Tips for preparing for your interview
Preparing for a video interview is its own beast—and one that’s become the norm since the pandemic shifted most interviews from office conference rooms to kitchen tables and home offices. With platforms like Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet now the standard, candidates are often navigating a new set of expectations and challenges during their interview. Whenever possible, take advantage of the help your recruiter offers before an interview. This is a great opportunity to practice your elevator pitch, ask questions, and (sometimes) learn details about the interview. The conversation with a recruiter prior to your interview will typically address three key areas: Preparation, Etiquette, and a Pep Talk, or what we like to call, putting on our “Cheerleader Hat.” Let’s explore!
1. Preparation
Research Before your interview, Learn as much as you can about the company and the interviewer(s)
Familiarize yourself with the job description Think through (or jot down notes) on how your experience aligns with the responsibilities outlined for the role. Be ready with situational answers to show you have what it takes to fill the role.
Use the STAR Method This approach is your best “interviewing” friend. Remember you have a limited amount of time to give the interviewer insight into how you work. Keep it short and sweet.
- Situation: Identify the context of your experience
- Task: Define your responsibilities within that situation
- Action: Detail the actions you took to address it
- Result: Discuss the outcomes of your actions
Example:
Q: “Tell me about a time you managed a project with a tight deadline.”
A: “I led a software implementation project with a six-week deadline driven by a regulatory change—normally a three-month timeline. To meet the deadline, I worked with the team to re-scope the project, focusing on must-have features and launching in phases. I set up daily stand-ups to monitor progress and quickly resolved a resource bottleneck by securing an additional developer. I also kept the client informed with twice-weekly updates. As a result, we delivered the core functionality on time, met the compliance deadline, and the client extended our contract to complete the remaining features.”
Practice your elevator pitch Be ready to answer the “tell me about yourself” question – and it doesn’t start with when/ where you were born or where you went to high school. Be short, sweet, and poignant. No more than 2 minutes. Practice, practice, practice.
Be ready with quantifiable results Make sure you have quantifiable results ready to share to back up your claims.
Create a list of questions Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. For inspiration, check out this article: 3 Best Questions to Ask in an Interview.
2. Etiquette
Test your technology Before your interview, be sure to test your technology well in advance. Two minutes before start time is not when you want to discover that the video platform needs to download, update, or restart. Check that your camera, microphone, and headphones (if using them) are working properly.
Remove distractions Unless your home office setup is clean and professional, find a neutral, quiet space where pets like Fido and Mittens won’t make a surprise appearance. Activate the “Do Not Disturb” feature on your phone and computer to avoid interruptions.
Stay mindful of visual cues Maintain eye contact and stay engaged—don’t let your eyes wander off the screen. It’s perfectly fine to take brief notes during the interview, but be quick and return your attention to the screen as soon as possible.
Listen carefully to each question If you’re unsure what’s being asked, feel free to rephrase it and confirm your understanding. It’s also okay to take a moment and say, “That’s a great question—let me gather my thoughts.” Be sure to answer only the question asked. If the interviewer wants more detail, they’ll prompt you for it. Don’t feel obligated to fill every pause—embrace the silence by taking a sip of water or a deep breath to stay centered.
Email a thank you note after the interview After the interview, always follow up with a thank-you note. Thank the interviewer for their time, express your continued interest in the role, and, if possible, reference a specific moment or anecdote from your conversation to make your message more memorable.
3. Pep talk
Remind yourself that you earned this interview—it’s a reflection of your qualifications, experience, and potential fit for the role. The interviewer is just as eager to meet you as you are to meet them and learn more about the company. Remember, interviewing is a two way street. While it’s your opportunity to demonstrate that you’re a strong candidate based on your skills and background, it’s also your chance to evaluate whether the role, company, culture, and work environment align with your personal and professional goals, including what’s best for your family and long-term career path.
Final thoughts
Now that you are prepared to ace your next interview, take a deep breath, smile and log-in. You’ve got this!
