Video Interviews are Here to Stay! Get Really Good at Them – Part 2

COVID-19 has changed the way companies interview and it may never go back to the way it used to be. Many companies are now hiring exclusively through remote means (phone and video conferencing). The jury is out if these hires will perform as well as someone who is at some point vetted in person, but as a betting man I am betting they will be.

In Part 1 (click here to read part 1)  I provided 3 success tips. I am going to add 7 more tips here, so you have my Top 10 tips for video interviewing.

Now for the next 7 tips . . .

GETTING REALLY GOOD AT VIDEO INTERVIEWS

1. Pick a quiet location for the interview. Turn everything off (i.e., radio, tv, dishwasher, etc.). If there is someone else in the house, let them know that you are interviewing and not to interrupt you from 15 minutes before the interview time, and until you open the door and come out.
2. Conduct a trial run a before your interview. Check you webcam, microphone, headset (if you plan to use) so that you know that everything works properly. Download the app in advance so that you don’t have any last-minute stressful installation or technical issues.
3. Have your interview materials (i.e., job description, resume, LinkedIn profile, interview notes, etc.) available for reference either printed or on a second screen.
4. Look at your camera (or the red/blue/white LED next to the camera) so that the interviewer(s) feel like you are looking at them.
5. Smile often during the interview; it makes you look more confident and approachable which is very important to interview success. In person when someone smiles, we naturally smile. Watching TV we don’t smile when someone smiles and it is the same in an interview looking at a flat screen. So put a smile post it note on your monitor and smile frequently in your interview, especially when you are being asked a question.
6. Wear a business casual outfit that doesn’t clash or blend into your background. Avoid bright colors and patterns and opt for a softer color palette instead. If you normally wear glasses, wear them for the interview.
7. If the sound drops out/clips raise your hand to get the interviewers attention and let them know that the sound dropped out and you couldn’t hear and ask them to repeat the question.

Use these 7 tips, along with the 3 from Part 1, to perform best while on camera!!!

My name is Mark Lauterbach and I am a Chief Job Search Architect and Success Strategist. I founded the Job Search Accelerator, based on my 20 years’ experience coaching others through their job search as well as having successfully navigated 7 job changes during my career.  To receive my free weekly Job Search Tips Newsletter subscribe here!