It’s quite common now to have an online interview for a job. Many companies seem to prefer to have the initial meeting online, as it can speed up the process. The problem is that people often make very basic errors, usually, it seems to me, because they don’t take an online interview as seriously as they would an in-person one.
The interviewer is going to assess you just the same as if you were face-to-face, and having a casual attitude can ruin your chances of getting a follow-up meeting. Here’s what you should be aware of:
1. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. You don’t want the room to be too dark or bright. If you need to drag lamps into the room, so be it. On the other hand, if you’re sitting next to a window during a sunny day, it might cause glare on your computer screen.
2. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 sound 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀. I’m talking about the sound on both ends. Can they hear you and can you hear them? Do a test run with someone to make sure all is in good working order. You don’t want to irritate the interviewers.
3. 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁. There’s nothing more frustrating than when a candidate freezes on the screen and the interviewers miss what they’ve said. Again, do a test run and if all fails, find a place with excellent internet connection to be interviewed.
4. 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁. It’s important that you dress as if you’re going to an in-person interview. This means not under- or over-dressing. You don’t have to dress like an investment banker…unless you’re applying for that role, but look smart and professional.
5. 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱. Using your treadmill as a clothes hanger? That’s fine, but don’t let the interviewer know this. Situate yourself with a bookcase, nice paintings, or a vase of flowers in the background.
6. 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲. This can be a major distraction to the interviewer. If you live on a road where emergency vehicles whiz by, or there’s construction going on, etc., at least forewarn the interviewer. But if your TV is blaring, that’s on you.
7. Hey, whose computer are you using? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten on a call with someone who’s name is Sam Jones but the name on his Zoom screen says “Nicky Jones” or “Emily Jones.” Make sure you change the video name to yours before an interview.
8. Be on time. Yeah, I’m on the call a minute before it begins, you say to yourself. Well, that’s too late, especially if the interviewers are on the call waiting for you to show up. You know the old saying, “On time is late.” Be on the call 10-15 minutes before the interview begins.
9. Who are you looking at? Look at your camera not the screen as it will look like you are looking into their eyes and speaking to them directly. Imagine the camera is someone’s eyes and the screen is their shirt. This way you are looking clearly at the people interviewing you.
10. Have a cheat sheet—off camera. One of the perks of video interviews is that you can place key talking points or metrics nearby. Just make sure you don’t keep darting your eyes to read it. I personally like Post-it pasted to the top of the screen to seem more seamless.
11. Check your frame. Your head and shoulders should be centered in the shot—not too far, not too close. Leave a bit of space above your head and avoid weird angles.
12. Test your platform login. Whether it’s Zoom or Teams, make sure you can log in and know how to use features like screen sharing or muting. Last-minute tech confusion is avoidable. Unfortunately, you’re at the whim of the interviewers; if they are using an unfamiliar platform, be able to adapt.
13. Act natural, but professional. It’s easy to be stiff on camera. Try a practice run so you can adjust your tone and body language to sound more conversational—without being too casual. On the other hand, don’t overdo it; you’re not auditioning for a TV show.
14. Have a plan B. If the connection drops or something goes wrong, have a backup ready. Keep the interviewer’s phone number or email handy to reconnect or reschedule. It happens, and interviewers will appreciate your ability to shake off an issue like this.
15. Wrap it up smoothly. Don’t just say “bye” and click out. Thank the interviewer, reaffirm your interest, and wait a beat to see if they have any final comments. Then exit gracefully—no scrambling, sighing, or muttering as you close the window. You’re still “on stage” until the call fully ends
These are some tips to ensure that your room is in order. Of course, you might make the occasional mistake, but if you’re hitting a majority of these annoyances, you will jeopardise your chances of going further in the interview process.
Another thing to consider is that more than 93% of employers use video interviews to determine if candidates will make it to the in-person interviews. In some cases, the video interview will be the deciding factor. Ensure you take the online interview seriously, and avoid these avoidable mistakes, and you will put yourself in a great position to be successful.
