Six Tips for Acing that Video Interview
- Ismael K.G.
- Sep 20, 2019
- 5 min read
I recently found myself on the other side of the recruitment process once again, after quite some time of shortlisting and interviewing myself. I was called in for a phone interview followed by a video-call interview. This second one was arranged on quite short notice and had me thinking on my feet before it even began. The interview went well enough for me to get through to the next round, but I was reminded of the unique nature of this sort of interview, so here are some tips to help you come across to the recruiter under the best light (both figuratively and literally) during video interviews:
1. It’s all about lighting
I toyed with the idea of becoming a photographer once, so I find this aspect of the video interview crucial and could go on about it for a while, but there is no need for soft boxes or special light stands. These are the headlines:
Natural light is best: it won’t distort the video’s colours, versus lightbulbs that can range from warm yellow to cold office blue or white - the interviewer does not want to be distracted by a pale, contrast-less image, and your camera will deliver the best image under natural light.
Shine! The source of light must be behind the camera, not behind you (that just creates a glare or burned out area on the interviewer’s screen, which they will not appreciate).
Keep the light-source in front of you, not to one side, as your face will then appear half lit and half hidden in the shadows.
2. It’s also about sound
First, you want to hear the questions, but you also want to be heard. So make sure the volume’s up and the ambient noise down. The second part can be tricky, so think about:
Others in the house/office. Make sure you are somewhere you won’t be interrupted. If possible, ask those about to give you that extra bit of space (kindly).
Keep the noise out. Close windows and doors that otherwise let noise in (e.g.: that of passing cars on the street or planes overhead), but keep cool! You’ll need a cool room to manage the extra heat of the interview. You don't want a stuffy room.
Turn other devices off! The interview call is your world for the next half hour or hour, so minimise possible distractions (you wouldn’t take another call in a face-to-face interview anyway).
3. Mind your background
Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. Do you want to see a face on the screen with, say, childhood toys behind? You can absolutely be interviewed in your room (it can even give you a greater sense of comfort and allow you to really be yourself - your best self), but your background must not distract from the star of the show that is you. So consider the following points regarding that background:
Simple is best. It can be a plain wall, it can be a wall at an angle, it can be a wall with a shelf or two. Just keep it simple.
Be smart, but not too smart. Is the background a wall with a few of your past certificates behind? Or a few books that show what you read? Or even a plant that adds a nice calming contrast to the image? Great. But this is not show-and-tell, a library or a jungle. So repeat after me: simple is best!
4. Your own looks
As I write this, I see things that I consider quite irrelevant when recruiting: biases are poor advisors; but we all have unconscious bias, so this is an important aspect, though I will here suggest only the following considerations:
Dress as you would be to any interview! So what if they can’t see your legs or shoes? Dress to impress and let a lifetime of social constructs fill you with pride and confidence!
Tie your hair back, shave, wear some subtle makeup if you will; just make sure your looks do not detract from your brilliant responses.
5. The cheats and subtleties
I forget I’ve been at this for some time, but I would almost consider these to be pro video interview hacks simply because first-timers may not consider these things intuitively, so do take note:
Not take, have notes! Versus the in-person interview, you can literally have a notepad with your thoughts on the role and prompts for you own answers. You can even have the job description in front of you and reference its contents during the conversation. Just keep the papers out of site, don't make noise with them and don’t let them distract you. This can help you come across as much better prepared.
And take notes too! Again, pro interviewees know that the process is a two-way stream: you should have questions at least prepared for the end, but, even during the interview, some new information may come to light that is worth noting. As the interview has this video format, don’t feel afraid of jotting down those relevant points regarding the job and the organisation.
Make eye-contact. This might feel very unnatural, but don’t look at the interviewer on your screen, stare right into the camera. Eye-contact is very artificial in video interviews, but this trick is the only way to make it seem more natural. You can also have the camera further away from your face so you can look around (even at notes) without coming across as bored (think of news anchors staring at teleprompters rather than the camera – who could tell?).
What do I do with my hands?! Considering the camera is probably at arm's length, you do not want enormous hands to appear out of nowhere on the interviewer's screen, so simply contain gesticulating too much with hand movements (like I do when my Spanish heritage comes out to show).
Be early and be ready. Preparation of the environment is key, but your own preparation is more important. Set the room up, take a seat, check you look great and then breathe: take a deep breath, relax, do voice warm-up exercises, meditate… Whatever helps you to focus the mind. Take advantage of the interview format.
What do I do with my ears?! I'm kidding, let's move on.
6. And the absolute basics
Have a charged device (or keep it plugged in).
Strong internet connection. Make sure you are on a stable wifi network you can trust.
Use a stand or something to lean the device on, so as to avoid a shaky image.
Using Skype? Download the app first and test the sound and image well before making the actual call.
Be punctual. The interviewer will most likely be calling in, rather than you calling them, so be prepared with time to spare to test all the above.
A glass of water, maybe? Just like at an interview, have some water prepared – just keep it away from any electronics or your notes! (I want to make a joke about the interviewer not knowing what's in your glass, cup, mug, flask... But I won't).
The key aspects to acing that video interview lie in treating it as a standard face-to-face interview: prepare, be punctual and dress adequately. The added pressure lies in considerations about lighting, noise and the technological aspect. But then there are opportunities to make a difference: find a comfortable surrounding, have notes at hand and take that extra time to get in the zone.
All in all, be yourself, be professional and be ready to come across under the best light possible!
Did I miss anything? I imagine I did, so do share your thoughts in the comment section below and help the next video interviewee ace that call.
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