Many first-round and even final HR interviews now happen over video or phone. The answers you've prepared still apply, but the medium adds new ways to slip up — a frozen connection, bad lighting, background noise, or looking at the wrong place. A little setup makes you look as polished on screen as you would in person.
Control your setup
For video, the rule is test everything in advance: camera, mic, internet, lighting and background. Look at the camera (not your own image) to create eye contact. Choose a quiet, tidy, well-lit space, and dress fully and formally — yes, including the parts off-screen, which keeps your mindset professional.
Video & phone checklist
| Element | Get it right |
|---|---|
| Tech | test camera, mic, internet beforehand |
| Eye contact | look at the camera lens, not the screen |
| Lighting | face a light source; avoid backlight |
| Background | tidy, neutral, non-distracting |
| Environment | quiet room; silence notifications |
⚡ The edge
- Look at the camera, not the screen. It feels unnatural, but on the other end it reads as direct eye contact — glancing at your own video makes you look away the whole time.
- Join a few minutes early and have a backup ready — a phone hotspot, the dial-in number. If the connection drops, stay calm, reconnect, and apologise briefly; how you handle a glitch is itself a small composure test.
Worked example
How do you prepare for a video interview specifically?
- Test your camera, microphone and internet beforehand, and join a few minutes early.
- Set up good lighting (facing a window or lamp), a tidy neutral background, and a quiet room with notifications off.
- During the call, look at the camera to make eye contact, sit upright, and speak a touch more clearly than usual.
Answer: Test the tech, set up light/background/quiet, join early, and look at the camera — the answers are the same, the setup isn't.
Worked example
What's different about a telephonic interview?
- With no visuals, your voice carries everything — clarity, warmth and energy matter even more.
- Smile while you speak (it changes your tone), and stand or sit upright to project energy.
- Keep your resume and notes in front of you, and find a quiet spot with good signal.
Answer: Voice is everything: speak clearly with energy, smile to warm your tone, and use notes since they can't see you.
⚠ Watch out
- Don't skip a tech check — a failed camera or mic wastes the first crucial minutes.
- Don't stare at your own video instead of the camera — it looks like avoiding eye contact.
- Don't take the call in a noisy or messy space, and don't assume 'off-screen' clothing won't matter if you stand up.