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The video interview may be new to you… or you’ve heard of it but not done one yet? Recruiters, and their modern frugal companies, today are using the video interview to save time, effort, and money as they schedule and complete the first round of interviews more quickly, and save a lot of money on transportation costs. Be ready, look confident, and build your chance of making it to Round Two.

Here is how to be prepared for the video interview…

Be ready for the technology.
Some talent management companies (like Korn Ferry) have videoconferencing rooms or you may be sent to a company with videoconferencing services (such as Regus). If you are in a videoconferencing room, it’s all right to ask for an overview of the equipment and practice with it prior to the actual interview. Usually, the lighting is already considered and won’t be a worry for you. However, ask to see yourself first on the monitor, so you can have them adjust the color so you aren’t too red or too sallow because of a badly set camera.

Should you be asked if YOU have a web cam, you can look quite tech savvy by having your own equipment and already be practiced at it. It’s better to have your equipment already purchased, such as the web cam (I like the Logitech Quickcam) and a headset (Logitech again) or Bluetooth adapter to use with your tiny hands-free earpiece (I have the Bluetrek Duo Stereo that I can use with my Blackberry for talk & music, and the Anycom USB-500 adapter so it works with my desktop or laptop). Or, you may use the microphone and speakers on your desktop or laptop - in a VERY quiet environment.

Next, download the free Skype service (compatible with PC and Mac) for your computer. Register and set it up and be practicing in the privacy of your own home. More on “practicing” in a moment…

If where your desktop is located at home is not in a “non-distracting” environment, consider using your laptop with web cam and move around until you have a location that has (1) an un-cluttered, undecorated, and window-free space behind you (on camera). Using just the webcam (this feature is on the Quickcam and maybe other brands), preview how you look on camera and check background, lighting (lamp or natural lighting from nearby windows), and desktop/tabletop cleanliness and tidiness. Set the scene so YOU will be the main focus for the interview. The background you choose will become part of what is utilized when judging you.

Set your camera in a place where you can have the picture view of YOU as close as possible to the camera location. This will allow you to check your own face in your peripheral view while making great eye contact and corresponding facial expressions (nod, smile, look curious) with the camera- and the interviewer will see you looking them “in the eye” and conversing naturally. To see both the interviewer and yourself, use the picture-and-picture mode. While they are speaking, continue to look at the camera.

Practice the interview.
Do a dress rehearsal and have your executive image prepared in advance. Groom and dress as if you were going to an in-person interview. Wear your power interview solid colors: black, navy blue, or dark grey for your jacket, pants/skirt. Consider that light colors do not translate well on camera to project the executive position for which you are applying. For men, wear a white, light blue, or French blue shirt. If Business Casual culture, wear no tie and have a white or dark crew neck t-shirt inside your open collar. If a conservative culture, wear a tie in a solid dark red (garnet, merlot, burgundy- you get the picture!)

For women, check your blouse/sweater/shell color on camera prior to an interview to be sure that the lighting and camera doesn’t turn your “personal best” color into an off-shade for your skin. Men and women should avoid any patterns: stripes, checks, or fashion patterns for on camera— as some appear to move (called “moiré”) on camera, plus most patterns will distract from your central communication area— the face. DO wear the matching bottom half of your interview outfit and not make the mistake of wearing shorts, jeans or sweat bottoms, which could accidentally appear during the interview. Minimize the jewelry: watch and wedding ring, and for women the simple earrings/necklace that won’t shine on camera. (Earrings no larger than a quarter.)

Have your interview accessories on the table in view: your pen and your pad-folio. Yes, you can have a note sheet there and in view, as it is better to have them see that you are prepared. If they watch you keep glancing off-camera to look at notes, you will appear “shifty eyed” and nervous.

Body language is minimal on camera. Preview what you look like with your hands in a steeple position on the tabletop and then move out from the steeple occasionally to gesture or pick up your pen to jot a note. Try using one handed gestures and two handed gestures - which looks better on your monitor? Do NOT tap the pen, shuffle papers, turn pages, wiggle your chair, or have a leg or foot jittery under the table… all these things are magnified on camera by sound and distracting movement. By the way, pick your chair carefully too… not the kitchen table chair, or a swiveling, rocking desk chair.

Practice, practice, practice in private. A cool feature of a web cam on your home computer is the ability to practice for the video interview in advance. There is a “Record Video” taping feature (definitely with the Logitech Quickcam) so you can try out your answers (over and over again until you get it “right.”) Pay attention to having congruent and appropriate facial expressions, gesturing, and checking your vocal tone and inflection. The goal is to look and sound conversational as if you are in the room with an interviewer whom you like (but don’t know, so don’t get casual in demeanor!). You might consider a trick that the media uses for off-site interviews, where they put a sticky note with a happy face just above or below the camera lens to remind you to treat the camera lens like a human’s face.

Do a Live Test Drive of Your On Air Presence.
Whether the video interview is in a professional setting of a videoconference center or in your own environment, it’s wise to practice in advance for successfully interviewing on camera. As a top-tier executive, you are expected to be tech savvy, somewhat-to-VERY comfortable on camera (in case of media opportunities at the company in the future), and amenable to the gauntlet course of the multiple-interview scenarios they will throw your way.

Would you like to have me take a look at your image on camera? For Executive Network members: I’m inviting you to Skype with me for a few minutes to do a test drive of your “on-air” presence. Email me for a free, brief appointment (Patsy@CorporateIcon.com). Do you have a video interview story to share? Let’s talk about it on the Executive Network online Forum!