How to Ace a Video Interview & Get Hired (Ultimate Guide)

Job interviews are terrifying enough, but having a webcam
interview in the middle of your living room
adds a whole new layer of awkwardness and complexities to the already tense
situation.

Unfortunately, video interviews are gaining popularity among
employers because they’re faster and cheaper to set up compared to phone and
in-person meetings. You just have to get used to it if you’re serious about
your job search. 

This guide will help you with everything you need to know to
look good and sound good on camera. You'll learn about different types of video interviews, how to dress appropriately for a video interview, and even about body posture—basically everything you need to know to have a successful video job interview. We'll even share some common video interview questions to help you better prepare.

What Is a Digital Interview? 2 Types of Video Interviews

If  you're unfamiliar with video chat interviews and other types of online interviews, you may wonder: what is a digital interview? A digital interview is another name for a video job interview. A video job interview can take one of two forms: live or
pre-recorded.

Live interviews are conducted using video-conferencing tools
like Google Hangouts, Skype, or SaaS specifically designed to conduct video
interviews, such as HireVue and SparkHire.

In the case of pre-recorded interviews, you’ll receive a
link that will redirect you to a page where you can record answers to a
standardized list of questions the employer asks everyone applying for the same
role. Candidates are often given about two minutes to consider each question,
and then a few minutes more to deliver their answer on camera. Since the
interview isn’t conducted in real-time, applicants have anywhere from two days
up to one week to complete it in their own time. Some employers even allow
candidates to re-take the video interview if they mess up or aren’t confident
in their delivery.

10 Video Interview Tips

Like in-person and phone interviews, a video interview is
something you need to prepare for, but in a different way. This time wearing
the right clothes isn’t the only concern, as there’s a bunch of technical aspects
and video conference interview etiquette to consider.

1. Prep Webcam and Mic in Advance                

Clean your webcam’s lens so you
don’t look blurry on camera, and then look for the most flattering angle to
position it. In most cases, the best place for the webcam is just above your
eye-line with the camera pointing slightly downward so it captures your whole
face. If you’re using a laptop, put it on top of several books to elevate it
just above your eye-line.

Check that your mic is ready before the interview. Record a few seconds of
your voice to check if the mic captures your voice clearly, then adjust the
positioning and effects as needed.

Whether you use a standalone mic
or your laptop mic, remember that you shouldn’t need to hunch or move closer to
the mic just to get a clear recording. You’ll be doing a video interview so the
interviewer will see if you’re hunching over the mic, and that’s not a good
thing for them to see. Slouching isn’t a good sign of confidence in type of job interview.

Interview Coach Margaret Buj adds, “A mic can pick up and amplify noises usually
unnoticed during in-person meetups, so avoid shuffling papers or typing during
the interview.”

2. Ensure Sufficient Internet Speed

Check that your internet connection is fast and stable,
ideally 10Mbps or faster. Go to OoklaSpeedtest to check your internet speed if you’re not sure how fast it is.

Connect your laptop or computer directly to your router
using a network cable, if possible, to ensure a stable connection. If your home
internet connection is shared with your family or roommates, ask them not to
stream videos or download large files during your interview.

3. Choose the Right Environment

Choose a clean backdrop for your video interview, preferably
one that doesn’t show a lot of personal items.

Avoid areas with overhead lighting near you as that can cast
a shadow over your face. Put small desk lamp to add side lighting when the
camera captures you, as that usually works wonders to neutralize shadows cast
by overhead lighting. Conduct a test run on the actual spot where you plan to
have the video interview to check if the lighting works well.

MichelleRiklan, Career Coach and Managing Director of Riklan Resources, adds, “Put
pets and kids in a separate room if you’re doing the interview at home to avoid
distractions.”

4. Plan for Glitches

Have a backup webcam, laptop or cellphone, mic, and Wi-Fi
connection, so you can replace anything that could break down during your webcam interview. Inform the interviewer that
you’ll use your phone in case you've got connection problems.

Download the app or software that'll be used for the
interview in advance, and make sure it works for
your primary and backup device.

5. Dress Appropriately and Choose Camera-Friendly Colors

The usual advice about dressing for job interviews applies here: don’t wear anything flashy and emulate the dress code of the company. Dressing
for the camera is a bit tricky though, so
you also have to think of what works well on screen: 

• Don’t wear anything white because
  that may appear too bright and distracting
  on camera, especially if you've got extra lights pointed at you.


• Don’t wear pure black as the
  webcam will try to compensate for that darkness, causing you to look washed out
  because of too much exposure.


• Stay away from prints and busy
  patterns as they take the focus away from
  you.


• Try not to wear high-contrasting
  colors.


• Go for soft solid colors, such as
  deep blue or maroon. Bright colors can
  appear unnatural on camera and affect how your skin color looks on screen.

Your lower body may not be on camera, but you never know if
a situation may arise that requires you to stand up. What if your internet
connection goes down? What if your mic stops working and you need another one?
You don’t want the risk of having to awkwardly cover yourself while standing
up.

6. Eye-Contact Video Interview Tips

Maintaining eye-contact on camera isn’t the same as doing it
in person because you won’t be staring at another person, you’ll be staring at a screen.

Where the interviewer’s face is on the screen and your
webcam’s position affects your eye contact. For instance, the interviewer’s
face might be on the right side of your screen because you've got another
application opened on your laptop. Since your eyes will naturally be drawn to
the interviewer’s face, to the camera it'll look like you’re talking to
someone beside your laptop because you’re
not staring directly into the webcam.

To avoid this, resize the screen of the video interview then
move it as close as possible to your webcam. This way when you look at the
interviewer’s face you’ll also be looking at the webcam, giving the impression
of real eye contact.

7. Maintain Posture

Video interviews don’t show your lower body, so there’s no
need to worry about your feet or legs. As long as you sit up straight, you’re
fine. You may have to adjust your chair’s height or angle though, so you don’t
appear like you’re sitting too far back on camera.

8. Keep Body Language and Gestures Within Camera Frame

Gesturing while you speak is okay, as long as it’s not so much that it draws attention away from what you’re saying. Keep in mind that
your hand gestures are contained within the camera’s scope, unless you want
your empathic hand gestures to look weird because the other party can’t see
your hands.

9. Allow a One-Second Delay for Intermittent Connections

Take a second before answering the interviewer’s questions
on a live video interview to avoid interrupting them in case your online
connection has a lag.

10. Keep Your Face Shine Free

Do you know why actors wear makeup on screen? Because the
lighting and visual glare from a camera can make an oily T-zone look worse. You
can easily avoid this by applying some loose powder or using oil-blotting paper
if you don’t want to wear makeup.

Avoid wearing glasses so the interviewer can see your eyes
instead of the weird glare its reflection will give off on camera. If you've got poor vision, wear contacts or glare-proof glasses.

10. Use Notes Off-Cam

You’re not 100% in front of the interviewer, so it’s okay to
have notes handy. Just keep it subtle when you read them because the recruiter
can still see if your eyes keep darting off elsewhere while you’re talking.

Some information you may need handy during the interview:

• Prompts to several stories that'll boost your application, such as your proudest achievement and skills that make you the best candidate for the job


• Practiced response to common interview questions


• Important notes regarding the company’s background


• What you’ll say when asked about your desired salary


• Your resume

Is your resume too cluttered to read at a glance? If you can’t
find the information you need during stolen glances on your video interview,
how can you expect a recruiter who hasn’t seen your resume before to find the
highlights of your career? Give your resume a makeover or rewrite it
altogether, depending on how much time you have. Here is some information to help you update your resume:

• 
  Resumes
  
  
  18+ Modern Resume Templates With Clean (Elegant) Designs (2018)
  
  
  Brenda Barron


• 
  Resumes
  
  
  20 Simple Resume Templates (Easy to Customize & Edit Quickly)
  
  
  Andrew Childress


• 
  Resumes
  
  
  New Course: How to Make a Professional Resume in 10 Minutes
  
  
  Andrew Blackman

Typical Questions Asked During a Video Interview

Video interviews, in most cases, are conducted in lieu of
the first screening interview, so the questions aren’t designed to challenge
you yet. At this point, they just want to get to know you and make sure you've got the skills required for the job.

You’ll be asked questions typical for a first interview,
such as the ones listed below. Practice how you’ll respond to these questions
to keep your answers succinct, especially if your video interview is
pre-recorded as those types of interview
have a time limit. If your answer is too long, you may not have enough time to
say everything you want in the job interview video.

1. Why Are You the Ideal Candidate for This Job?

Try to cover the following points in a short response. If
possible, tell a story that incorporates all three elements to give the
interviewer examples of what makes you an ideal candidate.

• Your skills


• The results they can expect from
  you


• What makes you a great cultural
  fit for their team

2. Why Did You Apply for This Role?

Answer this from a position of strength, not from weakness.
That means you shouldn’t mention any injustice or failures you’ve experienced,
such as how you didn’t get promoted or how bored you are with your current
tasks. Complaints like that not only make you look whiny and entitled, it also
makes your credibility as a great candidate questionable.

Focus on the positive side of why you’re leaving. So, instead
of talking about your bad experiences, mention the exciting opportunities that
you look forward to, such as learning new things or growing in a new
organization. It helps if you’ve done prior research about the company to
substantiate your answer.

Examples:

3. What Kind of Work Environment Do You
Thrive In?

Interviewers ask this question to determine if you’ll fit or
clash with your potential teammates. As tempting as it is to say whatever the
interviewer wants to hear, that’s not in your best interest. If you’re not
comfortable working in a huge company with an established hierarchy because you
prefer the freedom of a small team, you should be honest about that. You won’t
be happy in a job where the established norms are against your personality and
preferred working style anyway.

4. Tell Me About Yourself

The interviewer may be friendly, but they’re not actually
interested in hearing about your personal life when they ask this question. They
want to know what you can bring to the table when you’re hired, so use this
opportunity to summarize your skills and experience, especially the ones that
were too long to include in your resume.

5. Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

Walk the interviewer through your career goals within the
company. Employers want to hire people that want to make something out of
themselves, as they know it’s the determination and hard work of people like
this that also makes businesses grow.

Try not to mention family plans and business plans because
conflicting interests like that don’t go well in some companies. Sure, some
CEOs and forward-thinking businesses are willing to support their employee’s
personal goals, but you can never tell what kind of company you’re applying to
during the initial webcam interview. It’s not worth the risk, and besides, the company
may be supportive but the interviewer might think twice about hiring you once
they realize you’ll resign as soon as your side business takes off. Here are some tutorials that can help you prepare for a video chat interview (or any other type of interview):

• 
  Careers
  
  
  What to Say in a Job Interview (+11 Things to Always Avoid)
  
  
  Charley Mendoza


• 
  Interviews
  
  
  How to Best Answer the 20 Most Common Interview Questions
  
  
  Charley Mendoza


• 
  Job Search
  
  
  What Questions Should You Ask in a Job Interview?
  
  
  Charley Mendoza


• 
  Interviews
  
  
  How to Answer Difficult Behavioral Interview Questions Right
  
  
  Charley Mendoza

Learn How to Do a Video Interview Now

Job search and interview methods will change as technology
advances. So, if you’re still uncomfortable with the technology used for video
chat interviews, you need to start learning your way around them while video
interviews are still not the all-around practice.