Online interviews are often easier to organise than face-to-face, as they make interview times and locations less of an issue. This approach allows for more flexibility in the hiring process and widens the candidate pool. They are an efficient way to meet and discuss available opportunities. 

By now, you probably know the basics: make sure you have a reliable internet connection, dress appropriately, and opt for a quiet space.

But what else can you do to ensure you’re getting the best chance of securing a new role?

Preparing the perfect setting

We all know that it is best to pick a tidy, quiet and private area to conduct an interview. But this is really the bare minimum when preparing the perfect setting. You should also be thinking about your camera height and angle, whether to use your laptop or phone, and turning off any desktop/mobile notifications to avoid being distracted. Here are some useful tips to consider:

Camera angle: it always looks more professional when candidates have their laptop or phone camera suitably placed at eye level. Make sure wherever your device is placed it is secure and unlikely to fall over or slip during the call.

Signal, Wi-Fi, and battery life: ensuring you have reliable connections, your phone or laptop is fully charged, and your signal isn’t going to drop out for any reason is crucial. Having to reschedule an interview because you didn’t check this first could result in a missed opportunity and the employer choosing a different candidate. If something goes wrong (e.g., internet failure), have a backup plan like switching to a phone interview.

Download the app in advance: if the interview is being conducted on an app you are not familiar with, we would always recommend this is downloaded in advance (as early as possible), and that you use it to familiarise yourself with how it works. You can ask a friend or family member to send you an invite to fully understand what you need to do to get on the call.

During the interview

Emphasise: when you’re in a face-to-face interview you can make sure your body language does some talking for you, but this isn’t possible when speaking to an interviewer remotely. Therefore, it's important to keep eye contact and use your facial expressions to show interest in the position you are interviewing for.

Always look at the interviewer when they are talking to you, engage with them and remember not to slouch as they will be able to see how you hold yourself.

Ask questions: treat a video interview the same as any other interview and make sure you’ve done your company research and have some questions to hand that you can ask the interviewer. Practice common interview questions to get comfortable with the format.

Have a copy of your CV or prompt cards if needed: online interviews offer the chance for you to have some pre-written prompt cards or at least a copy of your CV next to you that you can quickly look at and refer to if you need to. 

However, try to keep notes to a minimum as it will be obvious if you’re staring at them, instead use buzz words to trigger reminders in your head. Alternatively, you could split your screen and use one half as prompt cards.

By following these tips you can ensure that you are well-prepared for your online interview and give yourself the best possible chance of securing the role in hand.