Video Interview Tips: How to Prepare for an Online Interview

The Setup Checklist

📷

Camera at Eye Level

Stack books under a laptop. Looking down at the camera looks disengaged.

💡

Light in Front

Face a window or lamp. A bright window behind you turns you into a silhouette.

🎧

Clear Audio

Wired earphones with a mic usually beat a laptop mic in an echoey room.

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Stable Connection

Sit near the router, and keep mobile data ready as a backup hotspot.

15 Minutes Before

Join a test call and check camera, mic and speakers in the actual app being used.
Close other apps and notifications, and silence your phone.
Keep a glass of water, your résumé and a notepad within reach.
Tell people at home you need 45 minutes without interruptions.

Coming Across Well on Screen

Look at the camera when you speak, not at the interviewer's face on screen. That's what reads as eye contact to them.
Pause slightly longer than in person. Audio lag means talking over each other happens easily.
Nod and use short verbal cues ("right", "understood") so the interviewer knows you're following.
Frame yourself from mid-chest up, with a plain, tidy background.

When Something Breaks

Glitches happen to everyone, and interviewers expect them. If your video freezes or audio drops, say so calmly ("Sorry, I think I lost you for a few seconds, could you repeat the question?"). If the call drops, rejoin immediately, and if you can't, email or message the contact you have. How calmly you handle it can count in your favour.

Practise on Camera First

Most people have never watched themselves answer a question on camera, and the first time is usually surprising. Rehearse on video at least once before the real thing. Our AI mock interview gives you realistic timed questions to answer out loud, and a P2P Video Interview lets a friend, senior or mentor interview you live on video, with an AI report afterwards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I look during a video interview?

Look at the camera while you are speaking. That is what appears as eye contact to the interviewer. You can glance at their face on screen while listening.

What should I do if my internet disconnects during an online interview?

Rejoin immediately using the same link. If you cannot, contact the recruiter or interviewer by email or phone straight away, explain briefly, and ask to continue. Keeping a mobile hotspot ready helps.

How can I practise for a video interview?

Record yourself answering common questions on camera, or do a live mock interview on video with a friend or mentor. Practising on camera helps you notice pacing, eye contact and filler words.