Do you have a video interview coming up? Are you wondering how to seem less
awkward in your next video interview? If so, stick around because in this video
I'm going to teach you how to prepare for your next video interview and how to
seem less awkward on camera. Hi there! If we've never met before,
I'm Heather Austin from ProfessorAustin.com and The Career Club on Facebook and
on this channel I teach simple solutions to help you build a business or launch a
career you love so if you're new here consider hitting the subscribe button
down below. Video interviews seem to be one of the fastest growing interview
strategies for large companies like Nike, Intel, Deloitte and even Carnival Cruise
Lines. So why is this type of interview strategy so popular and why are so many
companies using video interviews to screen potential candidates. Well here
are just a few of the reasons. They cost less. They're easier to conduct
than face-to-face interviews and hiring can be done faster. Here's the other
thing, it's been proven that when video interviews are used in the hiring
process, it actually lowers the company's
turnover rate and produces an overall higher quality employee. So here's the
problem, how can a candidate like you be yourself
on camera and ace the interview? Job interviews are already tough enough, but
add a camera and no human contact and it proves to be a tough situation. So I'm
here to help you in your next video interview. Let's jump into it. Tip number
one is to test your equipment. Most interviews can be done on your computer,
a mobile device or a tablet. Pick what device you are most comfortable with and
make sure it is powered up 100% before the interview starts.
Also make sure your internet connect is working. The last thing you want to
have happen during your video interview is for your internet connection to go
out. This leads us to tip number two. Test your a AVL, otherwise known as
audio, visual and lighting. Let's first talk about audio. When the
time comes, you want to find a nice quiet place to conduct your interview.
You don't want distractions like a barking dog or a crying baby. These
noises will break your concentration and make you fumble over your words and
don't want to conduct your interview at your current place of employment. You want to
plan ahead and make sure you have a spot picked out before your interview starts.
To make sure your voice is heard clearly, make sure you use some type of earbuds.
If you're using your mobile device, you might opt for a more sophisticated
approach such as a portable video mic. Rode has a great option. It's called the
Video MicMe. The great thing about it, is that it's multi-directional. I'll go
ahead and place a link to the Video MicMe in the description below. Let's move
on to the visual component of a video interview. In particular your camera
placement. Your camera should be no further than arm's lenght away and your
eyes should be about two-thirds from the top of your screen. If your interview
will be conducted on a platform like hirevue, you'll actually have a place
designated on the screen that shows you where to line your face up. Now to make
sure that your device is at eye level you may need to prop it up. Consider
using a stack of books or a box. If you're using a mobile device, you may
need to use some type of tripod to stabilize it. Here's a tip I received
from someone a while back. Angle your camera down ever so slightly. This
provides the ideal picture and it allows someone to better read your body
language. When it comes to your background, make sure it is clean.
You don't want your dirty clothes or a messy bookshelf behind you. Let's move on
to lighting. One of the best rules of thumb when it comes to lighting is to
place yourself in front of a window. This actually provides the best natural light
and brings out your natural skin tones. If you can't seem to find a window that
works well for your setup, try placing a light directly behind or on either side
of your device. Keeping in mind that you don't want too much light because it will
wash you out. Let's move on to tip number three.
Choose your clothing ahead of time. You want a dress as you would for a regular
interview. For men, my recommendation is a white shirt with a tie. For women, would
be a blouse or a blazer over a blouse. It doesn't hurt to research company culture
and then dress up one notch from that. Also consider what colors you look
best in on camera. If you don't know, try picking some solid, darker colors and
taking a picture of yourself or a short video clip and then reviewing it. This
leads us to tip number four. Practice, practice, practice. One of the best ways
to practice is to film yourself answering common interview questions
such as "What are your greatest strengths?", "Where do you see yourself in five years?",
or "Out of all the other candidates why should we hire you?" Now I know this might
seem awkward, but I promise you doing this will get out some of the interview
day jitters. Another thing when it comes to practicing is to practice your body
language. Practice your hand gestures, your head movements. You don't want to
move too much and you don't want to fidget but you also don't want to be a
rigid statue. Try to be as natural as possible. Another thing to practice is
practice looking directly at the camera and then practice pausing and taking a
breath before each interview question. This allows your mind to reset and
allows you to better compose your thoughts and then finally, tip number five
is to prepare important documents or notes ahead of time. This includes printing
out your resume and having it in front of you. Also, jot down important notes
about the company and don't be afraid to break eye contact from the camera for
just a few seconds. This actually provides more of a natural flow to the
interview. Just make sure you don't look away for too long. Let's recap! The five
strategies to a successful video interview. Tip number one, make sure you
test your equipment before you start. Tip number two, make sure your AVL or
audio, visual, lighting is spot-on. Tip number three, choose your clothing ahead
of time. Tip number four, practice, practice, practice.
And then tip number five, prepare important documents or notes ahead of
time. So thanks you guys for sticking with me until the end. I have a special
bonus just for you. It's called "The Ultimate Guide To Staying Positive
During Your Job Search." It's a step-by-step resource guide that will
give you action steps that you can take today to overcome the overwhelm and
frustration of the job search process. So I have a question for you, what's the
most uncomfortable thing about a video interview? Please feel free to share your
comments and connect with others below. And if you know someone that might
benefit from this video, please feel free to share it with them. Also don't forget
to hit the like button below and if you're new here consider subscribing and
I'll see you guys in the next video.