Best Practices

• Practice with a friend to see how answering questions feels over the phone
• Consider using a landline to avoid potential cell phone service failure
• Smile, even though they can't see you, it will help the tone of your voice
• Sit at a desk or table with your material spread out in front of you
• Sitting upright will help you project your voice more clearly than if you are lying on your bed or couch

Program

• Most employers will use Skype for video interviews
• Make sure to download Skype (or the correct program) and log in
• Test your video by test-calling a friend
• Test your volume settings for both your microphone and speakers

Space

• Make sure to plan where you will be for the interview
• Make sure it is a quiet, uninterrupted space
• If you are in a shared space, make sure to let others know, so you will not be interrupted
• Have a clean, neutral background
• Keep the desk in front of you neat

Practice

• Practice with a test video call to a friend to see how it will feel

Dress

• Dress professionally as if you were meeting face to face with an employer
• Dressing professionally will allow you to switch into that mindset, rather than lounge mode with your sweatpants
• Review: What to Wear: Women or What to Wear: Men

During the Interview

• Look directly at the camera, rather than the screen - it will look more like eye contact rather than staring off in space
• Try not to move around too much, moving around will show much more on the screen than in person
• Make sure to have good posture and look relaxed
• Don't forget to smile and stay present