Voice, posture and lighting: How to ace your remote interview

You never get a second chance to make a good first impression, and that’s particularly true when it comes to job interviews. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we’re not able to give the interviewer a firm a handshake or meet our potential boss in person. Nowadays, we’re stuck with Zoom calls. But do the same rules as regular interviews apply? How do you make a good impression on camera?

It doesn’t matter whether you’re face to face in a meeting room or on camera at home: According to career and business coach Bernd Slaghuis, you need to be well prepared at all times. Find out as much as you can about the company, their products or services, where they have offices, current revenues and employee numbers. The good thing about video interviews is that you can position cheat sheets next to your screen. As long as you face the camera, no one’s going to know that you’re reading them.

Check your technical setup beforehand to avoid the risk of running into glitches during your interview. If you’re using a certain piece of software for the first time, the Federal Association of HR Managers suggests getting to know all of the features it offers beforehand in case you need to share your screen, for instance.

The main difference between remote and in-person interviews is the reduction in non-verbal cues, explains Nicole Krieger, Head of the School for moderators in Baden-Württemberg. You only get to see a person’s upper body and the on-screen image is two dimensional. “That’s why you need to be even more convincing.” Light and audio are key. Where possible, turn to face natural daylight, ideally in front of a window.

You should also run a sound check before the meeting. If your computer makes you sound like a robot, try using an external microphone, Krieger recommends. Andrea Ballschuh, TV host and expert on acting in front of the camera, suggests the following: “Right before you start your interview, try a ‘Mmh’ sound as if you’re thinking of something delicious.” This helps you find a natural voice.

Maintaining eye contact with the camera is hard as we naturally tend to look at each other on our screens, Andrea Ballschuh points out. While it may feel strange to stare at your camera, it will make a better impression with the interviewer. You can try sticking a small note right next to your camera as a reminder.

How you position yourself in front of the camera is also important. Holding a job interview while holding your smartphone in front of you or looking down at a tablet on a table isn’t likely to go well. Ballschuh recommends you position your camera at eye level or put your smartphone on a tripod. Ideally, the interviewer should see you in the same way as you see a news anchor, i.e. from your elbows up to slightly over your head, Nicole Krieger says.

An upright posture always makes you look better. Try sitting towards the front of your chair, placing your feet on the floor and leaning slightly forward rather than back. Andrea Ballschuh likes to shoot her videos at home while standing and barefoot as this offers a solid stance. An added bonus of this is that we tend to gesture more naturally while standing up. It’s best not to think about what you’re doing with your hands, Ballschuh says. “Hands automatically support the spoken word”.

Ultimately, your inner attitude counts for far more than your posture. “Your professional experience and knowledge are already covered in your CV. The focus of an interview is to get to know a potential employee or colleague”, Bernd Slaghuis says. It’s perfectly fine to be upfront about being nervous if it happens to be your first video interview.