Top Five Mistakes Made in Video Interviews

Eighty-two percent of employers now use video interviews, and they've done a lot of good for the world — your location and schedule are no longer a barrier to the best opportunities. But they've also ushered in a new set of rules and norms that most of us aren't familiar with, even those who have climbed the corporate ladder to the top. This is especially true if you've spent the past few years of your career working for the same company.

In some ways, video interviews have the same formula for success as their traditional counterparts, but there are a few mistakes to watch out for. I've compiled them for you below.

1. Neglecting the Technical Side

We've all been in a Zoom call where someone couldn't get the audio to work, lost connection or whose visuals were so blurry you could barely see them. This might be something you can laugh off in a routine company meeting, but in the context of a job interview, the quality of your audio and camera can affect how you're perceived (even if it's just on a subconscious level).

The best-case scenario is that the interviewer can just about decipher what you're saying, but they don't feel like they can connect with you on a personal level due to the technical issues. And the worst-case scenario? They can't understand you at all, see the lack of technical know-how as a red flag, and simply nod along to get the interview over with as quickly as possible.

It's always a good idea to test out your camera, audio and connection through practice calls with friends or family members. If you can, get a separate microphone and webcam instead of using the ones built into your laptop. You may also want to consider putting lighting behind your webcam if the room is too dark.

As for the connection, using an ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi is often more reliable.

2. Not Warning Those You Live With

When you have to travel to an interview, you might worry about not being able to find the right location or getting stuck in traffic and being late. But other than this, there aren't many external factors that could affect you — as long as you arrive in one piece, the only factor at play is whether you bring your A-game.

This isn't the case for video interviews. The technical aspects we've already discussed are one factor to contend with, but there's also a lot that could go wrong with your surroundings. Such as:

• One of your family members could walk into the room while you're being interviewed.

• A group of builders could start a noisy construction project nearby.

• Your dog could start barking.

You can't control all these factors — if your neighbor decides to mow their lawn, you can't stop them. But you can remind everyone in your household about the interview before it starts and ask them to control any pets, deliveries or other factors that could get in your way.

3. Coming Across as Stilted

In an in-person interview, most of us have adrenaline pumping through our veins. Or, we're able to tune into the energy of our interviewer and mirror them. It's a lot harder to do this during a remote interview, especially if you're naturally a low-energy person who feeds off the vibe of others. This can result in a monotone and robotic delivery that won't do you any favors. Studies have shown that highly extroverted people are 25% more likely to secure a good job.

Even if you're well-practiced with interviewing in general, you may struggle to come across as your usual charismatic self over video, so it's a good idea to practice through a video call with someone else. You may need to force yourself to smile and exaggerate your gestures more since things won't come as naturally.

4. Not Using the Virtual Style to Their Advantage

There are many disadvantages to having a virtual interview, such as those outlined above. People tend to be very good at dwelling on these negatives, but they forget the potential advantages that come from this format — and I'm not just talking about the opportunity to wear joggers secretly.

Worried about drawing a complete blank during your interview? You can place pieces of paper with phrases or key points to jog your memory. You should keep these well out of the view of a camera and only glance at them during emergencies — but having them by you can be a lifeline.

If you're feeling bold, you could also consider using your interview background to your advantage. When news reporters interview experts, they often place a bookshelf with titles relevant to their profession behind them, and you could do something similar.

5. Try Extra Hard To Look for Social Cues

Most of us have heard the statistic that around 55% of communication is nonverbal. When we're conversing with someone one-on-one, it's second nature to take note of their body language and other cues (especially if you're used to managing teams). Yet in a virtual interview, it's easy to zone out from the other person. You may notice if you've spoken for too long or if the interviewer wants to move on to the next question.

This is something you have to be conscious of throughout your interview. Look at the interviewer and make sure you react to them instead of following your own internal script.

Now You Know

The world of work and interviews is changing, and that brings plenty of challenges. But as you can see, there are some opportunities mixed in, too. As long as you're good at what you do and that shines through, there's no reason for a video interview to trip you up.