Tips for a great video interview

A one-way interview is not a conversation. You read a question, think, and answer to the camera. These tips help you come across the way you would in person.

Set up your space

• Light: face a window or a lamp.
• Background: a plain wall or a tidy room.
• Sound: close the door and silence your phone.
• Camera: at eye level. Stack books under a laptop.
• Time: ask the people near you for 20 minutes of quiet.

Look and sound ready

• Dress the way you would for an in-person interview at this company.
• Sit up and take a breath before each answer.
• Look at the camera, not at your own picture.
• Speak a little slower than normal.

Answer with STAR

For questions like "Tell me about a time when…":

• Situation: where you were. One sentence.
• Task: what you had to do.
• Action: what you did. Spend the most time here.
• Result: what happened. Use a number if you have one.

For a 1-minute answer, plan about 10 seconds for situation and task, 35 for action, and 15 for result.

Use notes, not a script

Short notes and your resume next to the screen are fine. A full script sounds stiff on video.

Use retakes well

Watch each answer back. Record again if the sound or light is wrong, or you lost your place. Your first or second take is usually the most natural.