Job interviews can be stressful enough, and there is an added layer of uncertainty and unfamiliarity when it comes to interviewing via video. As technology continues to advance and remote work is more prevalent, video interviews have become common practice in the hiring process.
While they are effective in saving time and resources, especially when a candidate lives a long distance from the company, video interviews require some additional preparation for the interviewee.
Be Prepared
To successfully participate in a video interview, it is essential to do your research just like you would for a face-to-face interview. This includes learning what you can about the company, the position, and your interviewers and preparing appropriate, well-informed questions.
For a video interview, you’ll also want to test your equipment and practice your presentation to make sure you feel comfortable and familiar with the interview format. Get into the habit of looking into the camera as opposed to impulsively focusing on your image on the computer screen.
Be Mindful of Your Body Language
In addition, be mindful of your body language. You want to appear engaged and excited. You can demonstrate that you are actively listening by smiling and nodding, keeping good posture, and refraining from fidgeting.
As with an in-person interview, eye contact and body language are key to demonstrating that you are paying attention to the interviewer(s) on the other side of the screen.
Check Your Background
Words and actions aren’t the only factors at play in a video interview setting. It’s important that the background environment where you conduct your interview has no distractions that could disturb the interviewing process.
Before the interview, make sure you check the lighting to ensure there are no shadows, and try to find an area where there will not be bothersome background noises.
Above all, remember to be professional and do not let the perceived informality of a video interview sway you to act or speak too casually.