5 tips to nail a video conference job interview

5 tips to nail a video conference job interview 5 tips to nail a video conference job interview Virtual interviews are on the rise! Implement these tips to better prepare yourself for the inevitable in your next job search.Haven’t had an interview in a few years? Chances are your next one will be carried out via video conference. According to recent studies, around 60 percent of employers have made the switch to video interviews as either a primary or exclusive method for vetting candidates.Which begs the obvious question: How should you prepare for an job-interview experience you’ve never encountered before? Are video interviews comparable to face-to-face meetings, or are they a different affair altogether?The answer lies somewhere down the middle, as there are both similarities and differences â€" all of which should be taken into account. So rather than searching high and low through the web’s very best job seeker resource sites, bear the following tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way to a successful video interview.Location MattersThere’s an ideal time and place to take part in a video interview, so be sure to take your surroundings into account. Choose a location that is clean, calm, quiet and orderly, ideally with no distractions for either you or the recruiter. They should be able to see you clearly and nothing else, which means carefully checking the lighting and viewing the background from the interviewer’s perspective.Test Your HardwareThe last thing you want is to be robbed of a potentially wonderful job just because your computer malfunctioned. Things can and will go wrong from time to time, so it’s up to you to make sure that the technology you’re using is working properly. Give your devices a thorough test and if you’re in any way not convinced, consider using someone else’s for the interview.Practice Your AnswersThere are certain questions you know you’re going to be asked, so you need to make sure you have answers for them. For a video interview, however, it’s also a good idea to practice answering some of th e questions you expect to receive aloud, not for the purpose of memorizing your responses, but rather to check your tone. The reason being that many people fall into the very bad habit of shouting when being interviewed by video, not realizing they only need to talk as if the interviewer is right there in front of them.Minimize NotesIt can be tempting to bring notes with you into the interview. However, the more you fiddle, fumble and generally take your attention off the screen, the less prepared you’ll come across â€" even if you are, in fact, very well-prepared. Just because the papers are out of the camera’s field of vision doesn’t mean your interviewer won’t know what you’re up to and be distracted.Eye ContactAnd finally, remember eye contact is the key to a great interview. Never forget that in order to make proper eye contact with the interviewer, you need to look directly into the camera itself â€" NOT the screen or the keyboard. They may be looking at the screen, which will appear to you as though they are looking downward, but for you, it is of the utmost importance to look your interviewer right in the eye while addressing them â€" a habit you may have to practice first!By implementing these five small tips, you can enter your job search with confidence, knowing you are prepared for whatever type of interview comes your way.