How to Prepare for a Video Job Interview

Install whatever app is required (Teams, Zoom, Webex, or something proprietary) well ahead of time, and update it if there’s a newer version available — a forced update mid-call is a common cause of late starts. Run your camera, microphone, and speakers through the platform’s built-in test call, and confirm your internet is stable enough for video, ideally over a wired connection or strong Wi-Fi rather than a shared hotspot.

Have a fallback ready: know the phone dial-in number if one exists, and keep the recruiter’s email or phone number close in case you need to flag a technical delay. If you’re sent a unique meeting link, click it a few minutes early to confirm it works instead of waiting until the exact start time.

Position yourself facing a window or lamp so light hits your face rather than falling behind you — backlighting turns you into a silhouette. A tidy bookshelf, plain wall, or blurred background all work fine; steer clear of cluttered rooms, unmade beds, or family members wandering through frame. Set your camera at eye level, using books or a laptop stand if needed, since angling up your chin reads as unprofessional and angling down feels dismissive.

When making your key points, look directly at the camera lens rather than the screen — it mimics real eye contact far better than staring at the interviewer’s video tile. Record yourself running through one practice answer beforehand so you can catch distracting habits, like fidgeting or a messy desk, before it counts.

Dress exactly as you would for an in-person interview at that company, from the waist up and ideally further down in case you need to stand. Solid colors read better on camera than busy patterns or stripes, which can distort under video compression. Skip anything overly shiny or noisy, like jewelry that clinks against a desk mic.

Sit up straight, keep your hands visible and relaxed, and smile when it feels natural — body language still comes across even through a screen. Put your phone on silent, close unrelated tabs and notification pop-ups, and let anyone at home know not to interrupt during the call.

Keep a resume, the job description, and a short list of your own questions nearby, either printed or on-screen, positioned close to your camera so glancing at them reads as natural note-checking rather than reading from a script. Have water within reach and use the restroom beforehand so nothing distracts you mid-conversation.

If you’re on a laptop, shut down every other application to avoid lag, and turn off auto-updates or backup software that could kick in mid-call. Pick a quiet room with a door that closes, and if you share your space with others, a simple “on a call” sign helps prevent interruptions.

Should I look at the camera or the screen during a video interview? Look at the camera lens while making your main points to simulate eye contact; glancing briefly at the screen to read reactions is fine.

What should I do if my internet connection drops mid-interview? Stay calm, try rejoining right away, and have the recruiter’s contact info ready so you can let them know quickly if reconnecting takes more than a minute or two.

Is it okay to use a virtual or blurred background? Yes, most professional platforms support it, and a blurred background is a safe fallback if your real space isn’t camera-ready; just make sure it doesn’t glitch distractingly.

How should I handle notes during the call? Keep a short list of key points near your camera rather than directly on the screen, so checking them looks natural instead of like you’re reading word for word.

What if a family member or pet interrupts the call? Acknowledge it briefly, apologize once, and keep going — most interviewers understand home-office realities and will judge your composure more than the interruption.

Do I need a separate webcam, or is my laptop camera good enough? A laptop camera is usually fine with good lighting; an external webcam only helps if your built-in one is low-res or awkwardly placed.