All The Ways To Prepare For A Video Interview

The working world has changed a lot in the last few years. As well as plenty of offices closing down or offering hybrid working, many are now offering the chance for remote workers to join their team without ever having to leave the comfort of their own homes. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean we can skip the interview part of it all.

Job interviews can already be pretty nerve-wracking, but what about hosting one from your house? Thankfully, learning all the ways to prepare for a video interview should mean you’re ready for anything when the time finally comes to show them why you’re the one to hire.

1. Choose the best location and organize the background

Before getting started on anything else, it’s important to choose the right place to host your video interview. Try to find somewhere that has natural light if you can, or, at the very least, somewhere that’s not too dark. Also be sure that you’re behind lit up from the front not behind to avoid any strange shadows. When choosing somewhere for your video interview, try to pick a spot that allows you to sit naturally while being in the frame without compromising your internet connection. Finally, think about your background. Do you really want your potential boss to see what’s behind you, or could you move some things to another room for the time being?

2. Minimize how many interruptions there will be

Of course, none of us can control the future, but we can make some things more or less likely. That means doing things like turning your phone off and disconnecting any smart speakers that might go off while you’re in the middle of a video interview. If you have an electronic doorbell, it could also be worth turning this off when you’re on the call. Finally, if you have someone else at home, tell them that you can’t be disturbed and keep the door closed to keep out any potential noise.

3. Dress as though you’re heading to a real-life interview

Just because you’re heading to a video interview doesn’t mean you should assume things are going to be laidback from the get-go. Instead, dress as though you were heading to this interview in real life. If it’s a laidback company, a simple sweater and smart pants could be enough. However, if it’s a management position or somewhere more formal, still dig out that smart shirt, blazer, and tie if necessary to show them you are serious about the job.

4. Think about your body language

Ideally, you want to have your camera at eye level when you have a video interview. This is because it’s more like naturally talking to someone, and you can make eye contact a lot easier with the camera to help build a relationship with an interviewer, which you sometimes lack during a video call. Having the camera higher should also help you to stop slouching, which could come across as rude to some interviewers. Finally, try keeping your feet flat on the floor and sit up straight to come across as professionally as possible throughout the video call.

5. Check you have all the tech you need for the interview

Having everything you need ahead of time is one of the best ways to prepare for a video interview. That means getting all your tech set up ahead of time, including any headphones or microphones you might need. Sometimes, you might also have to set up an account with certain conferencing programs ahead of time, so be sure to check if this is something you need before the interview. Finally, check this is compatible and downloaded onto your laptop or PC - and that it all works.

6. Do a practice call to ensure everything works

If you really want to prepare for a video interview, you might want to think about hosting a practice call to ensure everything works the way it should and you come across how you plan. Ask a loved one to run through some questions with you and get them to give feedback about your body language, the internet connection, and anything else they might notice. Not only can this put your mind at ease, but they might also see something you didn’t, meaning you can make alterations and changes before the big interview.

Interviews can be stressful moments in time, but learning all the ways to prepare for a video interview should help to keep things as calm as possible. At the end of it all, this is your chance to sell yourself and learn about the company, hopefully all before you get that call to say you got the job.