Two kinds of video interview

Video interviews come in two kinds, and each needs slightly different preparation, so find out which one you're facing.

One-way (async) video interview
For example HireVue or Spark Hire
You see a question on screen, usually get a short time to think, then record your answer against a time limit. The employer sets those times, and you'll usually see them before each question. There's no interviewer on the other end: the employer reviews the recordings later, sometimes with software to help assess them. The hard part is that nobody reacts, so you get no sign of whether an answer is working.
Live video interview
Zoom, Teams, Google Meet
A real-time conversation with one or more interviewers over video. It runs like an interview in person, but there's a slight delay on the line, faces are harder to read, and eye contact works differently. It's easy to underestimate how much the screen changes things, including how you come across.
Watch yourself first

You've probably practised your answers, but you may never have watched yourself give one on camera. Record a two-minute answer on your phone or laptop and watch it back. You'll notice things you'd be unlikely to catch any other way, like where your eyes go, your filler words, what's behind you and how you're framed. It takes a few minutes, and it's worth doing before any video interview.

Getting the setup right

Your setup is the part of a video interview you have most control over. A dark room, bad sound or a dropping connection makes it harder for the interviewer to follow you, however good your answer is. Sort these out a few days before the interview.

Lighting: face the light
A window in front of you is ideal. With a window or bright light behind you, your face turns into a dark shape that's hard to read. If it's dark outside, put a lamp in front of you rather than off to one side. Your face should be the brightest, clearest thing in the frame.
Camera height: lens at eye level
A laptop on a desk puts the camera below your eyes, so the interviewer ends up looking up at you. Raise it on a stack of books or a stand until the lens is level with your eyes. With the lens at eye level, looking into it comes across as eye contact.
Audio: test it before the day
They can follow you with a grainy picture, but not if they can't hear you. Built-in laptop microphones often sound hollow and distant, and wired earphones with a mic, even a basic phone headset, usually sound much better. Record a short clip on the computer you'll use and play it back. If you sound like you're at the end of a tunnel, fix it before the interview.
Background: plain and tidy
A plain wall or a tidy bookshelf is fine. Move anything you wouldn't want an employer to see, like an unmade bed or a pile of washing. Nothing behind you should pull attention away from your face.
Internet: wired if you can
Plug in with an ethernet cable if you can. If not, sit as close to the router as possible. Close other apps and browser tabs before you start, because streaming, downloads and other video calls all use bandwidth. Ask anyone else at home to hold off on streaming and big downloads while you're on the call.
Notifications: turn them all off
Put your phone on silent and face down, mute notifications on your computer, and close Slack, email and messaging apps. A ping or a pop-up in the middle of an answer can throw you, and the interviewer may hear it too. Do one full run-through with everything switched off so you know the setup works.

Where to look

On a video call, the natural thing is to look at the other person's face on your screen. But your camera usually sits above the screen, so when you look at their face, you seem to them to be looking down.

To make eye contact in a video interview, look at the camera lens rather than at the person's face. It feels odd, because you can't see their reactions while you do it. But on their screen, you'll appear to be looking straight at them.

You don't need to stare at the lens the whole time. Glance at the screen now and then to see how they're reacting, and look back at the lens when you're making an important point. A small sticker next to the lens can remind you where to look.

One-way video interview tips

In a recorded interview there's nobody to react to, no back-and-forth, and nothing to tell you when you've said enough. You might find that harder than a live interview, so it's worth practising for.

  • Use your thinking time. If you're given time to think before recording starts, use it to sketch your answer in your head: situation, task, action, result. If you start talking without a plan, it's easy to wander and trail off.
  • Look at the camera, not the countdown timer. It's tempting to keep checking how much time is left, but each glance takes your eyes off the lens. A quick look now and then is enough.
  • Speak as if there's a person in the room. With no one listening, it's easy to slip into a flat, mechanical voice. Talk with the warmth you'd use with a real person, and it will come across better on the recording.
  • Don't try to fill every second. If you're given three minutes, you don't have to use them all. A clear 90-second answer is better than a padded one that loses its way. Stop when you've answered the question.
  • Don't re-record over and over. Some employers let you re-record an answer and some don't, so check the instructions first. If you can, one retake because the sound cut out is fine. Recording the same answer ten times looking for a perfect one usually leaves you sounding stiff, and your first or second take tends to sound more natural.

Practise your answers first

Use InterviewZap to work on the answers themselves. It asks you behavioural questions based on your CV and the job description, you answer out loud or by typing, and after each answer you'll see what was missing and a stronger way to say it. Then record a couple on your phone to see how they look on camera.

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Live video interview tips

A live video interview is a lot like one in person, with a few differences that change how you come across:

  • A slight delay changes the timing. Video calls usually have a small lag, a fraction of a second, that you don't get in person. It makes it easier to talk over each other, or to leave awkward gaps while you each wait for the other. Let the interviewer finish before you start, and pause briefly at the end of a point in case they want to come in.
  • Bring a bit more energy than you would in person. Some of the warmth that comes across in a room gets lost on a small screen, so it takes a little more effort: a slightly bigger smile, a nod while they're talking, and some variety in your voice.
  • Keep a short note of your main stories nearby. On a video call you can have a one-page list of your STAR story headings just off camera. Don't read from it, but knowing it's there can take some of the pressure off. Put it at eye level, close to the camera, so glancing at it doesn't pull your eyes far from the lens.
  • Log on 5–10 minutes early. That gives you time to check your setup and fix anything that's gone wrong, so you're settled when the interviewer joins instead of still looking for the unmute button.

Common video interview mistakes

Watching yourself on screenMost video apps show a small view of your own camera. Watching it makes you more self-conscious and takes your eyes off the lens. Hide your self-view if the app lets you.
Using a virtual background you haven't testedVirtual backgrounds can go blocky, make bits of your hair and shoulders disappear, or lag behind when you move. If you haven't tried yours with your own camera and lighting, don't use it on the day. A plain wall is safer.
Sitting too far from the cameraIf the interviewer can see most of your upper body and a lot of wall, you're too far away. Aim for your head and shoulders, with a little space above your head. Being closer makes it feel more like a conversation, and they can see your expressions.
Wearing something that looks bad on cameraFine patterns like thin stripes or small checks can shimmer on camera (this is called a moiré effect). Bright white or very strong colours can throw off the camera's exposure and colour. Plain, mid-tone colours are safest, so try your outfit in your setup beforehand.
Not practising on camera before the interviewIf the interview is the first time you've answered questions on camera, you're getting used to the camera and answering at the same time. Answer a few practice questions on camera first, so that on the day you only have the questions to think about.

On the day: a quick checklist

In the 30 minutes before a video interview:

  1. Open the video app and test your camera, microphone and internet connection
  2. Check your framing, lighting and background in the camera preview
  3. Close the apps you don't need and mute notifications
  4. Put your phone on silent, face down and out of reach
  5. Have a glass of water nearby in case your mouth goes dry
  6. Put your one-page list of stories at eye level, just off camera
  7. Log on 5–10 minutes before the start time
If you only do one thing

Record yourself answering one question, in the room and setup you'll use on the day, and watch it back. Do it a few days early, so there's still time to fix what you find, whether that's the light, the sound or the background.