Video Interviews: A Very Insightful Guide

Research Readiness

1. Remember, at its core a video interview is an interview like any other. Prepare using the same tried and tested readiness techniques you’ve used in the past!

2. Research your potential employer (the company and the interviewer, if possible). Know who they are and what they’re like.

3. Review the material that’s been exchanged until now, including job postings, resumes, cover letters, emails, etc.

4. Find out the common interview questions for your field (or in general) and rehearse your answers, so you’re not put on the spot.

5. In most cases, your references have not come into play yet. Be sure to give them the rundown and be prepared to forward their latest contact information if asked.

Personal Prep

1. If you live with other people, make sure you advise them that you need to not be disturbed at the time of your interview. Kindly ask them to avoid loud noises or coming into your space.

2. If you have children, make sure they have someone to look after them when you’re unavailable. If you have pets, ensure they are placed somewhere safe but removed from your space.

3. Lay out essential items only, off screen. These can include a copy of your documents (resume/CV and cover letter), some water, a pen and paper to take notes, and tissues in case you need to sneeze.

4. Under no circumstances should you eat or smoke on camera. The same goes true for anything you wouldn’t want people to see you doing in person, such as picking your nose or responding to a text or social media.

5. You can compile a few notes, typically just keywords about important items you wish to remember, such as company history or questions you want to ask. Try to post this around eye-level, and behind the camera, so that it will not seem like you are distracted or reading verbatim.

6. Dress like you’re going out. We’ve all heard the embarrassing stories of people standing up on camera and forgetting they aren’t wearing pants; don’t let it be you. You should also ensure that the colours and patterns of your attire don’t clash with those of your interview space, or match so exactly that you appear to be a floating head.

7. Treat your hair and makeup like part of your outfit. Again, that means keeping it clean, professional, and not too “loud” or distracting. With jewelry, you should also ensure it isn’t ACTUALLY loud, where it could bump into keyboards or jingle as you gesture.

8. If you’re not 10 minutes early, you’re late! Just because you don’t have to commute doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give yourself extra time to handle any last minute issues (like a computer crash, for instance), and also show your employer that you have awesome time management skills!

9. Stop for a second. Take a breath. Acknowledge how you’re feeling (stressed, excited, nervous) and channel it into the confidence you need to succeed! When you’re ready, start that call!

First Things First

1. Before getting into it, confirm who is on the call and how you plan to reconnect if the call drops. If it does drop, act like it’s normal and don’t get frustrated or upset over a minor delay.

2. Confirm that they can see and hear you well. Make any adjustments you need to better accommodate their experience.

3. Start strong so you can keep it that way! Don’t just think positive, BE positive! Remember that with video, they are collecting all sorts of emotional cues from you, including tone of voice, body language, and facial expression. They can tell if you aren’t being genuine, so keep your heart in it from the get-go!

4. Listen carefully. In fact, you should be listening even more carefully than at a live interview. Because of the delays caused by the connection, you need to be extra cautious not to speak over them. They may have already started saying something while you thought they were done.

5. If you need to look away to take a long note, or check something on one of your documents, let them know what you are doing so that they don’t think you’ve started ignoring them or drifted off. You should want them to feel like what they have to say is as important as what you say.

Ending The Interview

1. You should ask any questions about open-ended aspects of the job, and the interview process. Make sure to confirm what happens next, and when you can expect to hear back from them. If they are unsure, it is also a good idea to politely ask if you may send them a follow up email to touch base later on.

2. If they asked you to provide anything post-interview (like your references’ info), be sure to do so as quickly as possible in a short and simple email that includes your thanks for the opportunity and their time.

3. Even if they did not ask for anything additional from you, a follow-up email with a brief thank you is a welcome gesture.

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