With all the technology offered today, it is becoming more common to have a video interview as part of the hiring process. These interviews can take place in the potential employer’s office with another employee in another location or they can be done from the comfort of your home.
Since this interviewing method is fairly new, it’s a good idea to know how to prepare for a video interview. Never conduct the video interview at your current employers’ office. In some instances, you might be asked a preset list of questions you are to answer via video as though you were being interviewed in the very same room.
It is important to remember that although the video interview may be conducted in your home, you want to dress professionally. You don’t want to select bright colors that will create a glare. Focus the web cam so that it shows from the waist up. It is important to note that you should be dressed from head to toe as though you were going in for an interview. Also, make sure to maintain eye contact, sit up straight and try not to fidget. This is very similar to how you would convey yourself during an in-office interview. Try to pick a room that is well lit and has very few pictures or other distractions.
It’s a good idea to do practice runs before the video interview. Ask family and friends to assist you with this so they can give you constructive feedback and so that you can make sure your equipment is running well. This will allow you to focus on the interview instead of on technological issues.
On the day of the interview you should lock the door to the room you are doing the video interview in, clear any clutter from your workspace, check your audio and video, and shut your phone’s ringer off. If you do have issues, make sure to apologize to the interviewer and adjust as needed. At the end of the interview, make sure to thank the person interviewing you and send a thank you email afterwards.
