

This way, the technology will blend seamlessly into the background so your human connection will shine through.Ĭheck to see if you need to set up an account or download new software for the video call service you’ll be using for the interview. Take the time to learn and get comfortable with any tools that will power your interview. Remote interviews are unique in that your relationship with your potential new employer is brokered by technology, not by sharing space and connecting in the same room. If you’re working with a smaller laptop and don’t have a laptop stand, you can always sit your laptop on top of some books during your interview to get your webcam slightly above eye level.

Try to position the webcam just above eye level and about two feet away from you. How to position the webcam for a virtual interview While you can go as fancy as you’d like on a headset, the earbuds with a microphone that come with most mobile phones will also do the trick. Pro tip: Always wear headphones on a video call, especially if it’s an interview! You’ll get clearer audio, reduce the chances that you’ll get an echo, and minimize surprise background noise. If you have to take the call from your phone, try to get a stand to stabilize things. Whenever possible, always do your video call on a laptop with a webcam! It’s a better experience for you and those on the other end joining a video call from a mobile phone can come across unprofessional if not done properly. It’s also a good idea to close out of any other programs that might be slowing down your computer or hogging data before your interview starts. In case you’re curious about your internet speed, sites like Speedtest are great for measuring your bandwidth.

No matter what excellent preparation you do for the call, if your interviewers can’t hear you or if your video freezes, you’re cooked. If a tree falls in the woods, does anyone hear it? If a new scientific breakthrough is shared on a crummy connection, is it still brilliant?Ī poor connection means you risk unclear audio on the call, which is a real deal breaker. Ensure you have a fast, reliable internet connection How to prepare for a virtual interviewįollow these 10 tips to prepare for your virtual interview and make sure you’re set up for success when it starts. A great virtual interview should have a lot of the same ingredients as an in-person one! But instead of the formalities of handshakes and figuring out which chair to sit at in the conference room, you’ll click a link and drop into a video call, where hopefully your interviewer will be waiting.
