In a world where you can buy a car, order a meal, or do many other errands on a computer, it makes sense that more and more interviews are being conducted online instead of in person.

Video interviews can help companies dispersed across states (or even across countries) interview and meet prospective candidates, as well as connect people from different areas of the world to talk about art, music, news, and more.

While there are many benefits to conducting interviews online, there are also some challenges or things that can be tricky to navigate. Let’s explore some nuances of video interviewing and some tips on how to nail it (for both the interviewer and interviewee).

How Does a Video Interview Differ From an In-Person Interview?

Obviously, talking into a screen is different from talking to a human being. And though face-to-face interviews used to be the norm, the reality is that there are full interviews for jobs, content, and more that are done exclusively online, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

A few key differences between chatting in-person vs. over a video call:

• Body language can’t be as accurately communicated over the computer, which might make it harder to get your point across
• Lag times or delays in the video signal might make the conversation feel more awkward
• The interviewer will get a peek at your personal space in the background of the call, unless it’s covered or blurred
• You can have more notes and references scattered around your desk than you would if you had to go into an office for an interview
• You might feel more at ease doing an interview from the comfort of your own home

Interview Tips and Tricks To Get the Job

At the end of the day, video interviewing isn’t much different from in-person interviewing. Let’s explore some essential interview tips, and how they can help you ace your in-person and virtual meetings.

1. Research the Company + Learn Its Values

Perhaps nothing is more important than talking with authority about the company you’re interviewing for. The job market can be tough, and companies like to see that you’re actually interested in what they stand for. Take some time to review the company’s mission and core values, and come prepared with thoughts on how your own work ethic and goals fit into the company’s greater mission.

2. Practice Your Elevator Pitch

In an interview, you might not have a long time to explain why exactly you’re the right fit for the position. Write down a few key points you want to tell the interviewer to sell them on your ability to do the job well, and practice your personal elevator pitch until you’re confident that you can sell yourself to an interviewer in a minute or less.

3. Record and Transcribe the Interview

Regardless of how an interview pans out (with a job offer or denial), recording and transcribing it is always a good idea. If it looks like you’re going to be offered the role, you can analyze what was said about the company via the transcript to decide whether or not you want to accept. If you get rejected, you can look back on the interview transcript to see how you could improve your interview skills.

4. Start and Finish Strong

It can be tough to figure out how to start an interview, and how to end it. But our advice is to frontload your best qualities and qualifications as they relate to the job, then close with thoughtful questions.

If an interview runs at least an hour (or more!), content in the middle may get muddled or hard to remember. What an interviewer will remember, though, is your first and last impressions. Make sure to impress right off the bat, then close with thoughtful questions and a memorable goodbye.

5. Make Eye Contact

Even though a person isn’t physically sitting in front of you during a video interview, you should still put your best foot forward to look confident and secure. This means making eye contact — yes, with a webcam. Looking directly at the screen, sitting up straight, and smiling can all help you look more confident on the call.

Video Production Interview Tips

Interviews aren’t a one-way street. While it might seem like the interviewer holds all the “power,” the interviewee has a role to play as well. In an interview for content creation, you’re relying on the interviewee to tell an engaging story. Let’s look at some helpful tips for conducting an interview.

6. Plan the Theme Of Your Interview

First, decide what you want out of your interview. Do you want to find a thought leader, a strong personality, or a team player? Do you want expert research, or just a well-articulated opinion? Your discussion (and interview video production) will go smoother if you know exactly what you want to get out of it and tailor your session accordingly.

7. Get the Right Equipment

Like we mentioned above, lag times can make an interview feel awkward. Having the right equipment can help with that. Make sure you’re equipped with a high-quality camera and a strong WiFi or Internet router that can host the meeting with as few hiccups as possible.

8. Focus on the Lighting and Background

Let the interviewee shine by providing as little distraction for them as possible. Make sure you’re conducting the interview from a well-lit, minimally-designed space that won’t provide much distraction from the main event. Even if you’re not in person, you can help provide a comfortable environment for your interviewee by being somewhere quiet, well-lit, and calming.

9. Provide Accessible Learning Videos

Many people are interested in virtual learning nowadays, especially for interviewing and onboarding. Make sure that any promotional, educational, or training videos you provide are accessible with transcribed captions (such as CART captions), audio descriptions, or image descriptions. Keeping your interviewing process accessible will help open you up to everyone’s thoughts and input.

10. Test Your Technology Beforehand

Sure, your computer probably usually works just fine. But you don’t want the one time it matters most (during an interview) to be the time Zoom won’t load, or you’re late because your app has to update. Test all of your technology just before the interview to make sure everything is in working order.

Video Interview Tips For Research

Researchers and journalists may rely on video interviews to gather data and input from focus groups, industry experts, and more. Let’s look at some tips for conducting the best research-focused video interviews possible.

11. Determine A Hypothesis Before the Interview

Video interviews typically have a time limit, and may lack some of the cordiality of an in-person discussion. To make sure you get what you need in the allotted time, have your hypothesis decided and ask questions that align with the information you’re looking to learn.

12. Print A Transcription of the Interview

Research-based interviews may include a lot of information being discussed, dissected, and presented. To make sure you don’t lose track of some important insights, transcribe your research interviews and print out a copy to take notes on afterward.

13. Write Up a Release Form

If you plan on publishing your video interview, having a comprehensive consent and/or release form can help make the process smoother. Instead of having to send it after the interview, wait for it to be completed, and then get it back, you can send the release form ahead of time and get it out of the way in case you want to start teasing the interview online immediately.

Is This Thing On?

While video interviews may seem much different from in-person interviews, they boil down to the same basic principle: people trying to meet and exchange information. So no matter if you’re shaking hands in person or waving hi into a computer’s webcam, it’s important to make a good first impression and prepare accordingly.

One way you can prepare for any type of interview you’ll be a part of is to have a transcription partner at the ready. See how Rev’s AI can help transcribe your next video interview easily and accurately.