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How to prepare your virtual interview setup at home

Virtual interviews have become standard in today’s world. Still, many candidates make unnecessary mistakes which puts them in an awkward position and diminishes their interview performance. Do not let it happen to you! In this article we would like to share five points of advice on how to prepare a simple video interview setup at home. Some tips might seem obvious but, seen from the point of the recruiter, few candidates are getting it all right.

Before we start, note that you should avoid using a mobile phone for virtual interviews. While mobile phones are great for casual video calls, the screen is too small for you to see the interviewer properly. You are therefore likely to miss facial expressions and clues that could be valuable in an interview setting. Also, it is more difficult to arrange it properly and get the camera at the right angle and holding it in the hand is not advisable since it will be shaky.

1. Get the basics in place – setting and lighting

Find a quiet room with good, and preferably natural, light. It is important that the light source is in front of you. If you get a strong light source behind you, your face will be very dark, so never sit with your back facing a window. Ensure a professional background-setting and if necessary, turn on background blur on your video software. Also turn off sound and vibration on your mobile phone as well as app notifications on your computer, for example your email, to avoid being disturbed. 

2. Arrange your laptop for a professional posture

To be able to look straight into the camera, make sure that your computer’s camera is at eye level. If you are using a laptop, you can put it on a few books to get it at the correct height. You will then be able to sit straight in your chair without tilting your head downwards and leaning into the screen. This makes it much more natural and relaxed to speak to the interviewer and use gestures. Get your notes in front of you but out of the camera.

3. Make it easy to look into the eyes 

When taking video calls on a computer most people look at the video not at the camera. The result is that, for the interviewer, it looks like you are staring at their chest. To help mimic eye contact with the interviewer, make the window with the interviewer smaller and arrange it as close to the camera as possible (normally top centre). This will make it possible for you to look at the video of your interviewer while, at the same time, giving the impression of looking into the camera.

4. The right software for the right interview

It might seem obvious, but you need to double check that you have the right video call software installed and that it starts properly. There are many options out there – Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco Webex, etc. – and it is easy to assume that you have the right one installed. Also test that the meeting invitation works as it should – this is not always the case – by clicking on the meeting link and check that it connects properly. Do not worry, most video conferencing software will ask you for confirmation before connecting you to a live call. If in any doubt, call a friend (or yourself on another device) and test that both sound and video is working as it should. 

5. Ensure connection and get connected

Some 15 minutes before your call it is time for the last double checks. Ensure that you have a functioning internet connection. If your cable/wifi connection is not working as it should you can use your mobile phone as a hotspot and connect your computer. For laptops, check that your battery is fully charged or that your charger is attached to the power socket. The make it a habit to log into the video call five minutes early to avoid last minute mishaps. But before you join the call: take five minutes’ break, go outside, and get some fresh air.

..and finally two practical examples

For an example on how to set up your home interview environment, see the images below:

Mohamed el-Erian‘s (Chief Economic Advisor at Allianz) simple interview setup at his home office. Positioning the Zoom laptop, where he will see the interviewer, on a stack of books puts the camera at the correct eye height (coupled with a professional camera behind it) while having another the laptop in front makes it possible to read notes during the interview. The result looks quite professional on CNBC!

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s founder and now Meta CEO has the simplest of setups as can be seen in the cover image as well as below, just putting his laptop on a stack of books.

We hope you have found this advice helpful. Now, go ace your next interview!

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