9 Important Tips for Acing Your Video Interview

From a recruitment point of view, taking a video interview is rapidly becoming a norm. This is because HR departments are seeking efficient and cost effective ways of interviewing a high pool of available candidates. Communicating your personal value to an employer through a one-way video or in a Skype/Zoom conversation is paramount. However, it’s essential to do it correctly to present yourself in a better manner. Due to the influence of COVID-19 and the current requirement for social distancing, it’s highly likely that your next interview could well be a video interview. As a result, you should make sure you’re ready to face the camera when giving a video interview. In this article, we will provide you nine important tips for acing your video interview.

Dress for success

You should dress as you would for an in-person interview. Doing so will help you to feel more confident about yourself. You should avoid wearing a blazer with sweatpants assuming that you would only be viewed from the waist up. Moreover, you should also avoid wearing flashy, bright colors and select anything that looks neatly pressed while you’re sitting down. You should wear your video interview outfit during your trial run. This would allow to directly obtaining feedback from a family member or friend regarding how it actually looks on screen.

Set the stage for a distraction-free video interview

You should select a location that is free from the distractions of pets, roommates or children. You should also hang a sign on the door that asks package deliverers and mail carriers for not ringing the doorbell. You should also be able to make sure the background is free from clutter as well as embarrassing items such as laundry piles. Moreover, you can also set up lighting during your video interview that’s bright but not glaring. It will help you to illuminate your face from the front. You should also turn off social media alerts, email, text, software updates and other notifications that could well show up on your screen during the interview. During the video interview, you should turn off programs that could interfere with the webcam.

Test your technology

A few days before conducting the interview, you should do a technical trial run for making sure that your equipment has been working correctly. You should download any applications or plugins that you’ll require. Whether you have been using Zoom, Skype, Google Meetups or another video platform, you should make sure that you have a username that’s professional. You should also check that your computer’s microphone, camera and internet connection are also correctly working. It is important that you do a trial run with a family member or friend. This will allow you to have sufficient time to adjust if there is any software or equipment malfunction during your interview.

Have a proactive approach

You should prefer to log in at least 10 minutes earlier. This will allow you to be calm and composed when the video interview starts. You should thoroughly review the job description before the interview. You should also prepare any speaking points that you need to hit or any notes that you’ve taken regarding the organization or position.

Maintain good eye contact and body language

It is very easy for you to lose focus during an interview specifically when the person you’re talking to is not available in the room. You should maintain “eye contact” with your interviewer by looking directly into the camera and not at the screen or at your own photo. You should also make sure that your face is centered. Moreover, you should also try not to move around during the interview. You should also keep a good posture during the interview. You should sit with your back straight and feet on the ground and arms resting in your lap or on the desk.

Project and pause

You should check your volume controls and speak clearly. This will allow the microphone to effectively pick up your voice. Moreover, the interviewer would be able to hear you effectively in this regard. You should also remember that digital connections could often be delayed. To avoid talking over the interviewer or having your first few words cut out during the video interview, you should allow the interviewer to finish the question and then pause for a few seconds before you give your answer.

Keep your device charged

If you are using a tablet or laptop, you should make sure that it’s fully charged on the day of your interview. You should pick a spot that has strong Wi-Fi. If you’re using a tablet, you should find a way to keep it stationary. If you are not able to do that, the screen will become shaky when you’re holding the device. If possible, you should avoid using a smartphone for video interviews.

Memorize all important information

You should remember all the important data and avoid making notes. With phone interviews, you could rely on having handwritten notes. However, video interviews are similar to formal face-to-face interviews where you can’t use notes. It may appear obvious when you look down to review your notes. It can also cause a gap in your focus. As a result, it is beneficial to remember all the important information related to your job otherwise you will lose the job just at the last step.

Share your appreciation at the end of the interview

Just as you would usually do with a traditional face-to-face interview, you should thank the interviewer for this opportunity. Moreover, you should also follow up with a post-interview thank-you note in the next 24 hours. In your note, you should briefly reinforce why you are deeply interested in this job and why you’d be a great match for the role and company. You should also think about adding something that you and the employer had initially discussed before you get to know each other. This will further improve the relationship between you and the interviewer.