8 Top Video Tips You’ll Need to Land Your Next Job

As video interviews become more and more common, we’ve gathered the 8 best video interview tips you’ll need to put your best foot forward in the virtual hiring world.

If you’re reading this, then it means you’re preparing for the most crucial part of your application — the video interview. So if you’re looking for some killer video interview tips, you’re in the right place.

In today’s more socially distant and virtual hiring process, video interviews are fast becoming the new normal. With some recruiters reporting a 67% spike in video interviews over the last 6 months, they’re pretty important to get right.

After speaking to some of the recruiters using Jump, we’ve gathered the 8 tips you’ll need to ace your video interview.

So whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a video interview novice, these tips will give you the best shot of standing out to the people that matter.

Treat It Like a Normal Interview

We have to start with what may seem like the obvious, but it really is crucial to get this part right. And while you may see this point on a lot of other articles and guides, it’s not always obvious what it means. So let’s clear that up with this set of no-nonsense video interview tips:

1. Dress Appropriately

If you associate a “suit and slippers” combo with video interviews, then this one is for you.

You may only be visible front the waist up, but dressing as you would for an in-person interview will boost your confidence and frame the call in a professional context. It will help kick things off on the right foot and keep you focused on the task at hand.

Really, your golden rule for all interviews (even telephone interviews) should be to dress for the job.

2. Maintain Good Body Language (& Smile!)

Sitting in front of a screen can make this one easy to forget. And while you may not be walking the red carpet, there’s a few simple things you can do to show you’re engaged with your interviewer:

• Keep a good posture by sitting up straight, ideally with your hands on the desk (or on your lap)
• A simple nod every now and again while the interviewer is speaking can help show you’re listening and engaged with what they are saying (and that your internet hasn’t cut out!)
• Equally, maintaining eye contact with your interviewer is a great way to convey your point while responding
• When speaking, do so clearly and confidently to give some gravitas to your point. Well-time pauses and emphasis at key points can also go a long way

Bonus Tip: Muse career coach Eloise Eonnet suggests practicing your answers in the same way as a face to face interview:

“Don’t say the names and numbers you need to say out loud for the first time in the interview…you don’t want to get nervous and stumble over them or same something incorrect.”

3. Be On Time

Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, you can probably relate to setting 3 or 4 alarms the morning of an interview, and the peace of mind it can give you.

Treat your video interview the same way, making sure you’re all set up and ready to go (more on this later) at least 30 minutes beforehand. And, whatever format or system you’ll be using, arrive 5–10 minutes early to anticipate any last-minute difficulties.

Do Your Research

Now we’ve tackled how to approach your video interview, it’s time to talk about how to make sure you stand out. The key here is one word — research.

Of course, research is one of our top interview tips across the board. But when it comes to a video interview, there are few extra areas you’re going to want to cover.

4. Research The Role & The Company

We mention it whenever we get the chance. That’s because hiring managers and recruiters mention it whenever get the chance. And that’s because we both can’t stress enough how important this tip is — it’s the they #1 most common interview mistake interviewers see.

So, do your research. While we’ve covered quite extensively what to research f or your interview, here’s the key things you can do to make sure you’ve got all the info you need:

• Read up on all the relevant material on the company website, including the job description, and if available, any other team info.
• Look for any relevant articles or news about the company or the relevant industry so you can be in the loop about the current affairs relevant to the role and the business.
• Use LinkedIn to discover any friends or connections you may have at the company — this can be a great way to get some insider knowledge that can help you stand out.

( Note: If you’re not too familiar with using Linkedin in this way, this guide can give you a great overview of where to start).

5. Research The Format of Your Video Interview

This tip can easily slip under the radar, particularly when you’re so focused on ensuring you’ve done all the other research. But it’s important to understand what kind of video interview you’ll be having. This can help you anticipate what kind of general research and preparation you can do, which we’ll touch on next.

The main formats to be aware of are a , which live interview or a pre-recorded interviewhas a great comparison on. Prospects

Once you know what kind of video interview you’ll be having, it’s worth researching any technical requirements you may need to be aware of. Whether you need to install some new software or update your device (we recommend using a laptop or desktop), getting on top of these things ASAP mean fewer surprises on the big day, which leads us very nicely on to our last group of video interview tips…

Preparation Is Key

While we have already touched on what research to do for your video interview, the preparation we’re referring to here will ensure that come the big day, you can maximise the impact of all of the previous tips and ensure you ace your video interview.

6. Test Your Tech & Set-Up

Doing a dry run is a great way to iron out any issues you might have, technical or otherwise, with getting into your video interview, and will prevent any audio, visual, or other problems that could get you started on the back foot.

Reviewing your set up, from how you appear through your webcam to how your audio sounds, will also give you some peace of mind once you get started, meaning you can focus entirely on showcasing your talents.

7. Find a Quiet Place & Remove ALL Distractions

A housemate or family member stumbling in. A package delivery. A phone call. All distractions that can jeopardise your video interview. But fortunately, if you prepare well, they’re all avoidable as well.

Find yourself a quiet and private room to use — if you need to, even hang a “do not disturb” sign on the door to prevent any intruders or interruptions.

Deliveries always seem to arrive at the one time you don’t want them to. But if you know the day, or even time, of your video interview far enough in advance, you can try and make sure to keep that period completely free. Otherwise, another handy “do not disturb/ring doorbell” note on your door can be a good back-up to ensure you remain distraction-free.

And finally — the mobile phone. It can so easily slip your mind until half way through your interview, you feel it buzzing away in your pocket.

Our advice — don’t take any chances and either turn it off and/or leave it in a completely different part of the house. This way, you’re not distracted by texts or messages, and you’re also not tempted to fidget with it mid-interview.

8. Prepare The Questions You Want to Ask

Preparing for an interview and doing a lot of research up front can often leave you well-drilled for answering all the questions an interviewer may throw out of you. However, it is important not to forget that you’ll also have the chance to ask questions at the end of the interview. And it’s important that you do, as it is a great way to stand out and show you’re enthusiastic and prepared for the job. It also makes it more of a conversation which, I can assure you, is much more enjoyable for both parties involved.

So, prepare questions you might ask upfront — about the role, the company, even the interviewer and their experience. It will all help to get a better sense of whether you to work for the business. And to ensure you’re as successful as possible here, we’ve prepared the want 9 best questions you can ask in your interview.

Ready to Ace Your Video Interview?

These 8 video interview tips should take you through everything you need to know, and everything you’ll need. From setting up and testing your equipment to asking the right questions, these points should ensure you leave a lasting impression and give yourself a great shot at securing the role.

But the most important thing to remember is to approach it in the same way you would any other interview — by being professional, well-prepared and confident. If you do, you’ll be on the right track to success.

Originally published at https://academy.jump.work.