5 Easy Ways to Look Your Best for a Video Interview

With video interviews firmly a part of the hiring process, and all the benefits that come with this option, job seekers need to make sure they treat them just as seriously as an in-person interview. While some interview prep is standard no matter the format (practicing your answers to common questions, preparing a series of anecdotes that best tell your work experience story and best represent the soft skills you can bring to the job, etc.), video interviews require their own special preparation. 

Here are our 5 key areas to focus on, with pointers, for putting your best foot forward in an online interview.

Dress Professionally 

• Just because you are in your home doesn’t mean you should make the interview too casual. Wear clean, pressed attire that is business casual at the minimum. 
• Taking the time to look more professional (from the waist up at least) lets recruiters and hiring managers know you take their time seriously. 

Hygiene 

• Yes, you aren’t in the same room, but being showered can help your confidence and alertness during the call.
• Combed hair and well-kept facial hair are also important. The last thing you want your interviewer to think is that you rolled right out of bed or just walked through the door right before the interview.

Location 

• It may seem obvious, but it’s always worth repeating: You should be somewhere quiet, private, and free from distractions. Especially for work-from-home positions, a potential employer may get concerned about your ability to get the job done if there are too many distractions during the interview. 
• Don’t have a TV or radio on. 
• Make sure children and pets are occupied in another area of your home. 
• Place your phone on silent and keep it someplace where you won’t be tempted to look at it should you get a notification. 
• If unable to interview from home for whatever reason, your local coffee shop is not the best option. Instead, check if your local library has a room you can reserve during that time. Co-working locations can be a good option if you can afford the expense.

Background 

• Ensure you are placed in front of a backdrop with minimal distractions. While some items can be good conversation starters, you want the interviewers to focus on you, not the room. 
• Try not to sit in front of, or directly across from, a window. The light can make you difficult to see. Plus there could be outside distractions you can’t avoid. 
• Uploaded backgrounds or a blur effect can work to mask cluttered spaces, though they can come with their own distractions. Turning or moving objects in front of your face can cause you to disappear or the room may be briefly revealed.

Camera and Microphone

• Before your interview, test the equipment you’ll be using to make sure it all works. Any technical difficulties should be addressed beforehand, so you don’t get rattled at the start of the call. 
• Proper camera placement is essential. Even though you aren’t in the same room, you should appear at eye level as you would be at an in-person interview. 
• If you have a multiple screen set up, make sure the video call is on the same screen as the camera so you can make eye contact and read the reactions of those on the call.
• Whether using the mic and speakers built into your device or earphones/buds, test not only that they are working and connecting to the call but that the volume levels are such that you can hear and be heard without extra effort. 
• When joining the call check to see if you are automatically muted upon joining. This will save you from the embarrassment of hearing “You’re on mute” right as you start the interview. 

Clearly, there is a lot to take into consideration for a video interview. Taking the time to prepare not only your answers but your appearance and surroundings can go a long way toward continuing through the process and landing you the job.