15 Video Interview Tips That Get You to the Next Round

Before the Interview

1. Test everything 30 minutes before — not 5

Camera, microphone, internet speed, platform login, and your laptop battery. Do this 30 minutes before the interview starts. If something fails at 5 minutes before, you’re rattled before you even start. If it fails at 30 minutes, you have time to fix it or switch devices.

2. Close all applications and notifications

An email ping, a Slack notification, or a phone buzz during a live interview signals that you’re not fully present. Close everything. Put your phone on silent and place it out of reach.

3. Prepare your environment the day before

Set up your recording space — background, lighting, camera angle — the day before and record a 60-second test. Watch it back. Fix anything that looks wrong. On interview day, you should just sit down and start, not troubleshoot.

4. Have water within reach

A dry mouth is the enemy of a fluid interview. Keep water off-camera but within reach. A small sip between answers is completely acceptable in a live video interview.

Technical Setup

5. Use ethernet, not WiFi, if at all possible

A wired internet connection is significantly more stable than WiFi, especially if other people in your home are streaming video. If you must use WiFi, sit as close to the router as possible and close all other devices’ streaming applications.

6. Use an external microphone or headphones if you can

Your laptop’s built-in microphone picks up keyboard noise, fan noise, and reverb from the room. Earbuds with a built-in mic (even the ones that came with your phone) are a significant upgrade. A dedicated USB microphone is better still.

7. Elevate your camera to eye level

Stack books, use a monitor stand, or find a tripod. The camera lens should be at eye level or slightly above — never below. A downward-facing camera makes you look engaged; an upward-facing camera is unflattering and signals poor preparation.

During the Interview

8. Look at the camera, not the interviewer’s face

The natural instinct is to watch the interviewer’s face on your screen — but this makes you appear to be looking slightly downward to them. Force yourself to look at the camera lens. The interviewer experiences this as genuine eye contact.

9. Nod and show engagement, even when listening

Video calls strip out a lot of the micro-expressions that signal engagement in person. Compensate by nodding slightly, keeping your expression alive, and leaning slightly forward during key moments.

10. Pause before answering complex questions

A 2–3 second pause before answering a complex question signals thoughtfulness, not uncertainty. In person this would be normal; on video it can feel more pronounced. Let yourself take a breath and then answer with structure.

11. Use the STAR method for every behavioral question

Situation → Task → Action → Result. Every behavioral question has this shape. Landing on a concrete result — a number, a percentage, a timeline — is what separates memorable answers from forgettable ones.

12. Keep answers between 90 seconds and 3 minutes

Shorter than 90 seconds is often too thin. Longer than 3 minutes loses the interviewer in most cases. Time your practice answers and cut until they fit.

Body Language and Presence

13. Sit upright with your back away from the chair

Slouching signals disengagement. Sitting rigidly signals anxiety. Sit with good posture but a slightly relaxed upper body — imagine you’re having a focused conversation with someone you respect, not an interrogation.

14. Keep your hands visible but natural

Hands below the desk disappear on camera and can look evasive. Rest your hands on the desk and use natural gestures when you speak. Don’t over-gesture — amplified gestures on video can look theatrical.

After the Interview

15. Send a follow-up email within 2 hours

A follow-up email after a live video interview is still the norm, and still noticed. Keep it to 3 sentences: thank them for their time, reference one specific topic from the conversation, and restate your interest. Don’t wait until the next day.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important thing to do before a video interview?

Test your setup 30 minutes before — not 5. Camera, microphone, internet connection, and platform login. Technical problems 5 minutes before a video interview affect your composure; the same problems 30 minutes before give you time to solve them.

Should I look at my interviewer's face or the camera?

Look at the camera lens, not the screen. Looking at the interviewer's face on your screen makes you appear to be looking slightly downward to them. Looking at the camera lens creates the experience of genuine eye contact from the interviewer's perspective.

What do I do if I have technical problems during a live video interview?

Stay calm and communicate clearly: 'I apologize — I'm having some audio difficulty. Can you hear me now?' If the problem persists, suggest switching to phone. Every interviewer has experienced technical issues on both sides of a video call — how you handle a problem under pressure is itself useful information.

Is it okay to have notes during a video interview?

Yes, with caveats. Brief glances at notes are acceptable — the key is that your primary engagement is with the camera/interviewer, not your notes. Keep notes in a small font just off-screen or use physical notes placed just above your screen near the camera.

What should I do if I don't understand a question in a video interview?

Ask for clarification — exactly as you would in an in-person interview. 'Could you say a bit more about what you mean by that?' or 'Is the focus more on X or Y?' Asking for clarification signals thoughtfulness, not confusion. Answering a question you didn't understand signals poor listening skills.

Practice on video: record your answers on Employment.Media, re-record as often as you like, and share one Video Group link with employers. Get started free.