Video interview tips: look, sound and feel confident on camera

Video interviews are now normal for first and second rounds. The good news: small changes make a big difference.

The day before

• Test the link and the app (Zoom, Teams, Meet). Update it if it asks.
• Check your name on screen. "iPhone 12" doesn't look great. Use your full name.
• Charge your laptop and keep the charger nearby.

Set up your space

• Camera at eye level. Put your laptop on a few books. Looking up your nose is never the vibe.
• Light in front of you, not behind. Sit facing a window or a lamp.
• Simple background. A wall, a shelf or a blurred background. No laundry.
• Quiet room. Close the door, silence your phone, turn off notifications.
• Headphones with a mic usually sound better than your laptop.

During the call

• Look at the camera when you talk, not at their face on the screen. It feels like eye contact to them.
• Sit a little forward and keep your hands visible sometimes. It looks engaged.
• Pause half a second before answering. Video has a small delay, and it stops you talking over each other.
• Keep notes off to the side, with 3 to 5 key words, not full sentences. Reading is obvious.
• Smile and nod. On video, your face does more of the talking.

When tech goes wrong

It happens to everyone. Stay calm:

• Frozen? "Sorry, I think I lost you for a second. Could you repeat the last part?"
• Dropped call? Rejoin straight away. If you can't, email the interviewer within 2 minutes with your phone number.
• Noise at home? "Apologies for the noise, one moment" and mute.

How you handle a problem can actually impress them.

One-way (recorded) video interviews

Some companies send questions and you record answers alone.

• You usually get one practice question. Use it.
• Treat the camera like a person. Smile at the start.
• Keep answers to about 1 to 2 minutes unless told otherwise.
• Use STAR for "tell me about a time" questions. How STAR works.

Zoe preps you for the exact questions your video interview is likely to ask, using your real experience.