Video Interviews have quickly become the norm for job seekers in the last few years, and can I share a secret? I couldn’t be happier. When you interview online versus in person, there are so many more hacks available to help you ace your elevator pitch, outline your answers in detail and confidently demonstrate why you’re the perfect candidate for the role. Here are my top 3 tips to ace your video interview.

Tip #1: Glasses are a lifesaver

They don’t just make you look smarter, they actually conceal your eyes so you can read pre-scripted answers on the screen without anyone knowing! If you don’t have a prescription, grab a pair of blue light glasses off of Amazon – they are perfect for people with 20/20 vision and as a bonus, also prevent headaches and eye strain.

Check out this list at CNet to find your ideal pair.

I like to have two screens open side by side on my computer when I interview:

• One with my elevator pitch and any notes written out in Google Docs
• The other is the interview video

 

That way I can see the interviewer, but I can also see my notes. That makes me feel confident as I enter the interview and also allows me to have a safety blanket in case I forget anything during the conversation.

The result? I come off as eloquent and prepared, and the interviewer has no clue I’m using notes. It’s a win win situation.

 

Tip #2: Post-its are your new best friend

I don’t know if I should be crediting Romy & Michele for this or not, but Post-its can make or break an interview. They are great reminders to stick along the border of your computer with topics you want to call out during your time together. I like to color code them by group so they are easier to track during the conversation.

Here are a few of the topics I like to include:

• • General KPIs for your role
  • Your answers in colors grouped by theme (time you solved a problem, dealt with a difficult coworker, improved something, overcame a hurdle, etc).
  • Quantifiable successes you want to call out
  • Steps you go through to accomplish a common task
  • Key questions to ask at the end
  • Notes about the company to show you’ve researched them

 

The list can get endless, so think about the questions you have the hardest time answering and write down quick notes in Post-its so you have them readily available when the time comes. That way you won’t be stumped trying to answer something you already know, but just can’t remember in the moment.

Tip #3: Practice makes perfect

Even with these tips, interviewing is still an art form. The best way to get better at it, whether in person or virtually, is to practice your method the exact way you intend to interview live. A few days before the interview, set your phone over the screen and record yourself. Even though this can be embarrassing, feedback is crucial for improvement and a recording can help you accurately assess your performance and ace your video interview.

If you realize you sound like a robot (let’s be honest, most of us aren’t newscasters or Ryan Seacrest), you’ll need adjust your approach:

• • Play around with your distance from the computer – the closer you are, the more obvious it is that you’re using notes, so try to place yourself far enough away from the screen.
  • Don’t read your elevator pitch / answers word for word, perhaps Post-its will work better for you.
  • Incorporate breathing exercises and reminders to pause if you talk too fast.
  • Are you a rambler? If so, listen for when you repeat the same information and work on trimming down your response to the most relevant details.
  • Or maybe your answers are too short and don’t give enough details into how you achieved success.

 

Key takeaway? Find out what works best for you. Hone your answers, repeat them until they become part of your natural speech, and take notes immediately after each interview on what worked well and what you can improve.

 

Got more questions about job interviews? Shoot me an email at hello@celinasouffrant.com or book a FREE discovery call with me. I’m here for you on your career journey, whether you need help with writing resumes, optimizing your LinkedIn profiles or to ace your video interview.