Job Seeker Blog - Spark Hire

How to Move Past Video Interview Mistakes

Mistakes can happen during a video interview, regardless of your level of experience or genuine excitement about the position. They’re cringe-worthy and unfortunate, but with the right amount of poise, it’s possible to move past them. If you’re doing a video interview and encounter one of these “oops” worthy moments, here’s how to recover:

The situation: You sign on late for the interview

The solution: Acknowledge it, but move on. You don’t want to pretend like it didn’t happen, but by continually apologizing and becoming flustered, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Apologize sincerely, but then continue the conversation as planned. No need to dwell.

The situation: Your pet/child starts to make noise in the background

The solution: This situation is something that’s unique to video interviewing and it’s certainly embarrassing. First, acknowledge what’s happening, either by apologizing or by making a joke about it. Once you’ve addressed the issue head on, correct the situation. Either shut the door, or find a way to keep the child or pet quiet until the conversation is finished.

The situation: You call the interviewer by the wrong name

The solution: If you realize it while you’re still talking to the person, apologize and correct yourself. If you don’t figure it out until after your video interview is over, send the person an e-mail apologizing for your blunder.

The situation: You lose your Internet connection in the middle of the call

The solution: Get back online as quickly as possible, and then apologize for the mishap. If for some reason you’re unable to get back online, call the interviewer and explain that you’re having technical problems. They may want to continue to talk to you over the phone, or they may choose to reschedule. Don’t make the interviewer sit and wait, wondering what happened to you.

How did you overcome a video interview error in the past? Let us know in the comments!

Image: Blan-K/BigStock.com

Lauren Levine

Lauren Levine is a copywriter/blogger who contributes to a number of magazines and websites including The Frisky, USA Today, and others. She also authors her own blog called Life with Lauren. She loves cooking, anything on the E! network, and is trying to convince herself that running isn't so bad.

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