Preparing for a Video Interview

So, you have a video interview coming up? It’s normal to feel a little nervous. Digital interviewing is still relatively new technology and most people feel understandably awkward using it. Employers use this as a prescreening tool to gauge whether you’re a fit based on things like professional polish, technology savviness, and personality. It’s also fantastic if you’re interviewing for a job that isn’t local because it lets you give an in-person impression without the expense of being flown out to interview. If you’re preparing for a digital interview, here are 5 things to think about before you begin:

1. Location
Find a quiet place free from distractions where other people are not going to interrupt you. Keep pets and other people outside of the room. You also want to make sure you don’t have anything distracting going on in the background. Be mindful of lighting and avoid aiming your webcam into a sunny window.

2. Angles
Work the camera! Play around with angles and make sure you’re being captured in a flattering way. You don’t want to finish the interview and then realize you were zoomed in on your nose or that half of your body was out of frame.

3. Tech Check
Make sure you have a strong internet connection. It’s always best to use an Ethernet cord when doing a digital interview. If that isn’t an option and you live somewhere that has a questionable wireless signal, you might want to consider finding an alternate place to take the interview. Run a technology check with any new software and make sure you don’t have any tech glitches.

4. Attire
Dress as you would for a regular interview and wear a suit. Employers expect you’ll prepare for a video interview in the same way you would an in-person interview. Don’t disappoint by behaving or dressing informally. Your surroundings should be similarly professional (and neutral).

5. Poise & Communication
Yes, digital interviews are a little bit awkward. Your ability to navigate through this is part of the screening process. Even if you experience a technical malfunction or a sound delay, work hard to remain calm, professional, and light hearted about it. Your interviewers are trying to find out if you’d be someone they’d like to work with and how you handle unexpected problems is part of that.

Happy Interviewing!