Got a Video Interview? Don’t Wing It. (Most People Do.)

Video interview coming up on Teams? Most candidates don’t prepare. These practical tips will help you stand out without overthinking it.

If you’re feeling a bit unsure, that’s actually a good thing.

Because most people don’t prepare at all. They log in, hope for the best, and then wonder why it felt awkward, rushed or just a bit off. If you put even a small amount of effort in, you’ll already be ahead of a large chunk of your competition.

This isn’t about tricks, it’s about doing the basics properly and preparing before the event.

Key Takeaways

Why Video Interviews Aren’t Going Away Any Time Soon

Employers didn’t fall in love with video interviews because they’re exciting. They like them because they’re efficient. But some people feel they have become a lazy convenience. Whatever the reason, we are currently stuck with them.

They save time, remove the back and forth of scheduling, and allow multiple people to assess you without anyone leaving their desk. More importantly, they give a far better read on you than a phone call ever could. People can see how you communicate, how you react, and whether you come across like someone they’d actually want on their team.

Most of these are now done on Microsoft Teams, with Zoom and Google Meet still in the mix depending on the company. Either way, the format is here to stay.

From your side, there are upsides too. The process moves quicker, there are more interview slots available, and you can get in front of decision-makers earlier without having to travel. You also get a quicker sense of whether the role or the company is worth your time.

What Recruiters Are Actually Looking For

There’s a bit of a myth that recruiters are sitting there analysing everything. Your background, your lighting, whether your bookshelf is colour coded.

They’re not.

They’re trying to answer a much simpler question. Would I put this person into the team and trust them to do the job without creating problems?

They’re watching how you communicate. Whether you can explain things clearly without going in circles. Whether you come across as someone who has prepared, or someone who’s just logged in between making a coffee.

They’re also looking at how you handle small moments. A pause, a question you didn’t expect, a slight technical issue. Not because they want you to fail, but because those moments tell them how you’ll handle pressure in the real world.

Most hiring decisions aren’t made on one brilliant answer. They’re made on whether you look like someone who can do the job properly and not make life harder for everyone else.

What to Expect (So You’re Not Guessing on the Day)

Most video interviews are done remotely, which means your setup matters more than you think.

Occasionally, you might be invited into an office to dial into someone in another location. If that happens, don’t just sit there and hope everything works. Ask someone to check the setup before they leave you and make sure you know who to grab if the connection drops. It sounds obvious, but people forget.

You’ll typically face one of two formats.

The first is a live interview, usually via Teams. This is just a normal interview through a screen. You’ll be sent a link, you click it, and you’re in. The only real difference is that your environment and setup are now part of the equation.

The second is a pre-recorded interview, where questions appear on screen and you record your responses. No person, no feedback, just you and a timer. It feels strange because it is. The best way to deal with it is to treat it like a real conversation and not like you’re recording a voicemail to a laptop.

How to Prepare (Where Most People Fall Short)

This is where you separate yourself without doing anything extraordinary.

Start with your device. Use a laptop or desktop if you can. Phones are fine until they aren’t, and WiFi is great until it drops out halfway through your answer. If you’ve got the option, plug into your router. It’s not exciting, but it works.

Position your camera at eye level or slightly above. No one wants to be looking up your nose for an hour, and yet it happens more often than you’d think. A couple of books under your laptop fixes it in ten seconds.

Lighting is the silent killer of video interviews. If you look like you’re sitting in a dark tunnel, it’s not your face, it’s your lighting. Face a window if you can. If not, put light in front of you, not behind you. Sitting with a bright window behind you will turn you into a silhouette and it’s not doing you any favours.

Audio doesn’t need to be perfect, but it needs to be clear. If your laptop mic is decent, use it. If it isn’t, fix it. What you don’t want is the interviewer straining to hear you or being distracted by background noise.

Your background matters more than you think. Keep it simple and tidy. No clutter, no distractions, and definitely not your bed. Yes, people still do that and no, it never works in their favour.

Make sure your chair is comfortable and doesn’t squeak every time you move. It sounds minor until you’re halfway through an answer and all anyone can hear is your chair protesting.

Then we get into the part most people recognise but still don’t do properly. Research the company. Look at their website, their LinkedIn, and anything recent in the news. It doesn’t take long, but it makes a noticeable difference when you speak.

If you know who is interviewing you, look them up. If it’s a recruiter, expect a more general conversation. If it’s your potential manager, expect depth. Knowing that changes how you prepare.

Prepare your answers like you would for any other interview. You don’t need to memorise them word for word, but you should have a structure in your head so you’re not scrambling mid-answer.

And finally, do a trial run. Call a mate, test your setup, check your sound and your lighting. The number of people who skip this and regret it is remarkable.

The Mistakes That Kill You (Quickly)

None of this is complicated, which is exactly why it’s painful when people get it wrong.

Logging in late or flustered is one of the quickest ways to put yourself on the back foot. It tells people you’re not organised before you’ve even said a word.

Then there’s the classic mistake of looking at yourself on the screen instead of the camera. It feels natural, but it completely kills any sense of connection.

Lighting is another one. If you look like you’re being interviewed from a dark corner or sitting in front of a blinding window, it becomes a distraction whether you like it or not.

Reading answers is obvious. Everyone thinks they’re being subtle, but they’re not. It comes across flat and unnatural straight away.

And then there’s background chaos, clutter, movement, people walking past. It might feel normal to you, but it doesn’t feel professional to the person watching.

None of these things are difficult to fix. Which is why they stand out when they’re not.

What to Do During the Interview

Dress properly. This is still a professional meeting, even if you’re sitting at home. It also puts you in the right mindset. One practical tip, avoid white. It tends to wash you out on camera.

Turn your phone off. Close unnecessary apps, clear your desktop. The last thing you need is a notification popping up halfway through a response or your computer deciding it’s time to update.

Control your environment as much as you can. Kids, pets, housemates, unexpected interruptions. Recruiters have seen it all, but they’re not grading you on how chaotic your home life is.

Have a bottle of water nearby. It sounds simple, but nerves can dry your throat quickly and you don’t want to be constantly clearing it.

Use notes if you need to. Have your CV, the job description and a few prompts nearby. Just don’t read them like you’re delivering a speech. They’re there to support you, not replace you.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is looking at themselves on screen instead of the camera. It feels natural to look at the person you’re speaking to, but on video that means looking into the lens. If you need to, stick a note next to the camera to remind yourself.

Your body language still matters. Sit up, stay engaged, and don’t slump into your chair like you’re watching Netflix. You don’t need to overdo it, just act as you would if you were sitting across from someone.

If you feel yourself speeding up, slow down. Nerves do that. Take a breath, pause, and continue. It’s far better to take a moment than to rush through your answer.

Something might go wrong. Internet drops, noise outside, something unexpected. It happens. Acknowledge it, deal with it, and move on. How you handle it will say more about you than the issue itself.

After the Interview (Where Most People Get It Wrong)

Most people think the interview ends when the call finishes but it doesn’t.

This is usually where people start overthinking everything, they said. They replay answers in their head, focus on one thing they think they got wrong, and convince themselves it’s over.

In reality, it rarely is.

If you’ve prepared properly and handled yourself well, you’ve probably done better than you think.

A simple follow-up message goes a long way. Not a long essay, just a quick note thanking them for their time and reinforcing your interest. It shows professionalism and keeps you front of mind.

Then leave it alone.

Chasing constantly or analysing every second won’t help. If they’re interested, they’ll come back to you.

The biggest mistake people make at this stage isn’t what they said in the interview. It’s talking themselves out of the opportunity afterwards.

FAQ