Lights, camera, action! Are you ready for that video interview?

[Eric Wong (Eric_Wong)]

I still remember my first experience getting on a video conference meeting for a job interview; the anxiety of going through the interview, coupled with the nervousness of getting in front of a “live” camera for the first time can be pretty intense! While that was many years ago, and I’ve certainly gotten over feeling anxious in front of a camera, there are still many of us who have not had opportunities to experience being interviewed via video conferencing.

According to a survey conducted by Software Advice on “Applicant Preferences for Video Job Interviews”, more than 60% of hiring managers and recruiters now use video for their remote job interviewing needs. Of the 400 people surveyed, only 30% of respondents had completed two or more video interviews, and of this figure, just 2% of respondents had completed five or more video interviews. With hiring managers’ and recruiters’ increasing preference for video interviews, coupled with the globalised nature of many organisations, this can potentially be a stressful situation for a lot of applicants who have not had much experience with the technology.

This led me to wonder, when did technology become a fear factor? Shouldn’t job interviews be about the hiring managers and candidate getting a better understanding of each other and fulfilling the requirements for the role? Technology, such as video conferencing, should be an intuitive tool for remote job candidates, as easy as making a phone call, and should not be seen as an added layer of stress for an already nervous interviewee!

At Polycom, external candidates are provided the option to join a video interview via Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS, where the only requirements are a laptop or PC with a mic and webcam. A meeting hyperlink is sent to the candidates directing them to the virtual meeting room, where it is as simple as clicking and connecting via the browser.

However, if you have received an invitation for an interview via a video conferencing platform you’ve not experienced before, here are some pointers to help figure out the technology prior to the interview:

• Find out more about the platform/ software, and set your device up properly
  You don’t have to be a techie, but the least you should do is search online to check the capability of the device you’re taking the interview from. You can also ask the recruiter if there is an online guide that you can refer to set your device up. 

• Request a trial run
  Don’t be shy about asking for a trial run! Recruiters would also like to ensure that the interviews happen without a glitch. Particularly when you are new to the platform, ask for a brief trial run with the recruiter. Also make sure that you test the device that you will be using, preferably from the same location you intend to take the interview from, for audio and video quality, volume, lighting and positioning. Ask the person helping you with the trial run for feedback on your video and voice quality, volume, and lighting. This is to make sure that the interview experience is true to life and “as good as being there”.

I hope these tips help with getting over some of the anxiety of a video interview, leaving you to focus on getting that job!

You can read more about how to prepare for a video interview in one of my previous blog posts.  

Happy interviewing and have fun!

Note: 

Eric Wong left Polycom as of March 2015. This blog post is his personal view and reflective of his thoughts while at Polycom.