Video Interviews
Video Interviewing: A Practical Guide for Before, During and After the Interview.
In many respects, a video interview is a lot like a regular interview. During your video interview, the important thing to remember is to be confident. There is no reason to be afraid of the camera.
Before the Interview
It is important that you prepare in advance for your video interview. Remember, a video interview is as serious as an in-person interview, and a lot of the same rules apply.
- Review Your School’s Guidelines. Your school likely has guidelines concerning video interviews. These rules will either be found on your school’s career services website or by contacting career services.
- Video Interviewing Attire. Dress professionally! You should wear the same thing to a video interview as you would wear to an in-person interview. This will not only make you feel professional and confident but it will also ensure that you are perceived to be professional and confident.
- Prepare Key Documents and Information. Be sure to bring the latest copy of your resume and other relevant portfolio documents on a flash drive. During the video interview, you may have the opportunity to upload the resume into the video interview manager. You should also print out a copy for yourself. You will want to take notes, so bring a pen and paper. Just as with an in-person interview, you will want to prepare a list of questions for your video interview. If you're not sure what questions to ask, you should conduct company research by visiting the company's website.
- Arrive Early. It is important to arrive 15 minutes early to your video interview. This will ensure that you have ample time to situate yourself and get comfortable with the equipment before your video interview begins.
- Test the Webcam. Open up the webcam icon on the desktop. On the icon bar that appears, click the icon on the top. If you hover over it, the icon should read “QuickCapture.” Doing this will allow you to see yourself on the webcam prior to entering the interview. After you have seen yourself, quit the application.
- Open up Internet Explorer. The homepage should be set to your school’s Online Interview Site.
- Locate Your Interview Slot. Your video interview slot will be listed on your school’s Online Video Site. Once the recruiter begins to host the interview, you will be able to click “Join.” Don’t worry if you click “Join” but nothing happens. Once the employer begins to host the video interview, you will be able to login in. Just keep clicking “Join” every minute or so, until the host has arrived.
- Get Comfortable. Make sure your chair is comfortable and situated properly so that you can easily make eye contact through the webcam.
- Wait for the Call. Although schools may facilitate video interviewing in different ways, most schools will have a speaker phone next to the computer. The employer will call you on this phone. Be sure to use the speaker feature so that you can have hands free communication.
- If You Have Trouble. If you have any trouble with the technology or connection, feel free to call CareerCam at 888-577-3398 between the hours of 7:30am to 7pm Monday through Friday. We're here to help!
During the Interview
Remember, a video interview is a lot like a regular interview. The recruiter interviewing you will be asking you the same type of interview questions and will be making the same type of assessment of you.
- Make Eye Contact. Since the recruiter interviewing you is unable to see a lot of your body language during the interview, it is important that you make good eye contact with him or her. It will help if you position the video window of the recruiter directly below the webcam so that you can look at the recruiter and the webcam at the same time. To do this, simply click the pop-out button below the video window.
- Have Good Posture. Remember to sit up straight and look directly into the webcam when speaking. When the recruiter is speaking, you should be looking at their video window.
- Be a Good Listener. It is important for you to listen attentively. Pay close attention to their facial expressions, and wait a few seconds after they stop talking to answer their question or say the next thing.
After the Interview
The same rules apply after being interviewed through video or in-person.
Send a thank you note!
Good Luck!