How can you prepare your environment for a successful video job interview?

Making sure you have a quiet spot is key for nailing that video job interview. Picking a room or spot where the noise from the street or around the house is low is a solid first step. Turning off any electronic devices or muting those notifications on your computer is a smart move. Before the interview, it's a good idea to check your audio setup with a buddy or use recording software to catch any weird background noises, letting you tweak things for clear chatting during the interview. Having a quiet place and good lighting isn't just about a smooth interview, it also shows you're professional and thoughtful to potential employers, showcasing how ready you are for the digital work scene and a fully remote job, for instance.

Breathe properly, before and during! Have succinct points planned that you wish to convey. Less is more. Be yourself, 'talking with another person' so have an alert but relaxed posture.

Make sure you will not be disturbed! You need to make sure theres plenty of sound absorbing material so it doesn't echo, so rugs etc. Great light, so facing an open window is better than overhead which makes people look tired as you want to look fresh and dynamic. If you look good you feel good. No point in not optimising your one shot! The angle of the camera can make a huge difference so play around. Usually better to be looking up slightly than down. Wear unfussy clothes as you want to shine not your ornaments 😉 . You also need to throughly prepare by researching the organisation and who you are talking to. If you're not enthusiastic why would they want you? You are also interviewing them so think of some questions to ask. Smile !!!

Please, don't do a video interview in your car. If you cannot do the interview in your office, or in a quiet location of your home, check out local libraries and request the use a study room.

If a clean and well-lit area is tough for you to find at home, get creative! Is there an office space in your building you can borrow? A quiet cafe? A friend's place?

Also, close any tabs unrelated to your interview to ensure the best possible connection. If you're unaccustomed to using your camera and you will be in the interview, you may not be aware of how it can affect your connection. Check that your image using your webcam is as clear as possible. It may be worth the expense to invest in a separate webcam if your device is more than a few years old.

This is HUGE. There is nothing worse than an interviewer showing up to meet with you and suddenly you can't connect. Test your connection and test it more than once if possible! You want to make a great impression, but mostly, you want to make sure you are not wasting the interviewer's time. If you run into issues, contact your interviewer with plenty of time to troubleshoot. That said, if you DO end up having a tech issue, don't worry! Call the interviewer on the phone and talk that way instead.

Just because it's a video interview doesn't mean attire should be any different. Dress the part! Pick colors that look appropriate for your setting while maintaining some level of contrast between you and the background. (For example, don't wear all white against a white wall).

Dress as if you would be meeting the interviewer in person. Know what is appropriate given the type of role you're interviewing for and the industry. If you're not sure, ask the person who set up the interview what the dress code is.

Dress as you would if you are attending a face-to-face interview. Ensure your hair is neat and tidy and you looked professional in the video interview.

If you tend to be easily distracted or like to fidget with desktop items (pens, little trinkets), clear your table top and remove anything that catches your attention. Close window shades if you tend to look out the window or if things outside might distract you. If you have a pet - keep the pet away (no cats walking over keyboard) or at least quiet (no barking dogs!)

In my experience, distractions within one’s environment is one of the biggest downfalls during an interview. Minimizing distractions during a video job interview is crucial for a successful experience. It helps you maintain focus and professionalism. Silencing devices, notifying others, and creating a quiet environment can make a significant difference. It can help you pick up on specific details during the interview that are make a difference to get to further rounds and hopefully, land the position.

Avoid too many clutters or distractions in your background such as bed, dirty clothes in the background or items that may distract the interviewer/s, try to find a plain wall as background if possible.

I have interviewed thousands of candidates in my career, and nothing impresses me more than a prepared candidate. Remember, this too makes an impression on your interviewer and how well thought out you are as a professional. You are showing your interviewer you are serious about the opportunity.

As you rehearse, pay attention to the speed at which you are speaking. If you record yourself and see that you are speaking too fast you must work on that - pace yourself and focus on enunciating all the words so your message is clearly understood. Speed doesn't equal fluency. On the contrary, speaking too fast can be a sign of nervousness, especially on video. Take a breath, slow down, and give out your answer - you will sound more confident and engaging.

I love the idea of a mock interview. That is, a way to rehearse the interview. I am here to help if you need someone to practice with. But regardless of who you lean on, remember, they don't need to be an expert. The idea is to have someone who can hear your interactions in the mock scenario, but also for YOU to get the chance to do a dry run and perfect your approach. Search online for interview prep resources - they are abundant and free!

If you have the opportunity, have a mock interview in advance using the platform that will be used for the video interview. This will allow you to get used the particular platform, and also allow you to critique yourself. Additionally if you can have the mock interview at the same time as the scheduled interview, you can address any issues with lighting in advance as well,

Test your hardware set up including the microphone, WIFI set up and video camera with a close friend or relative prior to the video interview.

Manage your nerves and emotions: before the interview take a few minutes to 'power pose'. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, hands on hips, chest out, shoulders down. Take several deep breaths and focus on your breathing. This pose will give your diaphram space to open up to control your breath, it lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and increases testosterone (for confidence and strength). Give it a try!