Eye Contact

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then eye contact -- or the lack of it -- can make the difference between showing your true self or coming off like a fake during a pre-recorded video interview. The challenge in a video interview is that, unlike in an in-person setting, when an actual human being is sitting in front of you, it's not always obvious where to look in order to give the all-important impression of eye contact. It may seem counter-intuitive, but looking directly at the screen won't simulate eye contact; looking at the video camera (usually located just above the screen) will. How much eye contact with the camera is enough? Between 5 and 30 seconds is a good rule of thumb. It's best to look directly into the camera when answering questions, and break your gaze occasionally so you don’t look too Zombie-like. Looking down can make you seem nervous. Shifting your eyes a lot (such as to the corner of the room) will make you look, well, shifty. Practice on-screen interviews before submitting them to employers to be sure you don't appear owl-eyed, staring blankly (and unsettlingly) directly into the camera for long stretches. But make enough constant eye contact with the camera to show you are confident, sincere, and engaged. And resist any narcissistic urges to keep focusing in yourself in the screen. It may help your ego, but it won't help you get the job!