Video Interview Tips

You’ve flown through the preliminary phone interview first round and now you are invited to attend a video interview, if you are not someone whose life over the past few months has been spent having through screen meetings and therefore now feel confidant communicating and conveying through screen, do not panic, a video interview is much akin to a face to face one, only with some slightly different aspects to add into the equation.

Your interview space

If you live in shared accommodation it is important to find a quiet area away from the hubbub of noise and distraction.  Look around and have a good tidy up, put away clothes, personal effects, clutter, this is your interview room so get into that mindset as it will help you focus on the day.  Nobody wants to see a bra draping over a bed end.  Also ask those you share your home with to avoid interrupting you on the day but if you are in a communal area do make sure nobody is likely to walk by semi-naked – believe me, my own two eyes have seen it.  The person interviewing you can see more than you think – just remember that. 

Dress for interview

Even if your interviewer is in their Onesie it doesn’t mean you should let your standards slip.  Dress as though you were going for the interview in person, being in more formal attire will be a good prompt to retain your focus as to what the video call is all about – avoid bright colours.  As you don’t know if you might be required to stand up (power failure, web-cam falling off – anything could happen in a life event) it is advisable to wear something smart on the bottom half as well as the top.

No distractions

Put your phone on silent, turn the face down so any messages coming in won’t distract you or better yet, put the phone somewhere else.   Close down browsers on your screen.  Let everyone in your house know you are having an interview so must not be distracted.  Similarly turn off the radio, TV, iPad, evict the dog, cat and/or kids from your interview space.  Distractions will lose your focus and this could cost you your interview.

Focus on the camera not the person

Many people make the mistake of looking at the person on the screen but it’s the camera you need to look at.  If you look at the interviewer, to them it seems as though you are looking down so focus on the camera for as long as you can.

Body Language

Do remember to smile and avoid sitting with your arms folded over your chest which can appear closed, avoid frowning and certainly do not yawn!  Avoid using a really comfy chair to sit on – if you do not have an office chair then use an upright one but make sure it is comfy enough to avoid you wriggling about.  If you talk with your hands place them on your lap or hold a pen.  Look like you are fully engaged and keen.  Remember not to put your hand over your mouth otherwise you will not be heard. 

Cheat Sheet or notes

Keeping your notes or cheat sheet close by will aid you when answering any tricky questions or if your mind goes blank – we all have those moments so using your carefully planned bullet points will help get you out of difficulty and remind you about the company you are applying to.

Practice

Make sure your camera and volume are working properly and play around with the angle of your webcam or laptop camera, make sure your wi-fi is up to the job of a video interview and is not likely to keel over part way through the session.  Schedule in a dry run so you know on the day where and how to sit, the correct placement for your device and most important of all, so that you feel confident in delivering your answers and asking questions.