1. Prepare Your Environment
Select an area for the meeting where you can manage the surroundings. If at all feasible, take the video meeting in your house, but anywhere peaceful with an excellent internet link is a feasible choice. Don't take a video clip interview in a coffee bar except as a last resort.
Lighting: When it pertains to lights, all-natural light from a home window is perfect; or other lighting that works. Facing your light source is always best if you can.
Video camera: Establish your computer to make sure that the camera is close to eye level. If you need to utilize your phone, prop it up on a pile of books. You'll avoid that unsteady portable impact, and the extra height will obtain the camera at the best angle.
Multiple displays? Place the one with the camera on it straight ahead of you so you're not turning your body or averting from the interviewer.
Must-Haves: Clear your desk of distractions, and also just keep what you would certainly have at an in-person interview: a glass of water, a copy of your resume, as well as something to write with. "Be totally present. Do not have your phone out alongside you."
2. Prepare Yourself
If at all possible, attempt to practice with a buddy or family member in advance.
- Evaluate your sound, video, and internet connection using the exact same software application as the interview.
- Ensure the other individual can hear you and there's absolutely nothing distracting them in the frame.
- Ask them to tell you if your gestures or body language look unpleasant on camera.
- Dress properly from head to toe: You'll feel and act even more polished if you're not wearing sweatpants. Just avoid jewelry that makes a great deal of noise or is visually distracting.
3. Prepare your Image
Frame your shot as closely to an in-person interview as you can.
Don't sit super close to the screen — you want your head and shoulders visible. Select a simple background with no distractions. Choose your favorite headphones or feel free to use your speaker. (Make sure the mic isn't rubbing against your shirt or knocking against your necklace throughout the meeting.) Avoid gigantic over-the-ear headphones or gaming headsets — or at least consider the visual aesthetic you're producing by using them.
Unlike a phone interview, body language is essential in a video meeting. Try not to lean in — this can make you look too big and close on the interviewer's screen. Instead, sit up straight, and smile and nod to show you're paying attention.
Carl is a Product Design recruiter at Facebook. Before recruiting, he was a UI/UX designer working with many tech startups to design mobile apps. Carl is also the co-founder of a Meetup called Global UXD where he helps connect designers with each other and create new opportunities. Having completed Bloc and Designlab bootcamps before becoming a recruiter, he's an expert at helping designers land their first design roles. Find Carl on carlwheatley.com and LinkedIn.