Under the current pandemic situation, holding face to face interviews is problematic or simply impossible for employers, due to the latest government restriction guidelines around remote working and social distancing in order to keep people safe. Many organisations already conduct interviews using video conferencing platforms such as Skype, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime and others.

Preparing for video interview is important. We have gathered a few tips that will help you showcase yourself in an interview:

• If you want to ace your virtual interview, ensure your space looks professional with good lighting and a clutter-free, white or neutral background. When you go into an office, the company and your interviewer is in charge of the physical setting, but in case of a video interview, you are. Make sure you create a good impression with your physical shot!
• Do a test run to confirm that your internet connection is strong, and close any unnecessary programmes.
• During the interview, maintain eye contact (which means looking into the camera, not their video image) with the interviewer, and avoid talking over them. People are usually concerned with how they look in a video interview and often forget to think about how they sound. Speak strongly and slowly pausing periodically.
• As with in-person interviews, the key is to be confident, authentic, and show them your true self. Be ‘you’ above all else.

The best way to ensure that you knock down the competition during your high profile video interviews is to work with a career coach and focus specifically on Executive Interview Coaching. Our executive interview coaching services are delivered by dedicated career coaches ready to help you attain the top executive position that you want. Professional help is beneficial to many candidates, allowing them to re-enter the market at a much earlier opportunity.

Video interviews are here to stay for many years to come, even after the coronavirus is over, they’ll still be popular. In other words, the sooner you get comfortable with the format and master it, the more successful you will be. And if you need some practice…you’ve got a great excuse to organize a video happy hour with a friend (or two)!