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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:

  1. Prepare: Research, prepare questions, be ready to discuss your experience, and have your resume on hand as you would for an in-person interview.
  1. 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.
  1. Practice: Do a practice call with a friend to make sure your audio and visual components are all set.
  1. 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.

Women's The Sweetheart Everyday Boot-Cut Khakis - Rolled OatsThe 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.

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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!

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