software you are going to be using, so download the app in advance and try it out with your recruiter or a friend if you can. You will be sent a link to join the meeting on the day but you’ll feel less nervous if you know what’s going to happen when you click on the link. You need to know how to start your video and audio and I highly recommend looking through the settings and features if you can. It’s important on the day that you have a strong internet connection, so if you’re using Wi-Fi, make sure that nobody else in your household is using the Wi-Fi to stream television or anything else that may require a high connection.

Minimise Distractions

We’re experiencing unprecedented circumstances and never before have we been trying to live, work and play within the same four walls. I understand how challenging it can be to find a quiet and calm area in the house but for an interview, you really do want no distractions as it will help you relax and you’ll be able to focus better on the task in hand. Make sure your household know that you need no distractions for this period and find an area (ideally a room where you can close the door) that nobody else will need to use throughout the interview too. Knock your phone on to silent and close all applications and web browsers that you have open on the device you are using, so that you aren’t distracted by any notifications popping up or alerts making a sound.

Showtime

You’re the Director, Producer and Leading Actor in your video call. You need to set the scene and make sure your background and everything visible in your frame is appropriate and thought out. I purposely opt for a plain background when I am doing video interviews and meetings (be it at home or in the office) as it sets the tone and the other participants on the call aren’t distracted by what’s going on behind me. Consider your lighting. You want to be lit well and from the front; light coming in from behind you will make you appear much darker on the screen and often create just a silhouette. If you are using a phone or a tablet, use a stand. No matter how still you think you are holding the phone, you will never hold it still enough for your other participants not to feel travel sick, and then you have your hands free to take notes and you will appear more at ease. You can purchase a stand reasonably cheaply but you can also simply prop it up on a box or some stacked books. Which leads me nicely on to eyeline. You want the camera to be slightly above your eyeline, anything below that and if you’re sitting too close, then the participants will have a lovely view of your nostrils and not much else.

Perfect Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

A video interview, albeit in the safety of your own your home, is still an interview and must be treat with as much attention as you would if it were in person. Research the business, the role and know exactly why you want to work there. Have questions prepared in advance about the job, the company and about what matters to you i.e. their values, career progression, their service vision. Dress to impress… And not just from the waist up! Smile and look in to the camera. It can be very easy to look at yourself on screen and start to fidget or adjust your hair and outfit, but if you look in to the camera, the other participants feel like you are maintaining eye contact and they will feel like you are talking directly to them and the conversation feels more natural. Body language and non-verbal communication is even more important in a video call and almost needs to be exaggerated for it to feel engaging.

For further career advice, you can reach me directly at [email protected]

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