12 Tips to Crush a Zoom Interview

As technology continues to evolve, so does the way we interact and communicate with one another in our everyday lives. Most of us in the past few years have used or heard of virtual technology platforms such as Zoom to conduct meetings, visit with family and friends, take online classes and more. Platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Go ToMeeting, WebEx and others are almost as second nature to us as email.

However, what may not be as second nature to us is how to host an online meeting on our own, or how to prepare for an important meeting such as a job interview. If you’re in the job market, and plan to have a virtual interview in the near future, continue reading as I share some of my favorite tips, tricks and/or checklist to ensure you optimize your virtual interview experience. Sometimes the thought of preparing for an online meeting can feel overwhelming. However, there’s no need to be anxious. The tips I have listed below come from my over 12 years of experience in the technology field and having ran multiple virtual interview sessions. If you follow some of these simple to use tips, you will be sure to give a great first impression to your future employer, without too many interruptive technology issues.

Eye Contact

Always be sure to look into the camera when speaking, not to the virtual video you see of yourself. Just as it is in person, when a person does not provide good eye contact, it becomes distracting to the listener, and can pull through on camera as you not having confidence in what you are saying. When speaking, be sure to look directly at your camera and not the video screen. If you’re not using a laptop and need a webcam, here’s one of my favorite HD cameras to use:

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

When preparing for an interview, be sure to find a good neutral professional background, one that is non-distracting. If your background is in a busy area or not clean, this could cause your interviewer to become distracted. Always think of your background as part of your outfit, it should always be clean and well maintained. If you cannot find a good background for your upcoming virtual interview, try setting up a virtual background in advance. You can learn how to set up a virtual background here.

Light it Up

Be sure to turn on your camera to test lighting before your interview. Not only should you make sure you have good lighting, you also want to ensure your source of light is not behind you. This will make you appear darker on camera, making it difficult for your interviewer to see you. I recommend using a desk lamp, or invest in a portable ring light. Here’s a really great, yet affordable one I ordered some time ago from Amazon.

Charge Up

One of the most embarrassing things that could happen is to lose your connection due to loss of power during the interview. Your computer may need to reboot, making your interviewer wait. Make sure your laptop and any other electronic devices are fully charged prior to your interview.

Practice Your Interview Ahead of Time on Zoom

If you are a bit uncomfortable with having an interview over Zoom instead of in person, why not practice ahead of time with yourself or a friend? Not only does this allow you to test out your lighting and sound, this also allows you to gather your thoughts and build confidence prior to the interview.

Laptop Placement

Make sure you are aware of your laptop or web camera placement in preparation for the interview. Your camera should always be eye level to you for optimal appearance and best angles for speaking. If you do not have a surface to prop your laptop on, I recommend using a portable laptop stand, that’s available on Amazon for a reasonable price. Not only does it adjust your camera to be eye level, it also contains a lot of ergonomic benefits.

Test Your Tech and Have a Backup Plan

Always test your technology before logging on for an interview. You should test to make sure you have a sufficient battery, good internet connection, proper sound, and your video conference software works. If worse comes to worse, share the meeting information with a second device such as your phone in case you run into any issues with your primary device. It’s also a good idea to have a call-in number for the interview in case you run into video connectivity or sound issues.

Have Examples of Your Work to Share

Depending on your line of work, there may be digital examples of your work you can creatively share during the interview. Perhaps these are templates, a website, graphics, or more. If so, have these handy and ready to share with your interviewer by sharing your screen during the interview. This is a great way to stand out from other candidates virtually and add personalization to the conversation.

Find a Place Where Pets and Family Cannot Interrupt

If you have pets, or family members who could potentially interrupt your interview, perhaps find a location behind a closed door to ensure your meeting can take place uninterrupted and distracted.

Make Sure You Are Aware of When to Mute and Unmute

Muting an unmuting are probably one of the most common Zoom faux pas to-date. When using Zoom, you have the option to mute or unmute your mic. However, if you are not aware of when you are unmuted, this can lead to an embarrassing situation. Not knowing when to unmute constantly can also come across as unprofessional or as someone who is not tech savvy. If you want to learn a quick mute/unmute keyboard shortcut, checkout this useful hack here.

Still Dress Professional

In recent years, with more individuals working remotely, everyday professional wear has become more casual in nature. However, do not let this be the case with you when interviewing remotely. You should still make all efforts to not only come across as presentable, but also dress as if you were visiting the interviewer in person for the interview.

Double-check Timezones for Your Interview

As our world becomes more and more connected, and teams become more distributed, now more than ever, it is possible for multiple teams members to work together in different timezones. Therefore, when confirming your interview with an employer, be sure to confirm the exact timezone for the interview to ensure you do not miss your interview window.

I hope you found some useful tips in this article to make your upcoming virtual interview a success with your future employer. Zoom and other virtual communication platforms have also enabled us to safely stay in touch during one of the most unprecedented moments in our lifetime. If there are other learnings you have learned in your virtual interviews, please share in the comments below!

My Favorite Tools From This Post: