In these challenging Covid-19 times, we see more and more interviews conducted remotely via video to keep everyone involved safe. We have put together a few tips on how to prepare for a video interview:
How to prepare for a video interview is not dissimilar to getting ready to attend a face-to-face interview, but there are certain nuances you can’t really grasp on Zoom or Skype (let alone WhatsApp or FaceTime) so we are here to help you navigate the somewhat new world of video interviews.
Make sure you have a good internet connection. There is nothing worse than a video call that lags or having to repeat yourself 3 or 4 times to get a point across. Test this by making a few test calls to someone you know beforehand and check they can hear you clearly, see you and there is no lag.
Pick a quiet place you know you won’t be disturbed but can also speak freely. Don’t schedule your call at your local library or bookshop where you will have to whisper and contain yourself, also don’t book a meeting room in your current workplace where you will be worried about prying eyes and ears. You will likely be nervous as it is for the interview, you don’t need to add more stress by having to be mindful of who could be disturbed by your call.
When picking a place to set up your video call, try and make sure it’s well-lit and pleasant– no one needs to see your Need for Speed poster or your dirty laundry basket.
Set up a desk (or at least your dining room table with a solid chair) and sit upright, do not think its OK to do it whilst lying in bed or slumped on the sofa! Presentation is key.
Now with technology and an appropriate location settled, how do you make sure to be as impressive on video as you would in real life?
Dress to impress (even if it’s just from the waist up!) just because you are at home and calling over video, does not give you the excuse to be casual- show them you are interested and put the effort in! In fact, I would go so far as to say put in EXTRA effort. Were you planning on only wearing a shirt and blazer to the interview in their office? Throw in a tie for good measure. It shows dedication and lets them see you are committed and serious about the interview.
Don’t move around too much- of course shift your weight when necessary but lots of movement can make your image jumpy and not only that, it will make the person on the other end a bit dizzy. In a face to face interview, you wouldn’t stand and walk around the boardroom would you? so same rules apply, stay seated.
Invest even more time into researching the company and writing specific questions. There is so much information we pick up on when interviewing at a prospective employers office, you can see the layout, the decor, what people are wearing and how many of them there are, so make sure to ask as much as you can and dig deeper so you can ultimately make the right choice for you.
Be flexible. Try and clear your schedule for some time before/after the allotted interview time in case something goes wrong with connection or a call is dropped. This also means you aren’t rushing to finish the interview as you have a call straight afterwards.
Hopefully you have found these tips helpful! This is of course is not the be-all-end-all list of things you need to do, if you can think of anything else to add please comment below, or share your best/worst video interview story! We would love to hear them, and if you are looking for fresh talent or a new and exciting role please do get in touch with our team so we can help your dream job become a reality.
