Video Interviews and how to ace them?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has closed us all in our homes, video interviewing has become a very popular hiring tool among recruiters. Preparing for a video interview is very similar to preparing for any other interview–the questions you will be asked and the ways you should conduct yourself will be the same.
Find a quiet, clean place to have it, make sure your mic is turned on, and—seriously—put on some pants. But with more and more employers using Google Hangout, Zoom, or Skype interviews—and more and more job seekers knowing the basics—it’s a good idea to take your digital interviewing skills to the next level.
As with in-person interviews, the key to video interviews is to “be confident and show them your true self,”
Prepare Like You Would for an In-Person Interview
Just because your interview is happening over Skype (or some other platform), doesn’t mean it’s not a real interview. Other than preparations to travel to the interview, you still need to prepare the same way you would if you were going into the office. That means researching the company and role, preparing to answer common interview questions, and coming up with questions to ask your interviewer in return. Your interviewer is still looking for someone they can see themselves working with and who is passionate and knowledgeable about the role they’re applying to—be ready to show them why that’s you.
Dress to Impress
When you get dressed for a video interview, you want to be just as formal as you would be for an in-person interview at the same company. (And yes, that means from head to toe.) The urge to be less formal because you’re in your own home is understandable, but it might send the wrong message about how interested you are in the role. “It doesn’t hurt to get dressed for one hour,” Tucker says, but not getting dressed definitely can.
You also want to make sure your outfit looks good on camera. Try it on in front of the same platform you’ll be using for the interview. For example, a slightly lower-cut top that might be completely appropriate in person could look weird if your entire shirt is outside of the video frame.
Test Your Tech
Cut down on technical difficulties by testing out your setup ahead of time using the same platform, internet connection, and hardware you’ll be using for your interview. Have a friend video chat with you to make sure you can hear and be heard and see and be seen. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the program and make sure you know the basics—especially how to mute and unmute your microphone.
Here is a video of some interview tips.