5 top tips for a great video interview

There are a huge number of job seekers right now, and competition for roles of all levels is fierce. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to stand out amongst your competition for the role you are going for.

The video interview is likely to stay beyond the pandemic as many businesses now have a remote working policy whereby new hires are not limited by proximity to the office.

There are actually many benefits to video interviews – you don’t have to travel to the office, they allow for more flexibility. Those who are recruiting for a role can book back-to-back meetings rather than leaving time in between to allow candidates to travel to and from.

In this piece, recruitment experts Four Recruitment have pulled together five tips for smashing your next video interview.

‘Turn up’ early

Just as you would in real life, turn up on the call link 5-10 minutes early so that you are not keeping your potential employer waiting. There is no excuse to be late if you are at home! You can use this time to run over any notes you have made or questions you have for the employer so that you don’t have to keep looking down at what you have written, as well as taking a few deep breaths to calm your nerves.

Test your technology in advance

The last thing you want is to turn up late to your virtual interview because you weren’t prepared. Try to avoid interviewing through your phone and choose a fast, reliable computer or laptop. Make sure you know whether the interview will take place over Google Meets, Zoom, or other video call software and get it installed in advance. If you have already got the software and have used it for Saturday night Zoom calls, make sure you are cleared of any funny/silly names that you may have added!

Test that your microphone and camera are both working as well as being connected to stable WiFi or 4G and being fully charged. If you are a recruitment candidate, your consultant can do a test call with you and make you aware of any issues you may have missed.

Dress professionally

You may be at home, but that is no excuse to turn up in your pyjamas! Wear what you would to an in-person interview to leave a good impression, even if you know that the dress code is casual. The interviewer likely won’t see below your shoulders, but it is still worth wearing smart pants as this can make you feel more professional overall. Try to avoid any busy patterns as these can look odd if your video call buffers and becomes pixelated and can become quite distracting.

Pick an appropriate background

Pick a neutral spot in a brightly-lit room that either looks tidy or is a plain wall so that it is not too distracting to the hiring manager. Do not use any backgrounds as this can come off either as unprofessional or like you are trying to hide something behind you. Make sure your camera is at a good angle, too – looking down too much can be unflattering and awkward. Remember to look at the camera, not the screen!

Avoid distractions

If you live with other people, let them know in advance that you need to have minimal background noise during your interview time slot. It is also worth muting your mic when you are not speaking just to be safe. Try to avoid having a door in the background to avoid catching people walking in and out and make sure that if your phone is in close proximity, it is silent.