The recent pandemic and advances in remote work technology allowing users to work from home have forever changed the way organisations operate. Virtual meetings and online video interviews have become the norm and common business practices. And because of their convenience, online video meetings and interviews are likely to become a permanent feature of modern workplaces. Below we’ll share our top video interview tips to help you prepare for a video interview - from the most common video interview questions to body language, lighting and technical difficulties.
If you want to secure your dream job, video interviews are something you will need to master.
If your next interview is in a face-to-face setting, you might want to head over to our ‘How to prepare for an interview’ guide with informational video.
Keep reading for our top video interview tips that will help you land your desired job:
1. what to wear for a video interview
Just because it's a video interview doesn't mean you have the green light to look unkept. Your appearance and grooming communicate to others who you are. Looking presentable will give you a favourable impression during your online interviews. Not only this but dressing well from head to toe will give you the confidence to ace your interview.
Prepare your outfit the day before the interview and check that your clothes are clean and well pressed. Record yourself so that you can see how you look on camera or ask a friend to critically check your appearance. You should also check your personal grooming.
2. choose a good time slot and place for the video interview
When agreeing on a time for the video interview, it’s a good idea to choose a time when you will be at home, free, and undisturbed. You don’t want your family members, pets, or anybody else interrupting you while on the interview.
You should also choose a room with natural light, a table, chair, a place to put your laptop, tablet or phone at eye level and a plain and uncluttered background for the interview if possible. Clear out any piles of laundry, dishes, posters, etc. that may present you in a bad light. If you live with other people, ask them not to come into the room while the interview takes place. You can also hang a sign on your outside door asking visitors and package deliverers not to ring the bell.
Avoid electronic distractions by turning your phone off. This will prevent it from ringing during the interview and interrupting the flow of conversation. Also, turn off any notifications such as social media alerts or software updates that may pop up on your laptop during the interview.
3. test out the video interview software before the interview
One of the easiest ways to fail a video interview is to miss it due to avoidable technical issues. Prevent this by testing out your technology at least one day before the interview. This will give you adequate time to adjust or replace anything that doesn’t work.
Find out which platform the interview will take place on and ensure you download the app. Checking your internet connection is vital - test your connection well before the interview. Make sure you have a reliable internet connection for the interview and a backup plan in case your main connection fails.
Since it's a video interview, check that your camera and audio connections are clear. If possible, ask a friend or family member to get on a call with you to see how you look and sound. They should also check that your display name on the call is your actual full name and not an offensive nickname.
4. charge up your electronics
To avoid any unnecessary technical difficulties, fully charge your laptop, tablet or phone hours before the interview so that they don't go off during the interview. If you live in an area prone to power cuts, you should also have your backup power sources charged up.
5. be prepared and log in early
Another of the best interview tips we can give you is to log in five to 10 minutes early for your interview. This timeliness will give you a few minutes to relax and calm down before the interview starts. If you try to log in exactly on time, you could run into tech problems that cause you to be a few minutes late.
Print out a copy of your CV as well as the job advert and job description before the interview. These will be the main topics of the discussion so the printed copies will be easier to refer to during the interview.
6. practice your answers to the most common interview questions
While you can’t know everything that an interviewer will ask, there are some commonly asked questions that you can expect to be asked. You want to be ready to highlight your skills without getting stuck. Some of the questions include:
- Tell me about yourself
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Why do you think you are the perfect candidate for this job?
- What is your expected salary?
- Why do you want to leave your current job?
- Why do you want to work for us?
Practising your answers to these questions will reduce your nervousness before the interview. Even if you practice a question that doesn’t get asked, the preparation will give you the confidence and experience to come up with answers to any question that you're asked.
7. maintain a positive body language
Another top video interview tip is to portray confidence through your body language. Maintain eye contact with your interviewers and don’t forget to keep a pleasant smile on your face during the introductions. Use your interviewers' names during the interview as this will make them feel important and endear you to them.
Maintain an alert and professional posture by sitting down with your back straight, feet on the ground, and hands on your lap or table. Avoid talking over the interviewer by allowing them to finish their question and pausing for a second before you answer. When you speak, ensure that your voice is loud and clear so that your interviewers don’t strain to hear you.
- Use these best video interview tips to land your next job
Our top video interview tips will be sure to help you breeze through your online job interviews. Don’t forget to send a thank you message to your interviewers no later than 24 hours after your interview. The note should thank them for their time and give a brief recap of why you are the best person for the job.
For more interview tips on how to ace interviews and land your desired job read the rest of our blog. If you're currently seeking your next job opportunity or looking for expert career advice, visit our site to search for the right career for you.
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