Video Interviews Tips and Tricks
HRs and talent acquisition specialists have to adapt their hiring process if they want to bring new people into the company at speed. As remote work allows hiring people from the global talent pool, success depends on several factors, including the interview process.
Here, I have a few pointers sorted according to the different variables and steps in the interview process.
Before the Interview
Success in a video interview hinges on some preparatory things like seamless technical setup and on the other side, a calm and confident demeanor. Having these two and everything in between well executed, means you can create a positive interview experience for yourself and for the other person.
Let me share tips for virtual interviews before you hop on the video call.
- Check Your Audio and Video Technology
It’s better to check the devices and software you are using in the interview than face trouble during the conversation. A stable internet connection with sufficient bandwidth is required to have uninterrupted video calls. So, before you sit for the interview, take a speed test and, if possible, use an ethernet cable instead of connecting with the Wi-Fi.
Second, check your audio output before the interview. Test your microphone and speakers to ensure they are working properly. Use good noise-canceling headphones to remove background noise and improve audio output quality.
Lastly, ensure the video software you are using has all the things you need. Shortlist the tools you think will fit into your process and check video interview software reviews to know more about them. Once chosen, familiarize yourself with the software before the interview so that you can immediately take action on the spot.
- Practice Speaking And Listen To Yourself
In addition to your skills, effective communication is essential to build a positive interview experience. Practice your speaking and listening skills to improve clarity, which will let you have a smooth interview experience.
- Conduct Mock Interviews: Get someone from your team to do a mock interview only to check the audio and video sound output and simulate the environment.
- Record Yourself: As you record yourself asking questions and answering them, it helps identify areas of improvement in your speech, pace, and body language. You can adjust each of them to have a comfortable interview round.
- Check The Room Lighting
Proper lighting is essential to create a professional environment and have an engaging interview experience. One of the best tips for virtual interviews I can give you is to sit under natural lighting during the interview.
Not that it will impress the other person any more than your skills and capabilities, but natural lighting makes the environment fresh. While doing so, make sure there are no shadows on your face.
I know that taking an interview under natural lighting is not always possible. So, under artificial lighting, ensure you are in a room that has soft and diffused lighting. I would recommend you use ring lights to illuminate only your face.
One more thing to take into consideration is avoiding backlighting. Sit in a place where the light is behind the camera and not behind you.
- Minimize Interruptions
Maintain a distraction-free environment throughout the interview. Sit in a quiet room and inform your team members not to knock or enter the room while you are in the interview. Disable all notifications on your phone and computer to avoid distractions and interruptions.
- Prepare for the Interview Like You Do in Real Life
It does not matter if the interview is happening over a video call; it’s still as important for you and your organization as it is for the candidate. Besides the candidate traveling to the location, everything is the same.
So, prepare accordingly. Review the candidate's profile, build a set of customized questions to ask, and assess how well they can work within your organization.
Appearance
Your appearance, regardless of your role, can make a big difference in your personality and how you are approached by the person on the other side. This applies how you dress and present yourself to sitting in the right position and engaging actively with the interviewee.
- Dress Code
The formality of the dress code varies according to the organization’s culture and requirements, but it’s generally advisable to dress well. However, remember that as an interviewer you are expected to set the right standards for the first time when you meet the candidate.
- Set up your Physical Shot
Position yourself in front of the camera while following video interview best practices. Adjust the camera height at eye level to create a natural and engaging perspective. Sit with a clean and decluttered background to ensure that it doesn’t distract the person on the other end.
- Maintain Your Posture
Sit up straight when taking the interview and relax your shoulders. As a recruiter you need to demonstrate confidence and your readiness to engage. It’s a general rule of thumb to keep your arms open and relaxed as it conveys confidence and openness to engage. Avoid crossing your arms.
Especially if you are a candidate appearing for the interview, focus on the camera. Lastly, you can use hand movements to emphasize your points, but avoid excessive movement as it can distract the person on either end.
- Engage with the Other Person
Regardless of the fact you are an interviewer or interviewee, engage with the person on the other end. A subtle and genuine smile will give you a friendly appearance and be more approachable. Added to this, maintain your body posture, sitting position, and use body language that conveys confidence, openness, and active listening.
During the Interview
As it is with in-person interviews, you must follow the best video interview best practices during the conversation. Take note of the points I have mentioned below and remember to follow them during the interview process.
- Make Eye Contact
With this, maintain eye contact with the other person by looking directly into the camera. Often, people look down from the camera towards their clothes, face, etc., and miss the camera, which is not ideal.
Maintain consistent eye contact with the other person while glancing away occasionally. To ensure you maintain eye contact, remove all distractions from your surroundings.
- Show Up Early
Show up early for the interview to demonstrate your respect for punctuality and respect for the other person’s time. Just because you are the one taking the interview does not mean you can be late for the interview.
As you are early, conduct one last equipment checkup and gather all the materials required for the interview. Use this extra time to position yourself right in front of the camera.
- Wait Your Turn To Answer
Allow the other person to complete their question or response before answering. This is the moment when your active listening skills will be required. Don’t interrupt in between, as it can be taken as disrespectful.
You can take a moment before answering, but once you start sharing your thoughts speak in a consistent flow, pace, and volume.
- Be Confident And Engage in a Dialogue
Confidence and continuous engagement are critical to build a cordial interview experience for everyone involved in the conversation. This goes for people on both sides, speaking clearly and articulately as it will help enunciate your words and maintain a steady pace.
Second, show some enthusiasm for the process by taking interest in the candidate and from the other end, the candidate is eager to know about the company and position. As a candidate, you can show this interest by asking meaningful questions about the company, role, and engagement.
At the end of the interview, make sure to ask the candidate about their interview experience. It’s important from the perspective of improving the process for the future candidates. Plus, since the experience is fresh in their minds, it’ll be easier for them to share with honesty and authenticity.
The same applies to the candidate as they must also ask the interviewer about the whole experience. Use the insights from the interviewer to improve your skills and attributes.
How can Qwary Help you With the Interview Process?
Qwary is an advanced tool for recording feedback from customers and employees. However, our latest set of video conversion tools is one of the best things you can use for;
- Candidate Experience Surveys: Gather immediate feedback from your candidates about their experience. You can customize questions or use one of our templates to ask the right questions about the process and use it to optimize the process for the future. Moreover, you can also use it to know the candidate’s perception about the company, its culture, and values.
- Candidate Pre-Screening: Before jumping into the interview process, you can use our video conversation tool for initial qualification assessment. By asking specific questions by sharing and asking for videos, you can screen the candidates on specific criteria. Use it as a tool to conduct a job fitness assessment and ensure the candidate’s skills and personality align with the company’s culture.
Furthermore, you can use Qwary’s AI-empowered data analysis features to make informed decisions and even conduct sentiment analysis through videos.
Conclusion
As video interviews are gaining popularity, companies of all sizes and domains must integrate them into their recruiting process. Well-executed video interviews can accelerate the hiring process, letting you hire the right people for the job through effective analysis.
All the video interview best practices and tips I have shared above are meant to build a connection between interviewer and interviewee. Having this connection will allow everyone on either side to gain a better understanding of the requirements, skills, and capabilities.
Working with Qwary, you can improve the interview experience by ensuring only qualified candidates go through the video interview process. Get a demo to know more how Qwary Video Conversations can help.
FAQs
- How to stand out in a video interview?
Follow video interview best practices to stand out, including testing the technology to ensure it works properly. Dress right and always sit in a quiet place without any distractions. Maintain your speaking pace and a good posture during the interview while looking directly into the camera. Engage in a conversation with the person on the other end to create a good first impression.
- How is a video interview different from an offline interview?
Offline and online interviews differ in terms of their format and dependence on technology. While video interviews can be asynchronous, they work well in the synchronous mode. Moreover, video interviews are largely dependent on technology and will need the right tools, a stable internet connection, and some good hardware to conduct the interview.
- What are the benefits of taking video interviews?
Video interviews have a stream of benefits for the interviewer and interviewee. They help save time and cost which is otherwise spent in reaching the location for an offline interview. While adding to the convenience, it also lets recruiters select candidates from a global talent pool.
- Is there a dress code for video interviews?
The dress code for a video interview is not anything different from an offline interview. The dress code can vary according to the organization's requirements and culture. When you don’t find a dress code highlighted in the job description post, wear something formal instead.
