10 Tips to Ace Your Next Video Interview
As a recruiter, I’ve been involved in numerous interviews and phone screens with candidates. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the “what just happened” moments. Interviews can be nerve-wracking, as it can be difficult to speak about yourself, even though you know yourself the best. Here is a list of 10 tips to help you prepare for and succeed in your next video interview.
Make sure your background is clear.
If you are in your bedroom or any place where your personal belongings are visible, make sure you blur your background or change it to something neutral. Be professional every step of the way!
Make eye contact
It can be difficult if cameras are blurry or there is more than one person interviewing you, but make sure to look at your camera or your laptop/computer. Do not look around or read off your computer. Make sure you are engaged with the interviewers and focusing on them.
Log in early to make sure the link works.
This is always best practice. No matter how much you prepare, the one thing that can disrupt your focus is not getting the link to work. This happens often, so log in early to ensure everything works before your interview starts.
Dress professionally
Even though you are not going to the office for an in-person interview, you should still dress the part. Depending on the role, do some research to see how you should dress for the interview. And also – do NOT vape in the middle of your video interview!
Take a breath
Sometimes we want to make sure interviewers know everything about us and answer every question in full detail. This can be an issue if you do not take a pause to let the interviewers ask follow-up questions or simply get a word in. Do not dominate the interview; make sure your answers are concise.
Triple-check your time zone
Make sure to read over the invite clearly and check the time. Too many candidates have missed their interviews due to time zone differences, so be sure to triple-check so that you do not miss your interview!
Arrive prepared
Make sure you look at the company website before your interview; practice answering behavioral questions; figure out why you want this job, as it will likely be asked; reread the job description before the interview; understand the role as best as you can, and come with questions.
Ask questions
Have at least 3-4 questions prepared for the interviewer(s). You will not know everything about the job/company by the end of the interview, so to show that you are serious about the role, come up with well-thought-out questions. Avoid asking about salary and PTO.
Provide examples
When asked questions, most will require more than a yes or no response. When asked about your experiences in a role, be sure to give concrete details. This will help the interviewer understand you and your background better. If you are asked a question about a situation you have not experienced, do not respond with “that hasn’t happened to me.” Instead, say “if and when that were to occur, here is how I would handle it…”
Be positive
This may seem obvious, but I’ve been in too many interviews where the candidate seemed disinterested in the role. You were selected for an interview because of your experience. Now it’s time to show them how much you want the job. Being positive and enthusiastic about the role will go a long way in an interview, trust me!
Meet the Author
Kevin Haines
Senior Talent Consultant, Talent Solutions
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