You should prepare for a video interview in exactly the same way you would for a face-to-face interview. Prepare answers for any and all eventualities, do background research on the company and compile some questions to ask the interviewer; all the usual stuff applies. On top, there are few additional considerations to factor in: (QUICK LINK - DOWNLOAD THE FULL GUIDE HERE)
Setup
- Test that your microphone, speakers and camera are working.
Connection
- Check your internet connection, close any unnecessary programs, apps or web pages and make sure you aren’t downloading, installing or about to run updates, otherwise your device may run slow
Surroundings
Where to look
- Look into your camera, rather than at the interviewer. This way it’ll appear like you are looking at them.
Do not disturb
- Unlike in a face-to-face interview, you’ll likely be at home or even on your lunch break at work. It seems an obvious one but make sure people around you know not to disturb you. Ideally, find a place where you feel completely at ease and where you can speak freely and comfortably without fear of interruptions or distractions.
?Appearance
- Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you don’t need to look the part. You should dress exactly as you would for an in-person interview. Psychologically, you’ll feel more ready too.
Stay focused
- Because you’re not face-to-face, it can be easier to become distracted and do things you wouldn’t do in a face-to-face setting. Stay focused throughout.
Notes
- Avoid reading off notes. It’s okay to refer to notes but don’t try to be sneaky about it. Equally, avoid taking excessive notes. And definitely do not try to Google during the interview, no matter how subtle you think you’re being.
Smile and engage
- A tendency on video versus face-to-face is that candidates are less focused on being engaging and less aware of ensuring their personality comes across. Avoid falling into this trap and bring as much to the video as you would if you were sitting across from the interviewer.
