video interview tips · practise answering a question as you would during the interview and video...

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1

Copyright © How2Become Ltd 1

VIDEO Interview Tips

When interviewing for any job, confidence goes a long way, even if you’re just pretending not to be nervous! Here, we’re going to give you some top tips specific to video interviews, which will not only help you project confidence, but also greatly increase your chances of getting the job.

Let’s start with the fundamental, basic things that you need to know before any interview.

Know the RoleStep 1, before any interview, you should learn as much as possible about the position you’re interviewing for. This is non-negotiable. You need to understand exactly what qualities the interviewers are looking for from the successful candidate, and tailor your answers around this. Furthermore, you will be questioned on your knowledge of the role. So, make sure you understand exactly what will be asked of you, and even take steps to try and enhance related skills prior to attending the interview.

Research The CompanyIn the modern-day job-market, it’s become more and more common for interviewers to ask: ‘What do you know about us?’ Companies want to know that you’ve done your research – not only does this show dedication and passion for the role, but it also demonstrates that you are actually interested in working for them rather than just ‘working a job’. Researching the company, and showing that there are particular aspects that resonate with you, will go a long way to helping you impress the employer and secure the position.

That being said, be careful here. These days, this tip is widely acknowledged as a necessity, and this means that some people take it too far. If the company is a small-medium sized business, who only operate locally, and you proceed to sit down and tell them that it’s always been your dream to work for them, then this will come across as disingenuous.

The Types of Video InterviewVideo interviews will take one of two formats. It can either be a live interview, which is conducted using video- conferencing software, or pre-recorded interview questions.

Live interviews follow much the same format as a face-to-face interview would. You will be asked questions by the interviewer or panel of interviewers and respond accordingly. The first thing you should do is famil-iarise yourself with the software that the interview will be hosted on. Make sure you know how to log in and access the correct chat/room. The last thing you want is to be late starting the interview because of problems using the video-conference software.

If the interview will take place on a platform that you already have an account with, make sure your email address and username are appropriate and professional.

Pre-recorded interview questions, just like it says on the tin, are a set of pre-recorded questions that you will record your responses to. You may feel less pressure answering question posed in this manner, but you will have a time limit to reply and will not be given an unlimited number of attempts to answer so you should still have a good idea of what you’re going to say.

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Have a Practice RunOne of the great benefits of a video interview is that you have the opportunity to record yourself talking and watch the footage back to see how you come across on video.

Practise answering a question as you would during the interview and video your response.

Eye-contactMaintain eye-contact. Eye-contact is incredibly important during interviews and the ability to maintain good eye-contact will go a long way in projecting an air of confidence.

Record yourself talking while keeping eye-contact on your device. You may find that you look at your own image or the image of the other person on the screen. When you watch this back are you making eye-con-tact or does it look like you’re looking down? If it looks like you’re looking down, try looking directly into the camera when you speak, or if you find that uncomfortable you should try to move the window that shows the other party as near to the camera as you can.

SmileSmiling naturally makes you seem more friendly and pleasant. This is exactly the kind of impression you want to make with the interviewer/s. It’s important that you smile at the right moments and for an appro-priate amount of time. If you or the interview are talking about something serious such as company targets then it would be insincere to have a grin plastered across your face, and the interviewer will pick up on this. Similarly making continued eye-contact while smiling for an extended period of time may become uncom-fortable for the interviewer so it’s important to find the right balance and only smile when it naturally makes sense to.

Clothing/makeup (what works on camera)Job interviewers have become more relaxed in terms of what they do and do not accept these days. Now, depending on the company of course, aspects like beards, tattoos and in some places even piercings are more acceptable. What has not changed though, is the expectation that attendees to an interview make the effort to look smart. At a bare minimum, you should be wearing a smart jacket and smart shoes, usually with a tie and trousers if possible.

For some interviews, it’s really a case of judging the company that you’re interviewing for. A good way to do this is to actually go into the place of work (if possible) prior to attending the interview, and seeing how the staff are dressed. Are they all wearing suits? If so, you should attend the interview wearing the same. Sometimes it’s just common sense – if you’re sitting an interview for a bank then you can expect that they’ll have quite a rigid, smart dress code, whereas if you’re interviewing for a clothing store then the expectations will likely be more casual.

There’s another component to account for with a video interview - how what you wear comes across on camera. Here are a few tips:

8 Avoid wearing a lot of white - on camera white clothes can appear extremely bright and overpowering

8 Avoid wearing a lot of black - this can cause you to look ‘washed out’ on camera

8 Avoid excessive jewellery - just as white clothes can appear bright, jewellery can catch in the light and be distracting for the interviewer.

8 Avoid contrasting colours, bright colours or clothes with busy pattern as these do not always portray as flattering on camera as they do in person. Equally, horizontal stripes can be unflattering on camera.

9 Ties should be one solid colour so as to not be distracting.

9 Deep blue or green and grey colours translate well on camera and often look smart and professional.

9 Makeup should be natural - makeup will be less noticeable on camera but that doesn’t mean you should overcompensate. A great rule to follow is accentuate your eyes or lips, but never both.

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Don’t fidgetFidgeting during the interview is one of the biggest tell tale signs that you’re nervous! It’s a common and natural reaction for many people during interviews but you can guarantee that remaining calm and composed throughout will boost your chances of success while too much fidgeting can actually thwart your application in it’s tracks. Check out these top tips to prevent yourself from fidgeting:

• Avoid caffeine and sugar - both caffeine and sugar can make your anxiety worse and can result you becoming restless.

• Eat a healthy filling meal around 30 minutes prior to your interview starting. A wholesome meal will provide you with the energy to remain focused and alert throughout. Don’t over do it though as eating so much may make you lethargic!

• When you are not speaking keep your hands either on the desk in front of you or on your lap. Loosely clasping your hands together will prevent you from absent-mindedly twiddling your thumbs, tapping your fingers or fumbling with your surroundings.

• When you are speaking, don’t be afraid to speak with your hands! Whilst it’s important that you don’t overdo this and come off frantic, it’s okay to gesture with your hands as you are speaking. This can in fact be interpreted as confidence!

PostureYou may be surprised at how much your posture can reveal about you and how you’re feeling. The most important thing is that you don’t slouch! Slouching can appear as though you are bored and that’s never going to work in your favour. You should sit up straight, face-on to the camera and make a conscious effort to not cross your arms. Crossing your arms (even one arm crossed holding the other arm) is one of the most defensive positions you can portray in terms of body language and will make the interviewer feel closed off from you.

BackgroundYou should set up your device for the interview in a private, quiet area with good lighting. Avoid anywhere public such as a coffee shop as you will be unable to control any background noise or movement which can distract both you and the interviewer. A great tip is to sit in front of a window if you’re able to, because (as long as your interview is taking place during the day) you can take advantage of the natural light. If you can sit in front of a window factor in what will be visible behind you, ideally you want a neutral background free from clutter or busy decor.

What to Have In Front of YouYou shouldn’t have anything unnecessary on the desk in front of you in order to keep distractions to an absolute minimum but it is a good idea to have the following:

• A glass of water

• Notepad and pen

• A copy of the job description

• A copy of your CV

Internet speedThe recommended broadband speed for a video call is 1.5mbps for clear video and audio. You can check your internet speed online. If your wifi is shared ask your house-mates to avoid streaming or doing anything that will use the bandwidth. The last thing you want is a poor connection disrupting the interview.

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Close unnecessary tabs or windows Before the interview commences you should make sure you don’t have any unnecessary tabs open on your browser, it is a good idea to have the company’s website open but a pop-up or advert playing from another site will only distract you and avert your attention. Not only will this look highly unprofessional but you may lose your train of thought and fail to answer a question to the best of you ability. In the same vein you don’t want any programmes running in the background and you definitely don’t want to be uploading or down-loading anything which can slow down your connection.

Distractions (kids/pets/phone)One of the single most important things to consider with regards to the location and time of your interview is ensuring there are no distractions throughout the entirety of the interview. Do you have children or pets that are likely to come into the room you are in or make noise behind the door that will not only distract you but also likely be heard by the interviewer/s? If this is a concern then try to get a family member or friend to keep them busy in a completely separate area. If this is not possible, then you can set your children a project to complete whilst you are interviewing. This could be completing their homework, carrying out (quiet) chores - don’t have them hoovering outside the door, or a fun project such as drawing or arts and crafts. Pets can be kept busy with a toy or treat, a great trick for dogs is to fill a treat toy with frozen treat paste - this will keep them busy much longer! It’s also a good idea to make sure they’ve been feed and walked so they are content being left with their treat or toy for a little while.

What to do if something goes wrong Even with all the preparation in the world, you cannot guarantee that a problem won’t arise.

Technical issuesYou can do everything right and technology will still fail you at the worst possible moment! You should be prepared that your internet connection could go, the video or audio could stop working or you could even have a powercut, this hopefully won’t be too disruptive if you’re on a laptop rather than a desktop computer but it’s still going to be very inconvenient. In case any technical issues do ensue it’s important that you’ve given the interviewer a contact number for you so at the very least you can conclude the interview over the phone.

InterruptionsIf there are other people (or animals) in the building you are in, it’s of course always possible that you could be interrupted. You should be explicitly clear that you need privacy and provide others with a rough time-scale for your interview if possible. In the event you are interrupted by someone entering the room, you should apologise to the interviewer and ask for a minute. Mute your microphone and if possible pause the video feed so you can secure the room, it’s okay to take a second to compose yourself but don’t leave the interviewer waiting for you any longer than is absolutely necessary. Once you resume the interview apologise for the disruption and continue as you were, although this is less than an ideal situation you must not let this knock your confidence or play on your mind. Even if you live alone, or are in a building with no other people you can still be interrupted by external factors, close any nearby windows to avoid street traffic and follow the same procedure as above if necessary.

EmergencyEmergencies are unavoidable, if a situation develops that requires your immediate attention you should apologise to the interview, explain the situation succinctly and ask to reschedule the remainder of the interview at a later date. Once the situation has been dealt with you should contact the interview as soon as possible, either by phone or email, to schedule a new date and time.

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Pre-interview Checklist

� Device is full charged or plugged in to a power supply

� Internet is working

� Broadband speed is good

� Camera is working

� Microphone is working

� Device is set up in a private area

� Set up is using natural light (if possible)

� Background is neutral

� Notes, job description and CV are on the desk

� Children/pets are in other room, being supervised if necessary

� Contingency plan in place if required

Use these tick boxes to write your own pre-interview checklist points.

�

�

�

�

�

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Interview TechniqueThe difference between a good candidate and a bad candidate can often come down to their overall interview technique. Below we’ve laid out the differences between what makes a good applicant, and what makes a bad applicant.

A GOOD APPLICANTA good applicant is someone who has taken the time to prepare. They have researched both the organ-isation they are applying to join and also the role that they are being interviewed for. They may not know every detail about the organisation and the role, but it will be clear that they have made an effort to find out important facts and information. They will be well presented during the interview and they will be confident, but not over-confident.

They will be polite and courteous and throughout the interview they will sit upright in their chair and com-municate in a positive manner. If they do not know the answer to a question, they will say so and they won’t try and waffle. At the end of the interview they will ask positive questions about the job or the organisation.

A POOR APPLICANTA poor applicant could be any combination of the following. They will be late for the interview or even forget about the interview completely. They will have made little effort to dress smart and they will have carried out little or no preparation. When asked questions about the job or the organisation they will have little or no knowledge. Throughout the interview they will appear to be unenthusiastic about the whole process and will look as if they want the interview to be over as soon as possible. Whilst sat, they will slouch and fidget. At the end of the interview they will try to ask clever questions that are intended to impress the panel.

Presentation

How you present yourself during the interview is important. Take a look at the following diagrams which indicate both poor technique and good technique.

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Common Interview QuestionsOne of the best ways to be prepared for any interview is to know what questions are going to be asked, and how you can answer them. While you can’t exactly predict every question in an interview, it’s almost certain that at least one or two of the following common interview questions will appear in your interview. Use the space below to prepare your answers.

1. Why are you interested in working for us?

2. What made you apply for this position?

3. How did you find out about this position?

4. Why are you looking for a new job?

5. What are your strengths?

6. What are your weaknesses?

7. Describe yourself.

8. What achievement are you most proud of?

9. Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond what was necessary as part of your job.

10. Tell me about a time when you’ve had to handle a difficult situation.

11. Describe a time when you’ve made a mistake.

12. Why should we hire you?

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


13. What can you offer us that another candidate can’t?

14. Where do you see yourself in five (or ten) years?

15. Tell us what you know about the company.

16. What are your career goals?

17. What would your dream job be?

18. What motivates you?

19. Are you a leader or are you a follower?

20. Are you willing to travel or relocate?

21. What would your former boss like you to improve on?

22. Tell me something that makes you uncomfortable.

23. What are your hobbies?

24. What questions have I missed?

25. What questions would you like to ask us? *top tips for this on page 12

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Tough Interview QuestionsDepending on the role you are applying for, you can also expect some of these tough interview questions to be asked. The reason these questions are so tough is because they are designed to make you think, long and hard, about your own experience and situation!

1. Tell me about a time when you didn’t get on with a work colleague?

2. What are you most criticized for at work?

3. What area did you have to improve on during your last appraisal?

4. Describe a time when you failed in a work situation?

5. Describe a time when you changed how you did something following feedback from someone else?

6. Who’s the worst boss you’ve ever had?

7. How do you think your co-workers would describe you, both good and bad?

8. What’s the first thing you would do in this job if you are successful?

9. What’s your biggest weaknesses?

10. Describe a time when you failed whilst working as part of a team?

11. Why do you want to leave your current job?

12. Why are there gaps in your employment?

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

14. Describe a time when you concentrated for a long period?

15. Tell me about yourself and why you are a match for the job description?

16. What’s the most challenging thing you have ever done at work?

17. What is the biggest mistake you have ever made?

18. Describe a time when you failed to reach a goal you set yourself?

19. How do you handle stress at work?

20. Describe a time when you solved a difficult problem whilst at work?

21. What do you know about our company, our products and services?

22. Explain a situation where you had to communicate a difficult message to a group of people?

23. What’s your biggest regret in life?

24. What’s the last piece of personal development work you undertook?

25. What did you most dislike about your last job?

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Competency-Based Questions Competency-based questions are focused specifically around the competencies required for the role, and generally ask you to demonstrate when you’ve used or exhibited the behaviour in the past. For example:

‘Please tell us about a time when you’ve used your communication skills to resolve a problem.’

When answering this, you need to be able to recall a time from your professional career when you have been able to resolve a problem, primarily using your communication skills. While this should be fairly easy, the way you actually structure your answer is slightly trickier. Often, people will simply launch into a long-winded response without any real thought about how the response should be structured, and how an unstructured response will come across to the assessor. Think about it this way: you want the assessors to fully understand your response, and to see all of the good points. The best way to do this, is to structure them all into a comprehensible answer, using the STAR method.

The STAR method works most effectively when preparing responses to situational type interview questions. It basically ensures that your responses to the interview questions follow a concise, logical sequence, and also that you cover every possible area.

Situation – Explain what the situation was and who else was involved. This should be a relatively comprehensive explanation so that the interviewer fully understands what you are trying to explain.

Task – You then explain what the task was. This will basically be an explanation of what had to be done and by whom.

Action – You can then move on and explain what action you specifically took, and also what action other people took.

Result – Finally, explain what the result was following your actions. It is important to make sure that the result was positive, as a result of your actions.

‘Please tell us about a time when you’ve used your communication skills to resolve a problem.’

Sample Response

‘Whilst working in my previous role, as a sales assistant in a computer shop, I was required to use my technical expertise on a number of occasions. One such incident occurred on a regular weekday. A customer had come into the store, to complain that the laptop he’d brought from us two months earlier, had crashed. The customer did not have warranty on this laptop. My colleague, who was new to the role, was assigned to deal with the customer.

Unfortunately, my colleague made a mistake, which resulted in the customer becoming very angry. In response, my colleague was very rude to the customer, demonstrating very poor customer handling skills.

After stepping in to defuse this situation, I apologised wholeheartedly on behalf of the store and offered the customer a full refund, or a replacement laptop, and he seemed happy with this. Once the customer had left the store, I took my colleague to one side.

He was extremely upset by the incident, and felt that he had let down our employers. I tried to stay positive and encouraged him not to feel upset about the incident, and to use it as a chance to grow, improve and deliver a great level of service next time. I found out that the individual in question had almost zero customer service training before being placed on the shop floor, and this was likely the reason for his poor communi-cation. I immediately explained to him exactly why customer service is so essential. I told him that he was a representative of the shop, and that the shop’s reputation would be damaged by behaviour such as this. I also explained that we have a duty to customers to be polite and respectful at all times, even if we do not agree with what the customer is saying.

Finally, I reassured him that I was confident in his ability to do the job, and would always be here to help if he needed advice. Following this incident, I noticed a marked increase in my colleague’s behaviour. The next time he was placed in such a situation, he remained calm and composed, and exhibited a good level of service towards the customer.’

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Asking QuestionsThis is again something that not many people give too much thought to during an interview, but it actually makes a huge difference. At the end of the interview, the majority of interviewers will ask, ‘Do you have any questions for us?’ How you answer this has a bigger bearing on the final outcome of the interview than you might expect. The interviewer doesn’t just ask this because they want to know if you need any extra infor-mation, it’s also a good way for them to gage your enthusiasm and interest in the role. If you don’t ask any questions, then you’re missing an opportunity to show an extra level of interest in the position, and thereby denying yourself the chance to further impress.

On the other hand, it’s also important to ask the right type of questions. It’s certainly possible to get this wrong, and the following questions will only damage your chances of success:

8 ‘When do we get paid?’

8 ‘How long are my lunch breaks?’

8 ‘How much holiday do I get?’

8 ‘When am I likely to receive a pay rise?’

Basically, you need to ask questions which focus on your professional development, company matters, or questions which show enthusiasm and interest in the role. Do not ask self-serving questions related to pay or holiday, as this will only show the interviewer that you lack care for the position and the company.

9 What’s the biggest challenge for the company this year and how will my role help you overcome this?

9 Will there be an opportunity for me to learn and develop as I progress within the role?

9 What are your expectations of the successful candidate?

9 Who is your top competitor and why?

9 What’s the culture like within the organisation?

9 Are there any skills you feel I could develop that would help me to perform better in the role?

9 What are the next steps in the process of selection?

Think of 5 questions you want to ask at the end of your interview:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


After the InterviewThe hard part is over – you’ve had the interview, and now you are just waiting to hear back as to whether or not you got the job.

• If you don’t get the job, don’t give up. If you are contacted by telephone with the bad news, by all means sound disappointed but not disheartened.

• Tell them (as hard as it may be) that you really enjoyed the interview and, if there are any more opportu-nities arising within the company in the future, could they let you know.

• Also tell them that you’d still really like to work for them.

What many people fail to realise is that it’s important to follow up after an interview. Don’t just sit there twirling your hair or twiddling your thumbs. You can make the most out of your waiting time, which will really make you stand out from other applicants!

Immediately after your interview it is a good idea to follow up with a ‘thank you’ letter. This will serve a number of purposes. To begin with, it will keep you at the forefront of the interview panel’s minds and will also further demonstrate your thoughtful and appreciative nature.

Imagine you are on the interview panel. At the end of the interview you have 3 people who are all as good as each other and could do a great job for you. The following day you receive a thank you letter from one of the 3 people. It tells you how much they enjoyed the interview and also reiterates the fact that they believe they would be a valuable asset to your company. Who would you choose as the successful candidate?

DOs

9 Make sure your grammar, punctuation and spelling is on point. This will be a chance for the interviewers to see your written communication as well as your speaking.

9 If you are sending any attachments, make sure they work!

9 Make sure you insert a subject header. Make it clear and relevant.

9 Simple, clear and short sentences work best.

9 Have a friendly yet professional approach.

9 Send it to the right person. You should have contact details for the person/s who interviewed you. If you were interviewed by more than one person, make sure you send the email or letter to everyone involved.

DONTs

8 Don’t undo all your hard work by sending an email that looks like you’ve addressed it to a friend or relative. They are a professional; therefore you don’t want to come across as ‘best pals’.

8 Don’t be needy or desperate. This is a chance to thank them for their time and efforts. This is not the time to go on and on about why they should hire you. You’ve had your interview – don’t use this follow up to go overboard with more reasons as to why they should hire you.

8 Don’t send an overly long email or letter. Keep it concise and to the point.

8 If you are sending attachments, don’t forget to add them!

HO

W2B

ECO

ME

ID: 0

0058

1


Disclaimer:How2Become is not responsible for anyone failing any part of any selection process as a result of the infor-mation contained within this resource. How2Become and their authors cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions within this resource, however caused. No responsibility for loss or damage occa-sioned by any person acting, or refraining from action, as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by How2Become.

All resources, products, content, and training from How2Become is intended for educational use only, as an aid to help you prepare and come up with your own honest answers. How2Become is not acting in conjunction with, or associated with, any third-party organisation.

Get more guides, books and training courses at the website www.How2Become.com.

Copyright © How2Become.com. All Rights Reserved.

For personal use only.

video interview tips · practise answering a question as you would during the interview and video...

Documents