Preparing for a Video Interview

Download the Correct Technology and Applications

Having the correct technology will be necessary. When talking with the potential employer, ask which application they use for video interviews so you can download it and explore it ahead of time. Applications like Skype and Zoom are the most popular, since they are easy to use. You also want to make sure your computer is fast enough to handle a video interview so there are no delays or lag times.

Make Sure to Test the App

You may be a tech savvy person, but testing is crucial. Testing the application involves making sure your camera works correctly, ensuring you can connect to the application, and determining whether there are any transmission issues. You don’t want to be struggling with navigating through the app during the interview, so doing your testing well in advance will make the process seamless.

Professional Resume Services is here to help executives develop their executive profile, LinkedIn profile, resume or anything else related to their job search. We can also provide helpful tips throughout the interview process to help you improve your chances of landing the job. Feel free to reach out to us at any time to learn more about how our services can benefit you.

Do a Trial Run With a Friend

Just as you do a run through in preparing for a face to face interview, you should do a trial run for a video interview. You may have shared your executive profile with a family member or friend to proofread, and now you can use them again to practice for a video interview. The things you should be looking for are camera angles, lighting, and whether or not there is lag time when communicating. Even a one-second lag time can make it seem like you are interrupting the interviewer, so you don’t want that to be an issue.

Presentation Matters

You may think that a video interview is not as “professional” and your appearance isn’t as important. You would be wrong. Your LinkedIn profile should have a professional headshot, and you need to match the professionalism in your video interview as well. Just because you are interviewing from your home doesn’t mean you should dress casually. It’s tempting to wear shorts and only put on a nice shirt, since the interviewers will only see your upper body. However, if you have to get up for any reason, the embarrassment of not having on dress pants could be devastating.

Get Rid of Potential Distractions

Lastly, look around the space where the interview will take place. What items could be a distraction? Is there a clock that makes a sound at the top of each hour? What about any clutter in the background? All of these may seem normal to you since you live with them, but can create huge distractions during a video interview. Take the advice from the best professional resume writers and make the room you’re interviewing in look like a professional environment, as much as possible.