Your chances of using a video interview methods for a creative job are growing. According to Forbes, remote interviews and conferences are increasing in popularity, since more and more Americans are choosing to work from home. While many of the same interview dos and don’ts still apply in a video interview, the remote aspect adds a little more complexity that you should note before you power up your laptop. Follow these tips to win over your recruiter during a video interview, even when you’re miles apart.
Set the stage
For starters, you want to make sure you’re in a professional-looking room. Even if you have a desk set up in your bedroom and that’s logically the best spot to take the call, you don’t want to show your bed or any other personal items in the frame. Relocate to a certain spot in your house or apartment where you have a desk, chair and plain backdrop. The kitchen table with your back against a wall could be a good position if there’s no other alternative.
Keep a cheat sheet
One of the greatest perks of interviews that aren’t in-person is that you can keep notes of items you want to address, questions you want to ask and information on the company that you wouldn’t want your interviewer to see you checking. Highlight certain parts of your work experience and jot down large notes on an index card so it’s easily readable. Just make sure you’re not relying too heavily on your notes – USA Today warned that doing so may make you come across as though you’re reading from a script, which could show that you lack confidence or that you’re under-prepared. Use the notes only as a quick reference and try to use them as little as possible.
Dress up, and not just from the waist up
It’s important to treat an online interview with the same professionalism as one that’s face-to-face. Dress the same way you would if you were going to meet with the recruiter in-person, whether that means a suit or just business casual. Jobs for creative people may allow you to wear more casual clothes once you get the job, but still assume for the sake of the interview that they’re more professional. And while it may be tempting to keep your bottom half casual, this isn’t necessarily the best idea, advised Sherif Hussein, president and creative director of Jinni Communications, in an interview with Forbes. In the off chance that you have to stand up to reposition your laptop for a better connection, you don’t want anyone to see the lazy choices you made for the sake of comfort. Plus, dressing appropriately from head to toe could unconsciously help you maintain a professional attitude throughout, so you’re constantly reminded that this is an interview, and not just a friendly conversation with a distant friend.
Look in the right direction
When interviewing on video, you should look at the camera and not the screen. This is as close as you’ll get to making eye contact with your recruiter. While it’s easy to get distracted and look at your image in the corner of the screen, resist the temptation. Your interviewer could notice, and that’s not something you’d want him or her to catch you doing. You should, however, check the screen periodically to make sure that the connection is stable and the person on the other end is positively receiving your feedback, Cheryl Palmer, career coach and owner of Call to Career, told Forbes.
Prepare for technical difficulties
No matter how much care you put into finding a stable connection, you never know if everything will go smoothly during a video call. If the audio or visual cuts out periodically, it may be best to address it to your interviewer and suggest calling back. You wouldn’t want to misinterpret a question because of a faulty connection.
Contract and Direct Hire job openings are updated daily. View all job listings here!
