When you’ve been on the job hunt for a while, you may have a lot of questions about the increasingly popular video interviews. Never fear, preparing for your first video interview is quite simple and can actually be much easier versus an in-person interview. There are a few simple things you will need to take into consideration prior to the interview.
Location, Location, Location!
It is important to think about the location you plan on being in for the video interview. If you are currently employed, please do not plan to attend a video interview in your current place of business. Likewise, it is best to stay away from noisy locations such as coffee shops or other public spaces. Preferably, you will attend the video interview from your home office or other private room in your home.
Make sure that the location you select is quiet, with no distractions. For example, if there is anyone else in the house, ensure that they are not walking in on your interview and that they are being as quiet as possible. This applies not only to humans, but to pets as well.
Take a look at your surroundings and the area that will show up on the video camera. Does it look professional? Is there clutter in the background? Clean your area and make sure that there is no clutter or items that may distract the interviewer on the other end of the video.
Also, take a look at your lighting and make sure it is not too dim. You don’t want to be the eerie dark splotch on the screen, leaving everyone on the other end wondering what you are trying to hide.
Dress to Impress
Yes, this is a video interview, but it is still an interview. Make sure that you are dressed professionally. That means neutral colors, a nice blouse or collared shirt, blazer, etc.
Some people opt to only wear a nice top and stay in their jeans or sweat pants. The logic behind this is that the person on the other end of the video will only be able to see you from the waist or chest up. While that makes sense, you should also consider what would happen if you needed to get up at some point during the interview to adjust the lighting or reach for a pen or paper. I recommend that you dress to impress COMPLETELY!
It’s Okay to Cheat!
Understand that this is a video interview. That means that your interviewer will only be able to see so much. It’s ok to have cheat notes to refer to nearby. For example, perhaps you want to remind yourself to look into the camera more often than looking at the computer screen. This tactic of looking into the camera will make it look like you are actually looking at the interviewer, rather than looking down at the floor as it appears when you are constantly looking at the computer screen. In this instance, put a sticky note at the bottom of your computer screen reminding you to look at the camera and smile.
You can also have notes reminding you to ask certain questions or respond in a certain way to specific questions.
Make sure that you have an extra copy of your resume nearby in order to reference when questions come up regarding your employment history.
How do you prepare for a video interview? Please share your tips in the comments below.
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