The Just Recruitment guide to video interviews

Video interviews are the latest growing trend in hiring; here's everything you need to know to ace yours.

With worldwide communication literally at our fingertips, technology is becoming more accessible than ever. Hiring practices have changed rapidly in turn, making video interviews more commonplace than you may think; a survey by the Institute of Student Employers found that 53% of employers now use video interviews during the recruitment process!

The prevalence of this practice means you need to be ready when the time comes – luckily, Just Recruitment has you covered with our handy guide.

1. Good eye contact is key

Eye contact will let your interviewers know that you're confident, telling them that you'll be able to transition confidently into whichever job you're applying for. Treat your webcam like a human eye and make sure you're talking into and looking at it, rather than your computer screen.

2. Smile, just not too much

Smiling indicates that you're interested as well as enthusiastic, which is just as important in a video interview as it is in a regular one. Just remember not to smile too much or you may come off as creepy.

3. Pay attention to your body's nervous responses

Your body's movements can very easily let an interviewer know that you are feeling distressed or nervous. Try not to fidget or let your hands wander, as it's both distracting to you and your potential interviewers.

4. Stay calm

As well as keeping your nervous giveaways in check, you need to remember to calm yourself down – showing your potential employers that you can calmly deal with pressured situations will immediately make you much more employable. Always remember that an interviewer wants you to succeed, that's why they asked you to attend in the first place!

5. Make sure you're positioned and postured right

Don't slouch and make sure to sit up straight; a confident posture is just as important as confident answers and confident movements. If you don't have one already, invest in a quality office chair which will stop you from leaning back too far. 

6. Be Professional

If your video interview uses a program like Skype, keep your username professional and smart – using your personal account called "rosebunnyx" doesn't communicate a smart and formal personality to future employers.

7. Let’s get technical

Choose a good webcam and try to avoid using your laptops built in webcam if possible. Remember that the higher the megapixels (MP), the better the quality.

Webcam placement is as important as the webcam itself. You want to make sure that the webcam is positioned around eye level, so that it will look more natural when you're talking into it and you won't look warped in perspective.

Finally, all your setup is pointless if your employer can't hear you properly, so use a headset or microphone that can pick up your voice well.

8. Set the scene

Setting the scene means more than just the right room. Ensure that the area behind you is clutter free and clean; you can take a picture of yourself with your webcam and check the background to spot any clutter you may have missed.

Investing in some lighting goes a long way. For best results with minimum lighting, place a light either side of your screen. Make sure that your face isn't in shadows and that the lighting is flattering.

9. What to wear

As you would in a classic interview, you should pick the right clothes and wear the right makeup. It's recommended that you wear smart trousers and shoes too, as if you need to get up to adjust something your legs and feet will be on camera.

10. Practice makes perfect

You'll want to make sure that your setup works overall, so a tech rehearsal beforehand will point out any problems you might have. Rehearsals minimise the possibility of problems during your actual video interview.

Go through your practice interview questions and answers again and again until you’re 100% happy with your answers. You can practice your interview conversational skills in combination with tech rehearsals if you're strapped for time.

If you are looking for a new role, or need any advice regarding video interviews, don't hesitate to email us on jobs@justrecruitment.co.uk today.

Published: 6 December 2018

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