Job hunting in the current climate is far from easy, but that hasn’t stopped hundreds of thousands of people looking for, and successfully applying for, new roles. In the same way that much of our working lives have now moved online with virtual meetings becoming the new normal, so has the recruitment process.
For candidates, this means adapting to a whole new type of interview situation but fear not! Agile Recruit has pulled together some of their top tips on how you can ace a video interview and land your next role.
While some video interviews can be pre-recorded, the majority are live video interviews, so we’ll be focusing on helping you ace those. Below we cover the major areas you’ll need to have boxed off before you even start your video interview, from wearing the right clothes to carrying out a thorough check of your equipment and internet connection before the call begins.
Do a Tech Check
Interviews can be nerve-wracking enough as it is so the last thing you need is your equipment or internet connection causing you issues and unnecessary stress. Make sure that you have everything you need set up ahead of time and that you have tested your internet connection, camera, and microphone. If you can, it is also worth testing out the specific platform that your interview will be taking place on, to familiarise yourself with the system and avoid any errors.
Aside from your internet connection, the most important area you should focus on is your sound. Even if your video is lagging, clear audio could be the thing that saves your interview as it will stop you having to repeat yourself.
Don’t Forget About Your Background
Interviewers will understand that you are working from home so won’t expect your environment to be entirely professional – especially if you don’t have the benefit of a home office to work from. However, it would help if you still took some time to ensure that your background is as clear and professional as possible, to minimise any distraction for both you and the interviewer.
Dress to Impress
As with in-person interviews, when it comes to acing a video interview, you must dress to impress. You should make the same amount of effort as you would if you were attending a face-to-face interview. Don’t forget, first impressions count as much as they ever did, even if you are now interviewing from the comfort of your own home. To give the best impression, opt for clothes that reflect the formality of the position and make sure that whatever you are wearing is cleaned and ironed if necessary.
Stay Hydrated
Getting a dry mouth is common in a high-pressure situation, such as an interview, so it is a good idea to be prepared and have a glass of water handy during your video interview. Bonus tip: a glass of water also works as the perfect way to buy yourself a couple of precious extra seconds to formulate the ideal answer to a question.
