Rice Business Report December 2019 Edition December 2019 Rice Business Report | Page 11

Rice Business Report
December 2019
Preparing for a
Video Interview
Erin Kennedy
Download the Correct Technology and Applications
Having the correct technology will be necessary. When talking with the potential employer, ask which
application they use for video interviews so you can download it and explore it ahead of time. Appli-
cations like Skype and Zoom are the most popular, since they are easy to use. You also want to make
sure your computer is fast enough to handle a video interview so there are no delays or lag times.
Make Sure to Test the App
You may be a tech savvy person, but testing is crucial. Testing the application involves making sure
your camera works correctly, ensuring you can connect to the application, and determining whether
there are any transmission issues. You don't want to be struggling with navigating through the app
during the interview, so doing your testing well in advance will make the process seamless.
Professional Resume Services is here to help executives develop their executive profile, LinkedIn pro-
file, resume or anything else related to their job search. We can also provide helpful tips throughout
the interview process to help you improve your chances of landing the job. Feel free to reach out to us
at any time to learn more about how our services can benefit you
Do a Trial Run With a Friend
Just as you do a run through in preparing for a face to face interview, you should do a trial run for a
video interview. You may have shared your executive profile with a family member or friend to proof-
read, and now you can use them again to practice for a video interview. The things you should be
looking for are camera angles, lighting, and whether or not there is lag time when communicating.
Even a one-second lag time can make it seem like you are interrupting the interviewer, so you don't
want that to be an issue.
Presentation Matters
You may think that a video interview is not as "professional" and your appearance isn't as important.
You would be wrong. Your LinkedIn profile should have a professional headshot, and you need to
match the professionalism in your video interview as well. Just because you are interviewing from
your home doesn't mean you should dress casually. It's tempting to wear shorts and only put on a
nice shirt, since the interviewers will only see your upper body. However, if you have to get up for any
reason, the embarrassment of not having on dress pants could be devastating. Continued on page 26
11