Your guide to preparing for a video interview
Video interviews are now the norm, so knowing how to approach them is a vital skill for any job hunter. By following a few small steps, you'll give yourself the confidence to succeed.
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Video interviews are now the norm, so knowing how to approach them is a vital skill for any job hunter. By following a few small steps, you'll give yourself the confidence to succeed.
But for many of us, the thought of interviewing via Skype or Zoom remains just as daunting prospect as being physically in the room. To help calm your nerves and enhance your video interview toolkit, we'll walk you through the types of video interviews, offer advice on what to wear, and provide tips on important aspects such as body language and eye contact.
First up, it's worth running through a checklist of things you'll need to ensure things run smoothly.
Some interviews will be live. Once connected, you’ll be able to see and speak with an interviewer on the other end.
Make sure your user name is professional if you’re using a personal Skype, Zoom, or Google account.
Some clients use dedicated interview platform software. In this format, the employer will give you instructions on how to join the interview. You will be prompted to answer questions and the recording will then be sent to the employer at the end of the question series.
Make sure that you’ve closed other apps or windows on your computer that could interrupt the conversation or slow the internet connection. Set your phone to silent before you begin the conference.
You should dress as professionally as you would for a face-to-face interview.
Bright colours, especially reds, yellow, orange, and pink don't look good on video. If you wear glasses, adjust the lighting in the room to reduce glare from your lenses.
Position the camera so that you are looking up slightly and central on the screen. Eye contact is very important during an in-person interview, so you want to convey that same level of connection during a video interview. When you’re listening, you can look back at the screen.
Throughout the interview, keep your mood upbeat and convey optimism with your body language.
In many ways, your body language should mimic a face-to-face interview: When you’re listening, nod and smile when appropriate to communicate that you’re giving them your full attention.
Practice makes perfect, so run through a rehearsal of the process to help you get used to the technology and the body language of a video interview.
Despite our best intentions, life doesn't always go to plan. Here are some backup plans to have ready just in case things go awry during the interview.
Before the interview, ask the interviewer for a phone number where you can reach them if you experience technical difficulties. This will give you a trusty plan B if your video or audio stops working.
If noises interrupt your video interview, apologise for the interruption and ask for a few moments until the noise has subsided.
If someone enters the room unexpectedly, apologise to the interviewer, ask for a few moments, mute your microphone, and turn off your camera. Then step away to swiftly deal with the interruption.
Finally, you should conclude by thanking the interviewer for their time.
Good luck!
If you need more advice on finding a new role, speak to one of our consultants to see how we can help you.
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