How to Succeed on Webcam Interviews

How to Succeed on Webcam Interviews

Webcams have steadily grown in popularity in households across the country. Now, companies are embracing the technology as a cost-effective, timesaving way to conduct interviews. And businesses aren’t the only ones turning to this technology. Colleges and universities - such as the University of Georgia, Pennsylvania State University, Arizona State University, and Wake Forest - are also using the technology to interview applicants before admitting them.
If you or someone you know is in the process of applying for a new job or to a university, the following information can help you put your best foot forward if you’re asked to participate in a webcam interview.

Eliminate distractions. When you’re on a webcam at your house, you can be interrupted by the phone ringing, the kids playing, or the doorbell ringing. To make sure that doesn’t happen, find a quiet place where you can avoid any distractions that may compromise your interview.

Remove the clutter. A webcam interview doesn’t just allow the company to see you; they can also see into your home. If the background setting looks messy, cluttered, or less than professional, it may taint the company’s perception of you. So, clean up everything that will be in the background, including those things that are off in the distance. The best advice is to have a clean, simple background setting for the interview where only one or two major pieces of furniture can be seen. 

Dress for success from top to toe. While it may be tempting to dress professionally from the waist up while wearing shorts or pajamas below, don’t do it. There are too many stories of people who found themselves reaching for a book or retrieving an object during the interview, only to be embarrassed by the lack of professional attire on their legs. And while the situation may sound laughable, the company interviewing you may take it as a sign that you’re either trying to get away with something or that you’re the type of person who does things halfway. 

Check the lighting. Anyone who’s ever used a webcam realizes that you can sometimes appear pale or tired in an online video. To overcome this problem, you can take a few simple steps. First, make sure you are well rested before the interview. Second, check the lighting. You’ll want the room to be bright, but not so bright that your face is washed out. If you need additional lighting, bring a lamp or two into the room. 

Maintain eye contact. To make sure you maintain eye contact, look directly at your webcam - rather than at the person’s image on your monitor. It may feel awkward at first, but it will appear natural and professional to the person on the other end. 

Test your equipment. No matter how familiar you are with a webcam, you should arrive at your desk well before the interview and test your equipment. You may even want to consider video chatting with a friend for a few minutes.

Send the right body language. Like a face-to-face interview, your posture and body language are important online. So sit up straight, use simple hand gestures as you talk, and resist the urge to fidget or make a lot of unnecessary movements (like scratching your head or constantly readjusting your seating position).

Be specific, yet concise. Provide concise answers that convey specific details. Prepare specific talking points and details about your accomplishments, and then practice saying them succinctly. But don’t memorize a script like you would a speech. Instead, focus on working some talking points into different types of answers. 

Finally, don’t be put off by a short silence after you finish speaking, which is likely due to the time delay. Remain confident and stick to your concise statements.