How to do a video interview

Treat Your Video Interview Like a Conversation

“Be more personable. Be yourself. You want to talk like you’re talking to someone you know well” while still remaining professional, Turner says. Make sure your video call is “not just question, answer, question, answer,” Eonnet says.

Types of video interviews

Synchronous interviews are conducted live over the internet with both the interviewer and the candidate in attendance and are often used as an alternative to an in-person interview. In contrast, asynchronous video interviews are recorded by the job seeker at a time convenient to them.

Great news: looking at your notes is acceptable in a video interview. As long as you do it subtly, there’s no reason you can‘t have handy tips nearby. Use them to help you answer any difficult questions or remember specific facts about the role or company.

Is a video interview a good sign? It can be. Getting selected for a video interview may mean that the potential employer is interested in you and does not want to rule you out just because you cannot come in for an in-person interview. Before you skip Skype interviews, consider some important points.

Sample video interview introduction script

Just as with an in-person interview, you want to make a great first impression for a video interview. At this point, the interviewer will introduce themselves. Then, they’ll probably ask you an introductory interview question.

“Honestly, I possess all the skills and experience that you‘re looking for. I’m pretty confident that I am the best candidate for this job role. It’s not just my background in the past projects, but also my people skills, which will be applicable in this position.

Example: “My greatest weakness is that I sometimes have a hard time letting go of a project. I’m the biggest critic of my work, and I can always find something that needs to be improved or changed. To help myself improve in this area, I give myself deadlines for revisions.

You can try to skirt the question with a broad answer, such as, “My salary expectations are in line with my experience and qualifications.” Or, “If this is the right job for me, I’m sure we can come to an agreement on salary.” This will show that you’re willing to negotiate. Offer a range.

You can also respond to “What are your salary expectations?” by simply asking what the company is looking to pay. “You could say something like, ‘That’s a great question—it would be helpful if you could share what the range is for this role,”’ Fink says.

Make sure you know some basic information about both the company and the job. This way, when you answer the question, you can mention specific aspects of the company and position that appeal to you. Be specific about why you‘re a good fit. Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role.

Consider posing several questions.

When asked this question in an interview, it’s your opportunity to inquire about anything you feel is necessary to know about the job. Consider asking several questions related to the position itself, the company, the hiring manager or interviewer, and even about yourself.

For example, you might start your answer like this: “I graduated with my degree in Economics two months ago. I chose that field of study because I’ve always been interested in finance and money, and a couple of family members told me it leads to great career options, too.”