Preparing for a Video Interview

The joy of recorded interviews is that they are – surprise! – recorded, which means you can practice as much as you like and submit the interview you like best. But don’t let the luxury of knowing you have the chance at multiple do-overs stop you from adequately preparing. You still should research the employer thoroughly (starting with the company website, and continuing with financial reports, news reports, etc.). You might also do an online search on yourself to know what is “out there” on you that the employer might also see. The best way to rehearse is to run-through the entire interview without stopping, and then replay it to see how succinctly you answered the questions and how convincingly you sold your specific qualifications for the job. Make sure your interview is clear, succinct and not laden with acronyms that will leave the interviewers scratching their heads. Tell stories (preferably with wit) to get your points across. Know how much time you have for the interview so you can time yourself accordingly. Test the technical aspects of the recorded video – does that old microphone on your computer garble your voice? Does the bright light from the window make you look Zombie-esque? Assess how you look on camera – are you making enough eye contact? Is your hair casting shadows across your face? Does the camera enhance your 5 o’clock shadow to make you look like Wolverine? Finally, here’s the paradox: once you have thoroughly prepared, be sure you haven’t over-prepared. Even though your interview is recorded, you should sound fresh and spontaneous and – above all -- not like a recording!