9 Video Interview Tips – Pants Not Optional
by Erica Tucker
I was in Texas the Monday before my wedding when I got a call from the owner of a company I had contacted about a job in Southern California. She wanted to do a Skype interview in thirty minutes! Great right? Only I had three dogs, my bridesmaids, my mom, and my mother-in-law at the house working on last-minute wedding details. It was a madhouse!
I didn’t want to take a chance of missing out on the opportunity so I accepted. I had already changed into my “comfy clothes” which included sweatpants, a cami, hair in a ponytail, and slippers. I was definitely not interview ready.
I told the girls the situation and ran upstairs to pull myself together. I took my hair down, threw on a blouse and a necklace, added a little make up and lip-gloss and locked myself in the office. “I’ve got this,” I thought. Skype was all set, I looked good, I had my note pad, my resume, a nice quiet office…I was surprisingly calm. What could go wrong?
Video Interview Tips:
- Prepare: Research, prepare questions, be ready to discuss your experience, and have your resume on hand as you would for an in-person interview.
- Stage the Scene:
- Lighting – Try to get natural light in front of you (behind the camera). You can place a sheet of white paper on the table below you. It will reflect light onto your face
- Camera Angle – Place the camera at or above eye level so that you find the best angle
- Background – Your backdrop should be simple if possible. Remove clutter and other distracting or unsightly objects from behind you. Don’t interview in your children’s bedroom or the bathroom.
- Practice: Do a practice call with a friend to make sure your audio and visual components are all set.
- Eliminate Distractions: Find a quiet place where you will have zero interruptions. Silence all phones and make sure the people in your home know that you will be unavailable. An office-like setting with the door closed is always the best option.
My computer started to ring. “OK, here we go. I am going to charm the pants off of her.” PANTS! I had forgotten to change out of my sweatpants! Shoot! She would only see my blouse though, right? OK, deep breath…answer.
The interview was going great, I was super qualified, it seemed like a wonderful company, we connected and the conversation was flowing, and then she noticed a photo on the shelf behind me. When she asked about it, I STOOD UP to grab it. UGH!
I am one of those people who can’t just let the moment pass…I have to explain myself. She may not have even noticed or mentioned it, but I had to address it. I ended up telling her the entire situation and apologized. We laughed and she was extremely nice about it. We finished the interview and ended the call. “Well, that’s that,” I thought. “I will never hear from her again.”
I did end up getting the job, but I definitely don’t recommend video interviewing in sweatpants. Chances are, you won’t be standing up at any point, but you never know.
- Attire: Dress professionally. Don’t want to wear anything too busy. Solids that stand out against the background are always a safe bet. Please wear pants.
- Eye Contact: I know you’re pretty, but don’t look at yourself. If it’s too tempting, I recommend moving the image of yourself to the top of the screen near the camera so that it looks like you’re looking in the camera.
- Attitude: Be enthusiastic. The computer tends to tone down one’s personality, so make an effort to be a bit “over” excited. Smile bigger than you think you should.
- Posture: Sit up straight to show positive body language. Make sure you don’t cross your arms or lean back or on the desk. You want to look eager and confident.
- Speak Clearly: You want to enunciate your words so that nothing is misheard. Non-verbal cues are still important, but not as strong in a video interview so you will want to express your thoughts and feelings verbally.
Video interviews are becoming more and more popular so be prepared! Good luck!