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How To Prepare For A Video Interview | PART 2 - Getting Ready

Jeremy Tiffin • May 9, 2016

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In our last video we got our webcam in the ideal interview set up (click here to watch it), and now we need to get you ready and prepared for the interview.


Give yourself lots of time to set up and test the equipment. You want to make sure everything is working correctly in advance. If you’re using Skype, you can do a test call, or better yet, try calling a friend just to be sure the video and sound is coming through correctly.


This is also a great opportunity to practice doing a job interview over video. Get your friend to run through a couple questions with you, and get some feedback. You don’t want the real interview to be the first time you’ve been in front of the camera.


Now let’s talk about what you’re going to wear. You want to dress like you’re going for an interview in person. The idea is pretty simple, dress to impress.


Make sure you’re ready to go 10-15 minutes before the interview starts. Being punctual here is critical, this is a job interview, and you wouldn’t dream of being late to a face-to-face interview, so don’t be late here.


So once the interview has started, take a second to confirm with your interviewers that everything is working correctly. That they can hear you, there’s no video delay, and that you can see and hear them as well.


One of the best things you can do in a video interview is look into the camera. When you’re talking and looking at your screen, it looks like your talking down and not making eye contact. So look right into the camera lens when you’re talking, this might seem weird at first, but that’s what the practice is for.


Another thing to consider is that webcams tend to cut the sound when people are talking at either end, at the same time. The system can’t decipher whose talking and can sometimes cut the audio. This can make it tough for communicating.


I recommend when the interviewer is done asking a question, take a beat before answering. This helps to make sure they’re done talking and might help with occasional video delays.

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