Video interview tips: get the setup out of the way so the conversation can carry you.
A live video interview is still an interview, but the room is yours to arrange. The extra risks on video are technical and visual, and a test call the day before deals with many of them.
Test the platform, camera, microphone and connection the day before with a short practice call. Sit facing a light source, with the camera at eye level and a plain background. Close other apps and silence notifications. During the call, look at the camera when you speak, pause a little longer than in person before answering, and keep a phone number handy in case the connection drops.
Setting up the day before
- Install and test the platform. Use the link from the invitation to check the app or browser version works, and that you can find the mute and camera buttons quickly.
- Frame the camera. Raise the laptop or camera to eye level, sit an arm's length away, and leave a little space above your head in the frame.
- Face the light. Sit facing a window or a lamp so your face is lit. A bright window behind you turns you into a silhouette.
- Choose a quiet, plain background. A tidy wall or a simple bookshelf works. Use a plain virtual background only if your real one cannot be tidied.
- Check the sound. Headphones with a microphone usually sound clearer than laptop speakers. Record a short clip to hear yourself.
- Plan for problems. Charge your device, keep it plugged in, and have the interviewer's phone number or email ready in case the call drops.
How to come across well on screen
- Look at the camera when you speak. It reads as eye contact. Glance at the screen to read reactions when you are listening.
- Allow for the delay. Wait a beat after the interviewer finishes before you answer, so you do not talk over each other.
- Keep notes off to the side. A short page of notes near the camera is fine. Reading from the screen is noticeable.
- Use your hands and face. Video flattens energy. Nodding, smiling and natural gestures help the interviewer read you.
- Recover calmly from glitches. If the sound freezes, say so: “Sorry, you cut out after the question about the team. Could you repeat it?”
Video problems and how to fix them
| Problem | Fix | When to check |
|---|---|---|
| Face too dark | Face a window or lamp; avoid light behind you | The day before, at the same time of day |
| Camera looking up at you | Raise the laptop on books or a stand | The day before |
| Echo or poor sound | Use headphones with a microphone | During your test call |
| Notifications and pop-ups | Close other apps and turn on do not disturb | Just before the call |
| Unstable connection | Move closer to the router or use a wired connection | The day before |
| Interruptions at home | Tell people the time and put a note on the door | The morning of |
Illustrative answers to adapt
Illustrative: these answers were written by TryHired to show structure. They are not real candidates' answers and were not given in any real interview. Every name, employer, number and result is fictional or a bracketed placeholder: replace each bracket with your own true details, and never claim an achievement you did not have.
Message if the connection drops
When to use: Send by email or chat straight away.
Apologies, my connection dropped at [the point in the conversation]. I'm ready to rejoin now at the same link, or I can call you on [your number] if that is easier.
Recovering from a glitch (weak)
What it shows: Panicked, and loses the thread.
Sorry, sorry, I don't know what happened, my internet is terrible today. Where was I? I've completely lost what I was saying, sorry.
Recovering from a glitch (stronger)
What it shows: Calm, brief and back on track.
Sorry about that, the sound cut out for a moment. I was explaining how I handled [the situation]. The key step was [your action], and as a result [the result you can prove].
Opening on a video call
When to use: A short, natural greeting before the questions start.
Hello, thank you for making the time. I can see and hear you clearly. Before we begin, I've got some notes beside me so I can refer to them if needed.
Why the stronger answer works: Technical problems happen to everyone; what the interviewer notices is how calmly you handle them. The stronger answer acknowledges the problem in one sentence and returns straight to the point. These are illustrative; use your own words.
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every sample on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Mistakes to avoid
- Joining from a noisy place or a moving vehicle.
- Testing the link for the first time at the start of the interview.
- Sitting with a bright window behind you.
- Reading answers off the screen.
- Leaving notifications on.
- Dressing only from the waist up.
Prepare with your own facts
Questions people ask
How do I prepare for a virtual interview?
Where should I look in a video interview?
What should I do if my connection drops?
Can I use notes in a video interview?
Should I use a virtual background?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. Advice is labelled as advice. Every sample answer was written by TryHired to show structure: none is a real candidate's answer, and every employer, number and result is a bracketed placeholder for your own true details. Question lists are general practice, not a prediction of what any employer will ask.
- What a specific employer will ask: no one can know that in advance, so read the posting and prepare your own evidence.
- Your results: we never invent numbers, and you should never claim a result you did not achieve.
- Outcomes: no guide, answer or program can promise an interview or a job offer.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 4, 2026.