Video Interview Guide: Tips for a Successful Interview

By The Onset

Video Interview Guide: Tips for a Successful Interview

Video job interviews have always been a common part of the hiring process and in light of recent events we are seeing a rising number in video interviews between our clients and candidates. These positive measures are a great reminder to us all that we can continue to work together in a safe and progressive way.

So if you have a video interview coming up, let’s look at all the things you can do to help you ace that interview.

So what are the basic requirements?

Location, location, location

Find a quiet and private space where you won’t be interrupted. If you have to conduct the interview in a shared space, ask not to be disturbed for the duration.

Make sure the room is well lit and the light is facing you, not behind you. Avoid areas that may be subject to loud external noises and keep pets in another room while the interview is happening.

Check your Connections

First and foremost is there a good wifi connection? If not move!

Is your webcam and audio working? Why not test-call a friend or family member and try it out. If you find that there is excess noise from outside try plugging in a pair of headphones.

This is also a good opportunity to adjust the position of your phone or laptop to ensure you can be clearly seen by the interviewer.

Dress to Impress

Even though you aren’t in person, dress as if you are going to meet them… and not just from the waste up!

Good presentation can make a lasting first impression and show you are serious about the opportunity. You do want your personality to shine through, however try to avoid wearing anything too bright or distracting and instead maybe opt for softer colours with fewer patterns.

Come Prepared

Having a notepad and pen, as well as a copy of your resume at hand can come in handy when asked to recount facts or figures on your experience.

Having notes can be a very useful prompt when talking about the company however, try to avoid unnecessarily glancing at them, as it may suggest that you are easily distracted or cause the interviewer to lose confidence in what you are saying.

Engage

You want to convey the same level of personal connection during a video interview as you would in person.To achieve this try to avoid looking directly at your interviewer on the screen while answering a question. Instead, when you speak, direct your gaze at the webcam.

A good posture can depend on your seating, make sure you are sitting comfortably in a position that you will be able to maintain for the duration of the interview.

What if’s

So something went wrong… don’t panic, it’s happened to us all. Here are a few tips on how to quickly get your interview back on track.

Loud noise

If outside noises begin to disrupt your interview, simply apologise and ask for a moment to wait until the noise has stopped before continuing. If the noises persist you can ask to move to another room and continue the interview from there.

If your video or audio stops working

Before the interview starts ask your interviewer for a number that you can reach them on if the call cuts out. You can then call them and ask to either continue the interview by phone or reschedule to another time.

Interruptions

If you are interrupted by a person or even a pet entering the room you can ask the interviewer to excuse you for a moment while you deal with the situation. Turn off your camera and mute your microphone while ensuring you are not disrupted again.

At The Onset, we are always here to help! If you want any more advice on your upcoming video interview you can call us today on 0438 706 627.

Want to connect to the best tech talent? Speak with us

Speak with us

Setting Yourself Up For 2021

Video Interview Guide: Tips for a Successful Interview

Handing in your notice

What our
clients say

“Ronny & the Onset Group helped us scale our team in the early stages of our growth, finding a number of talented engineering candidates to join our Development team. The Onset Group are highly professional and a pleasure to work with.”

Georgia Punch HR & Operations

“IPG Mediabrands have built a solid, trusting working relationship with the Onset Group over the past few years. We are very selective on who we partner with regarding our recruitment needs. The Onset Group have proven time and time again, they absolutely deserve a spot on our PSA. They understand our business, they deliver, they follow up, they’re smart and they are professional.”

Lisa Gray Head of Human Resources

“I’ve worked in the product community in Sydney for just 3 years and the Onset are my go-to folk for product talent (and opportunities). Once in my role I worked with the team at Onset to build out my product team of 6 over the next year. So I’ve experienced the quality and expertise from both sides of the engagement.”

Jennifer Flynn Group Manager, Product Management

“Working with The Onset was fantastic. They spent the time with me up front on understanding not only the requirements of the role but also the qualities and skill sets needed to fill the role well. The candidates provided were really strong and led to hires who have not only helped us fill roles but also enhance our overall company culture by introducing us to top quality candidates. Thanks Onset!”

Yaniv Klein Product Director

“We partnered with The Onset, a leading IT recruitment agency, explained the journey we were on, and asked them to sell our vision to the Sydney market in our search for high quality developers. It was important that the people we chose not only had high technical skills but were a good cultural fit and understood where oOh! was going”

Andy McQuarrie Chief Technology Officer

“…by taking time to understand our unique hiring requirements, both from the start and as our needs have evolved. At Digital Asset, we’re looking for engineers and product managers with a specialized mix of skills and industry experience, for example, a strong background in financial services, or knowledge of functional programming languages. Onset has helped us find experienced candidates who are not only highly qualified but also inspired to work with a firm like ours”

Drew Harding Senior Delivery Manager

“We partnered exclusively with The Onset to build our capability across engineering, product and design. It is rare to partner with a services provider and feel comfortable with them representing you and your brand but that is exactly what happened with The Onset. They understood what we looked for in talent, helped us nurture it and ultimately create a team that allowed us to modernise our offering and launch a second brand from the ground up.”

Jeremy Gupta Chief Technology Officer

“In addition to running the search and recruitment process they helped us to shape the role and were able to guide us through what was happening in the market and the experiences of other high growth companies.”

Rachel Debeck Chief Operating Officer

“We have been working with the Onset Group for the past few years, helping us secure both contract and permanent staff across multiple technical areas. They always ensure they have our business’ needs in mind and it’s great working with a partner that truly understands the technical space that we are in. Of all of the recruiters I have met or worked with over the years, I couldn’t recommend this group any more.”

Paul Madani Head of Data and Technology

“Onset has been partnering with Haventec for over three years. The team at Onset have the great ability to connect with our team and understand our business and culture to be able to place employees that fit our team like a glove. It takes great talent to recognise the unique needs of each business and to be able to deliver on them so well”

Edora David Business Operations Manager

“It was a pleasure working with Danielle to source a full stack developer for our company. She put real effort into understanding what we were looking for and helped us find the right candidate. Plus helped us find the first female developer!”

Antony Francis Team Lead