VIDEO INTERVIEWING TIPS

Young Businesswoman Videochatting With Colleagues On Computer In Office

More and more candidates are now getting screened out of their interview processes very quickly due to their bad video interview. Most of these web cam interviews are first-interviews used by employers to quickly screen job seekers. It gives a more real impression compared to the traditional phone interview.

Web cam interviews are growing at a record rate. However, this process is a deal breaker for so many candidates because they did not present themselves well in their web cam interview. So, it’s important to follow these basic tips to help you succeed.

LOOK AT THE CAMERA NOT AT THE SCREEN

It’s not unusual to want to watch yourself or your interviewer during a video interviewer session, but looking directly at the video camera is the only way to maintain direct eye contact with your interviewer. One trick here is to center the face of the other person on your screen to be right below your camera.

WHEN GIVEN A CHOICE CHOOSE YOUR СОMРUTЕR

Instead of having the interview from your smart phone try and see if you can have the interview from your computer. Candidates that conduct these interviews from a computer have much higher success rates of passing their interview compared to those that conduct the interviews from their smart phone.

CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS ON YOUR COMPUTER

Getting Facebook notifications during your interview is distracting and unprofessional. Before your interview, make sure all other windows on your computer are closed.

PROPER DRESS

When it comes to what you wear, treat your video interview like an in-person interview and dress professionally. A professional dress code with video interviews is expected.

SELECT THE OPTIMAL LOCATION

Pick a quiet place to interview without an elaborate backdrop so that you can be focal point on the screen. Remove anything distracting from you and keep it neutral.

TEST

Make sure the lighting is good. Test your microphone and speakers. Be sure to position the camera so that you come out well on the screen.

DO NOT USE A SWIVEL CHAIR

If this point is not completely obvious, a swivel chair makes you swing around. This makes it difficult to hold an interview with you online as your chair is moving around too much.  So let’s be clear, do not use a swivel chair!

PRACTICE

Think first impressions here. Doing a run through the interview with a friend beforehand is helpful because your first few video interview calls are likely to feel awkward, especially if you have to retain yourself to watch the camera and not the screen (it’s hard not to look at yourself). Make sure you are dressed and groomed appropriately when you practice your answers, so you have the best representation of yourself as possible. Play around with everything beforehand so that when it’s interview time you are ready to go.

ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERUPTIONS

If you are interviewing in a house with multiple people or pets, be sure to let everyone in the house know ahead of time that you will be in an interview while securing any animals away from your interview soace. Do not take any other calls or answer emails during the interview.

READ OFF OF YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN

Use sticky notes and place them around your video camera and or computer screen. On each sticky note bullet point out questions you would like to ask the employer. Place the sticky notes around your computer so that you do not have talk into the camera with your head down.

Because you are in a video interview, you may think it’s okay to write out answers to potential interview questions or map out other responses on your screen for reference. Stay away from this! Instead, it’s all about preparing and practicing your answers beforehand so that they sound natural when you’re in your interview. Work on responses to commonly asked interview questions.

ASK YOUR INTERVIEWER TO REPEAT THE QUESTION

Didn’t understand what the recruiter just asked you? It’s okay to pause and ask, “Can you please repeat that?” Or, if you’re in a live video conference, ask the interviewer to rephrase or clarify the part of the question that’s not clear. It’s better to ask then to not answer the question (or to answer the wrong question).

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ASKED

Recruiters and hiring managers want to know you can do the job required, so they ask specific questions. A video is a faster way for them to screen seekers than traditional phone interviews, so make sure you are focused on the questions they ask you.

HAVE A RESUME READY

Video can get your foot in the door, but standard materials still get used at some point in the process. Make sure your experiences and your resume best point to match what you’re saying in the video.