Are you feeling stressed about an upcoming virtual interview? Don’t worry! That’s completely normal!
I think most of us get nervous (myself included), even if we’ve done dozens or even hundreds of interviews.
The good news is that you can think of this article as a little checklist or cheat sheet. Whenever you have a live video interview, just revisit this post to get yourself prepped, confident, and ready to go.
Now, let’s dive into some job interview tips and how to prepare for a video job interview.
1. Take Deep Breaths
If you’re feeling nervous or anxious before your video job interview, taking a few deep breaths is a simple way to calm your body and mind. According to UC Health, deep breaths can slow your heart rate, lower stress, and lower blood pressure.
For guided breathing or mindfulness exercises, Calm, Insight Timer, and Headspace are all great apps. You can even find practices as short as a minute if you don’t have much time.
2. Check Your Lighting
You want the interviewer to see you clearly.
Try using a bright space or a room with a window; if that’s not possible, or if it’s late or early, bring in additional lighting. You can either use a standing lamp or purchase a ring light or Lume Cube.
Have everything ready in advance so you’re not stressing about the lighting when your interview starts.
3. Use a Clean, Neutral Background
Remember that your interviewer will be looking at your background the whole interview. It’s important that it looks as professional as possible.
If you have a space with a plain wall, that’s ideal. Also, make sure that the room is tidy and clean.
4. Clean Your Camera Lens
Before your video job interview, take a minute to clean your camera lens. You want the interviewer or interviewers to have a clear image of you.
Dust or smudges on the camera can make you appear blurry, which can come across as unprofessional.
5. Make a Strong First Impression
Positive or negative first impressions can set the tone for the rest of the interview. To make a strong first impression, follow these tips:
- Arrive on time (or slightly early)
- Smile
- Make eye contact
Try to speak in a friendly tone so that both you and the interviewer feel comfortable and at ease.
6. Observe Your Body Language
Remember that your goal is to appear engaged, focused, and excited about the position.
To get this across, remember to smile, look directly into the camera to make eye contact, sit up straight, and nod to show you understand and convey enthusiasm. If your video camera is
If you have any nervous habits, like touching your hair or fidgeting, try to be aware of them and keep them to a minimum.
7. Check Your Tech
Take a few minutes a day or two before the video job interview, and then about 30 minutes or an hour beforehand, to confirm that your equipment and software are working.
Here are a few things to check:
- Audio
- Camera at eye level
- Internet connection
- Software updates
If you’re not very experienced with the platform you’re using, like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, etc., take some time to learn the different platforms.
8. Keep Some Water Close By
Don’t forget to have a glass of water near your computer. Try to keep it close enough to reach, but outside the video frame.
9. Prepare Questions to Ask
The next step in job interview tips and how to prepare for a video job interview is to prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer.
At some point, the interviewer will inevitably ask you if you have any questions. Always have at least 5 questions ready.
When I was a student, I once made the mistake of preparing only 2 questions, and the interviewer answered them before I could ask.
Don’t let this happen to you. Always have extra questions top of mind.
Not sure what to ask? Here are 10 questions for remote workers to ask.
You can ask questions about the specific job or company, or ask your interviewer what they like about the company.
10. Wear Headphones
Wearing a headset or headphones is a simple way to improve the sound quality for both you and your interviewer.
Otherwise, you might find yourself asking the interviewer to repeat questions, or worse, you might misunderstand what they’re saying.
11. Turn Off Notifications
Make sure you’ve silenced all notifications on your phone, computer, or any other devices.
These noises can be distracting for both you and the interviewer and can leave a bad impression.
12. Dress Professionally
Wear the same clothing you would wear for an in-person interview.
If you don’t know the dress code, it’s better to be overdressed rather than underdressed. A button-down shirt, jacket, and dress pants in neutral colors like navy blue, gray, and white are always a good option. Some people frown upon black, as it’s seen as a color you’d wear to a funeral or a formal event.
Even though you’re not in an office, remember that you’re talking with a real person, so it’s important to dress professionally.
13. Use a Computer, if Possible
If you’re able to, use a laptop or desktop computer rather than a tablet or mobile phone. Using a computer comes across as more professional.
14. Practice Answering Common Interview Questions
As we discuss video job interview tips and how to prepare, another key piece is to practice answering potential interview questions.
Review lists of interview questions and think about how you might answer these questions. If you’ve already had other interviews, consider what questions they asked you and how you could answer them even better.
Because your interview is virtual, you can keep a few bullet-point notes on a post-it or on your computer. Just be careful not to read directly from your notes and try not to make it obvious.
15. Choose a Quiet Location
Try to choose a room that is enclosed and away from other people.
If that’s not possible, let your roommates or family members know in advance that you’re having an interview and need a quiet space.
16. Prevent Distractions or Interruptions
If you have loud pets, try to keep them as far away as possible or find a pet sitter for the interview.
Have a childcare plan in place if you have young children at home. Try to arrange this as far in advance as possible so you’re not stressing about it right before your interview.
This is especially important if you’re interviewing for a remote customer service role or any remote job where you’ll be meeting with clients or customers and need a quiet space to work.
How to Prepare for a Pre-Recorded Interview
Another type of virtual interview you might encounter is a one-way or pre-recorded interview.
In this interview, you’ll typically receive a link and record your answers yourself. So, let’s talk about this type of interview and how to prepare for a video job interview when it’s one-way.
One positive aspect of one-way interviews is that you can usually re-record, so if you’re not happy with your responses, just take a deep breath and try again.
Before you begin, read and re-read the instructions carefully and pay close attention to the deadline.
If you are given the questions in advance, take some time to prepare clear, thoughtful responses that showcase your experience and abilities.
When you’re speaking, look directly into the camera and speak naturally, as though you’re having a conversation.
Lastly, remember the other tips we’ve already discussed for live virtual interviews, such as choosing a quiet location, wearing headphones, and checking lighting.
A Few Things to Do Post Interview
Another thing to consider when it comes to job interview tips and how to prepare for a video job interview is what happens after the interview.
To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it’s helpful to plan ahead and have a sense of what you’ll do in the first couple of days after your interview.
Send a Thank You
Not only is sending a thank-you the polite thing to do, but it also shows the interviewer or recruiter that you’re serious and appreciate their time. Try to do this within one day of the interview.
If you need some help coming up with ideas, we have some thank-you email templates to make things super easy.
Follow Up About the Position
Once you’ve sent your thank-you email, if you haven’t heard anything about the position, feel free to follow up within 5-10 business days.
In the interview, ask when you can expect to hear back. This isn’t always accurate, but it will give you something to go off of as you plan when to follow up.
Give Your References a Heads Up
After the interview, you might want to reach out to any references you’ve listed to give them a heads-up that the company may contact them in the near future.
Connect on LinkedIn
If you feel comfortable, connect with your interviewers or hiring managers on LinkedIn. Even if you don’t get the job, this can be a helpful way to expand your network.
To improve your job search, you can learn how to make a good LinkedIn profile and find a remote job on LinkedIn or use these LinkedIn job search strategies.
Continue Your Search
Even if you feel really confident after your interview, you never know what will happen, so keep going with your job search.
You can also check out a variety of job search apps and tips for getting a remote job.
Keep Improving Your Resume
If you are getting interviews, that’s a good sign that your resume and cover letter are getting seen.
But if you’re not getting many interviews or want to improve, consider using our resume templates to make the interview and hiring process even easier.
With our bundle, you’ll have resume templates, cover letter templates, and reference list templates, so you’ll just need to plug in your own information.
Summary: Job Interview Tips and How to Prepare for a Video Job Interview
As we wrap up our discussion on job interview tips and how to prepare for a video job interview, here are a few more resources to make your job search and interview process even easier and less stressful.
First, if you’re just starting your job search or feel stuck, learn how to organize your search and consider conducting some informational interviews.
Second, if you want additional help with your job search, don’t forget to check out the Remote Job Membership to simplify the process.
You’ll get help with finding legit remote jobs, learn how to create a resume and LinkedIn profile that will get you the job, and leave your next interview confident that you got the job.
