Smile, You’re on (Candid) Camera – Preparing for Video Interviews!

To save on interviewing costs, more and more companies, businesses or small organizations are conducting online job interviews via computers. Looking or applying for a job in another state or country can be so much easier.For job seekers, it can be easy to meet from home in an environment that is familiar to you.

Dress To Impress

Proper preparation is vital for a successful interview. Dress professionally, even if you are sitting down. Wearing proper pants and shoes are vital because you never know when you may need to stand up. Certain colors such as royal, navy and sky blue look great on video. Avoid colors that are too bright and try to keep distraction at a minimum for your viewer by wearing a solid color. Style your hair so it is off your face and doesn’t require you to constantly touch it. Make-up should be used wisely to enhance your features. One of the easiest rules to remember when interacting with anyone is simply to smile. There is nothing more appealing than smiling throughout your call with a friendly expression. Also important is to make direct eye contact. Look at the camera, not the screen. Don’t stare at the camera but by the same token, try not to look away as you don’t want to appear uninterested, bored or even super nervous. The person with whom you are speaking with deserves your total attentiveness.

Clear Mess Behind you

While you are the focus of the call, remember that the interviewer can see behind you. Clear your workspace and any mess behind you. Are you in sitting so that a blank wall is behind you or is there a cluttered book shelf or cobwebs behind you? This reminds me of the commercial where the wife and mother is on a business trip and she Skype’s with her family. The wall behind them is clean as a whistle, which is what she sees. After they hang up, you see that the kitchen is a total disaster. Background noise also needs to be eliminated so the potential employer can hear you. Be sure you have enough lighting and you are not sitting in the shadows.

Alwayes Prepared

Other ways to prepare are not so obvious. Have paper and pen ready to write down information you may want to review later. Keep a copy of your resume on the desk in case you need it to refer to any data. After doing research on the company, you will undoubtedly have questions and these should be written down. Do not chew gum, tap a pen on the desk, jiggle your legs or drink from a glass during your interview. Practice, practice and then practice some more. Have your friends do mock interviews with you via the Webcam. They will be able to help you with any noise, distractions (such as the wall behind you) and the lighting. Make sure your Webcam equipment is in working order as this is also vital.

Alert!

Your computer is your tool for a successful interview, just as a car would be used to get your there on time. Close all other programs on your computer. You wouldn’t look at your cell phone for messages during a face to face interview, so don’t do it here. Sit a bit farther back from your computer so both your face and upper shoulders are in the frame. Depending on where the camera is, you may need to prop your computer on a couple of books.

Technological difficulties may arise, so be prepared. If this is your first time doing a video interview, tell them upfront. It may help to break the ice and put both of you at ease.

Trying new things can seem a little intimidating at first. You were probably overwhelmed the first time you rode your bike, drove a car, gave a toast or interviewed for your first job. With so many people now working from home, why not do an interview at home? Be creative to make your on-line interview and you stand out. Success is only a click away.

About MaryIsable
Mary Isabale is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and Editor of careerstair, a career blog for all levels, resume to career-shift all solution in one. Isabale prefer to be known as career doctor. She wrote more than 100 articles on career advancement and unemployment issues.