Don’t let these annoying mistakes ruin your chances of landing your dream job. We want you to ace your virtual interviews, so we’ve put together our top video interview tips:

Pick a quiet location

If you’ve been invited to a video interview, then your first task should be to find a suitable location. Ideally, this should be in a quiet area such as an office or a spare bedroom. Avoid having your interview in a busy communal area like the kitchen or living room. The last thing you want is to have children demanding your attention or someone using the blender halfway through your interview! Tell your family or housemates that you’re having a video interview and make sure that no one disturbs you during the call.

Dress to impress

You might be able to get away with wearing more casual clothes in a video interview, but you still need to dress professionally. What you should wear will depend on the company and role that you’re applying for e.g. finance professionals may require a suit whereas creative roles might allow a more relaxed dress code. We know it’s tempting to dress professionally from the waist up, but do so at your own risk! The last thing you want is to accidentally stand up and reveal your pyjama bottoms or pants to the interviewer. If you’re struggling to choose your interview outfit, then check out this article for tips on how to dress professionally for a video interview.

Keep your background tidy

No one wants to see your dirty clothes (or something more embarrassing) in the background of your video. Avoid awkward situations and distractions by tidying your background beforehand. You can use a tool like Webcam Test to check what is visible in the background of your video. Some video platforms let you choose a background, but be careful what you pick. Stick with something professional e.g. avoid logging in with the Hawaiin-themed background... If you need a laugh before or after your interview, then check out these funny Zoom backgrounds. 

Test your video tech

Nothing is more annoying than being out of sync or having delayed audio on a video call. Test your camera, audio, and internet speed before your interview. Fortunately, most communication platforms allow you to do a test meeting to check your tech beforehand.

1. If your interview is taking place on Zoom, then you can join a Zoom test meeting to check your tech and prepare for your upcoming interview.
2. Google Meet allows users to test their tech ahead of time by completing a test session - click here for a guide on how to use this feature.
3. Microsoft Teams also have the option to join a test meeting. Take a look at this article for a step-by-step guide on how to make a test call with Teams.
4. Check out this article on how to test your Skype audio and video settings before a Skype interview.

Do a trial run the day before

Preparation is key when it comes to a successful video interview. Remember to treat your interview just as you would an in-person job interview. The day before your interview, do a trial run to prepare and ensure that everything runs smoothly. Check what platform your interview is taking place on - e.g. Zoom, Skype, or MS Teams -  and make sure that this is set up on your laptop or computer. You might need to create an account if you haven’t used the platform before, so don’t leave it until the last minute. Remember that your camera should be set up at eye level - no one wants an unflattering double-chin or weird shadows in their video interview!

Following these easy tips will help you prepare for successful video calls and ace your virtual interviews. Do you have any funny interview stories? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!