Video Interview Tips for Success

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Video Interview Tips

  • Choose a quiet room for your video interview
  • Opt for a well-lit place
  • Dress appropriately, avoid bright colours
  • Join the meeting at least 5 minutes before the interview
  • Test your audio and video
  • Make sure your Internet connection is stable
  • Place your phone on silent mode
  • Close web browsers and applications that are not required
  • Keep a copy of your resume handy
  • Have a pen and notepad within your reach
  • When listening, nod and smile to show you are engaged

What’s a video interview?
A video interview is a remote interview where interviewer and interviewee are connected through video software such as Teams, Squad, Zoom, Google Hangouts and GoToMeeting among others.

The growing popularity of video interviews
The Coronavirus pandemic has given rise to the popularity of video interviews. It’s not only the interview but the hiring process has also gone for a change. According to news reports companies such as Google, Facebook, Amazon PageGroup and LinkedIn have announced to move to online job interviews due to the outbreak of COVID-19. In these times, recruiters are finding it easy to reach out to prospective candidates online as most of them are working from home and free from meetings and travelling.

Types of video interviews

  • Live Video Interview
  • Pre-recorded Interview

Live video interviews are real time online interactions between an interviewee and interviewer through the use of popular video interview applications such as the ones mentioned above.

If you are not aware of video applications we are talking about, you should ask the recruiter about the software they’ll be using for a video interview. Once you know which software will be used for conducting the virtual interview, go to the official website and download the software on your desktop/laptop/smartphone. Fiddle around, test and get to know the software, so that you are comfortable using it.

A pre-recorded interview is also called asynchronous video interview and it’ll have pre-recorded interview questions. The recruiter will send you a link where you can record your answers to the pre-loaded interview questions. Usually, you are given a time limit to answer each question.

Video interview tips for success

Choose the right spot: Since it’s not an in-person interview in an office setup, your choice of selecting the right spot becomes very important. Choose a quiet room and if possible, with ample natural light.

Go for a well-lit space: It’s recommended you opt for a place with sufficient natural light for your video interview. If that’s difficult, make sure the light source is not at your back. Also, avoid sitting against the light as you may not be visible clearly to the interviewee.

Test your software: Don’t forget to test your video software to ensure you have a glitch-free interview experience.  

Dressing for the interview: Do not undermine the importance of a virtual interview by not appropriately dressing for the occasion. As far as dressing for a video interview is concerned, you should treat it on par with an in-person interview. Dressing well for the interview not only builds your confidence but also sends the right signal to the interviewers.

Body language in a video interview: The common mistake most candidates make in a video interview is they look at the screen when interacting with the interviewer. Instead of looking at screen, you should look at the webcam to make eye contact with the interviewer.

Log on Early: Show up for your video interview five minutes early. If you prefer, you may switch off your video while you wait.

At the beginning of the interview, it is always better to ask the interviewer about the back-up plan just in case, the interview does not go as planned. In the that case you’ll know what to do next.

Preparation is the key to success in any interview. Make sure you’ve done your research on the job role, company and common interview questions.  Once the interview is over don’t forget to send a follow-up thank-you note. This will help you build a stronger connection with your interviewer and can increase your chances of getting ahead.

All the best!

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