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How To Prepare For a Video Interview
Claudia Reiners
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With 40% of organisations and employers upgrading to this employment tool within the recruitment process, video interviewing has become increasingly popular – this method has been developed to provide potential recruiters with a variety of benefits, such as speeding up the recruitment process, eliminating wasted time with interviewing unsuitable candidates, as well as improving the overall quality of hire.
As daunting as it is, video interviewing is a valued skill worth mastering. If you haven’t had the courage to participate in a video interview before, here are some video interview tips to help you ace your first.
Research
As you would in any other application process, before you start an online interview you need to ensure that you thoroughly understand the organisation and role that you are applying for. Takedown some keywords from the job listing as prompts for discussion later on, as these words can provide you with an insight as to what qualities your interviewer is looking for in a candidate.
You should also read the requirements of the video interview itself – there may be specific instructions regarding time limit or prepared questions that you will need to consider, so make sure you do your research aren’t caught off guard. For example, you may need to use a portfolio in your interview, so make sure you are thorough in your preparation, with both your research and resources.
Do’s
- Conduct a test run
- Dress professionally and accordingly
- Remember to turn off other devices that may interrupt your interview
- Look directly into the camera when speaking – this creates virtual eye contact
- Have a few key points handy just in case you are caught off guard
- Ask about the next steps of the interviewing process near the end of the interview
- Do your homework
- Follow up – send a ‘thank you’ email
Don’ts
- Rely on notes or read off of your computer screen
- Act too casual
- Be afraid to ask your interviewer to clarify or repeat a question
- Forget to be friendly/demonstrate your personality
- Leave preparing your set up to the last minute
- Set up in an area prone to disruptions
- Leave other programs open on your screen
Your Setup
The great thing about a video interview is that it can be done on virtually any device. Once you’ve selected that, you’ll need to consider:
- Lighting – make sure where you aren’t conducting the video interview in a place that gets too much sun, or is casting shadows over your face
- Microphone – Make sure your mic is running smoothly by doing a soundcheck and playing a recording back
- Battery – You don’t want to be cut off halfway through your interview, so make sure your device is fully charged
- Silence – Situate yourself in a quiet place that has no risk of disruption
Again, ensure that you have read the digital interview requirements thoroughly – if your interviewer is requesting a Facetime interview, double-check that your phone is working efficiently and your battery is fully charged. If the platform of choice is Skype, perhaps create a new account specifically for a professional purpose – your interviewer may not appreciate that embarrassing email address that you created in high school as much as you do.
Practice Run
Give yourself enough time to carry out a practice video interview before the real deal. Try recording yourself from beginning to end. By doing this, you allow yourself to get accustomed to the whole process. It is also a great way to see yourself from an interviewer’s perspective. Take note of any annoying habits and body language that may distract from what you are saying and eliminate these from your actual interview style.
Some types of interview questions that you might come across are:
The Introductory Question
This question is generally the most classic way any interview begins. When a recruiter asks you to tell them a little bit about yourself, they are trying to gauge how you might fit into their company’s team and culture. Show your character by telling the interviewer about what you do in your current role, along with hobbies and what you enjoy outside of work – by demonstrating all sides of your personality, you are showcasing not only how suitable you are for the role, but also how you might connect with your potential team.
The 'Why' Question
When asked about why you want the position, your interviewer wants to explore how your goals and this position fits into your overall career plan, along with making sure that your interest is sincere. To answer, try to use information from the job listing and merge it with your intention and motivation. For example, if the organisation prides itself on its reputation within its industry, find a way to interlink this with your answer. Another big one again is culture – if culture is mentioned in the job advertisement, this shows its great importance to the company. Find the common ground between you and the organisation’s values and go from there.
The Application Question
This is the question that a potential employer will ask to determine your methodology behind troubleshooting, as well as helping to pinpoint your strengths and how you may advance in the role should you be successful. The “Discuss a time you…” question is situational, meaning that the best approach would be to first explain the situation, then describe the issue, explain how you acted to resolve the issue, then finally, describe the result. This process allows you to clearly discuss your answer in a methodical and easy-to-follow way.
The Personality Question
‘If you had half a million dollars to open your own business, what would that business be?’ Yet again, a question such as this is testing your cultural fit with the organisation’s values. The way you answer all depends on your research about the business and how the interview has been going so far. Generally, these types of questions come near the end of an interview. Some interview processes are quite casual and light-hearted – if this is the case for you, see if you can hone in on nature and pull it into your answer. On the other hand, if the atmosphere is more serious, make sure to emulate the tone. It’s all about effectively assessing the situation and acting accordingly.
Liked our video interview questions and answers but need some advice on what to avoid saying? Explore 11 Things Not to Say in a Job Interview here.
Showtime
A great way to tackle a video interview is to imagine that you are having a conversation with your interviewer. Other online video tips that are handy to remember are:
- If you’re feeling nervous during the interview, just pause and take a deep breath.
- Take your time to answer the questions given to you – a short pause is much better than a whole lot of filler words like ‘um’ or ‘ah’.
- Don’t stress if you get a question you weren’t expecting; sometimes your interviewer will purposely throw you off guard to see how you handle being caught by surprise. Just be honest in your answer and try your best.
- Like all interviews, the better you are prepared the less chance there is of being caught off-guard. Do your research!
If you follow all of the tips and tricks above, you will be sure to nail your video interview. Just ensure that above all else, you are confident and prepared, and the rest will fall into place.
Good luck!
If you are interested in exploring other articles regarding interview techniques and career tips and tricks, click below.
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