A video interview is still an interview. The questions are the same, the stakes are the same, and the person on the other side of the screen is forming the same first impression. What changes is everything around you: the lighting, the sound, the technology and the odd feeling of talking to a webcam. The good news is that nearly all of it is within your control, and a little preparation goes a long way.
Test your technology the day before
Nothing drains confidence like a frozen screen at 9.58am. Do a proper dry run well before the interview, not five minutes ahead.
Open the platform the employer has asked you to use, whether that is Teams, Zoom, Google Meet or something else. Install any updates, check you can join a test call and make sure you know how to share your screen if asked.
- Camera: check it is at eye level. Stack a few books under a laptop if you need to.
- Microphone: record a short clip and play it back. Wired earphones with a built-in mic often sound clearer than a laptop speaker.
- Internet: sit where your signal is strongest, or plug in with a cable. Ask others in the house to stay off heavy streaming for the hour.
- Power: plug your laptop in. Do not rely on the battery.
Keep a backup ready. Have the interviewer's phone number or email to hand, and know how you would dial in from your phone if your connection dropped.
Set up your space
You do not need a home studio. You need a space that looks tidy and lets the interviewer focus on you.
Face a window if you can, so natural light falls on your face. A bright window behind you will turn you into a silhouette. If the room is dim, a desk lamp placed just behind your screen works well.
Check what is behind you. A plain wall, a tidy shelf or a closed door is fine. If your space is cluttered, many platforms offer a gentle background blur, though a real tidy corner usually looks better than a digital one.
Tell anyone you live with when the interview is, and put a note on the door if it helps. Silence your phone and close every app and browser tab you do not need, including anything that pings.
Prepare as you would for any interview
Video does not lower the bar on preparation. If anything, it raises it, because you can have notes in plain sight and the interviewer knows it.
Read the job post again and note the three or four things the employer cares about most. For each one, prepare a short example from your own experience that shows you doing it. A simple structure helps: the situation, what you did, and what happened as a result.
Research the business too. Look at what they do, who they serve and anything recent they have shared. Then write down two or three questions you would genuinely like answered, such as what a good first six months looks like in the role.
If you are still working on your opening answer, our guide on how to answer "Tell me about yourself" is a good place to start.
Look and sound the part
Dress as you would for an in-person interview at that employer. Plain, solid colours tend to look best on camera. Very busy patterns can look distracting on screen.
The most important habit is where you look. It feels natural to watch the interviewer's face on your screen, but they will see you looking slightly down. Try to glance at the camera lens when you are making a key point or finishing an answer. It is what creates the feeling of eye contact.
A few other small things make a real difference:
- Sit slightly forward and keep your shoulders relaxed. Frame yourself from the chest up.
- Speak a touch slower than usual. Audio can lag, and a brief pause before you answer stops you talking over the other person.
- Use your hands naturally, but keep them in view and avoid tapping the desk.
- Smile when you greet them. It sounds obvious, but it sets the tone for the whole conversation.
If you use notes, keep them to a few bullet points and place them near the camera. Reading from a script sounds flat and is easy to spot.
Handle the awkward moments calmly
Something will probably go slightly wrong, and that is fine. Interviewers on video calls expect it. What they notice is how you respond.
If the connection drops, rejoin quickly and say a brief sorry. If you cannot hear a question, ask them to repeat it rather than guessing. If a child, pet or delivery driver makes an appearance, smile, deal with it quickly and carry on. Staying composed tells the employer more about you than a perfect call would.
If you need a moment to think, say so. "Let me think about that for a second" is far better than a rushed answer, and on video a short pause feels longer to you than it does to them.
Some employers use one-way or recorded interviews, where you answer set questions on camera with no one live. The same rules apply, but practise out loud first and use the preview if there is one. Keep answers focused, and stay within any time limit.
Finish well and follow up
Close by thanking them, briefly restating why you are interested and asking about next steps if they have not covered them. Then wait until they end the call before you leave the meeting.
Send a short thank you message within a day. Mention one specific thing you enjoyed discussing and confirm your interest. If you are waiting to hear back, our guide on how to follow up on a job application covers what to say and when.
If you are the one hiring, the same principles apply in reverse. Send candidates clear joining instructions, a backup contact and an honest idea of who will be on the call. Tools such as Hier's interview scheduling and messaging keep those details in one place, so candidates know what to expect and you can focus on the conversation itself.
The practical takeaway
Do the technical check a day early, sort your light and background, and prepare real examples rather than rehearsed lines. Look at the camera when it matters, stay calm if something goes wrong, and follow up the next day. Get those basics right and the screen stops being an obstacle. It just becomes another room where you do your best work.
