- Check your tech. Be sure to test your connections and software well ahead of time. Use the most stable WiFi you have access to (or an ethernet connection) and be sure that all of your software is up to date. Do some test calls to ensure that your microphone and speaker levels are set correctly.
- Dress as you would for a face-to-face interview – most of our communication is non-verbal, and our behavior is heavily influenced by the way we dress. Fellowships interviews are typically a “business attire” event (remember that formality is more of an expectation in many other countries than it is in the US). Neutral, solid colors are best. Avoid colors that are close to your skin color or patterns.
- Check your surroundings. Understand that your interviewers will see what is behind you, so use a Zoom background or choose a clean, non-descript location. Avoid backlighting (e.g. bright lamps or windows), and be sure that your location is private so that you will not be interrupted. Avoid locations with ambient noise if you can’t use a microphone/headset that shuts out those sounds.
- Smile! In an in-person interview, we would naturally smile upon arrival and when making introductions or small talk. Even if you cannot see your interviewers, remember to smile – it changes your voice and how your words are received.
- Make “eye contact.” One of the most unnatural things about video interviews is that although both parties can see one another, they aren’t making eye contact, which is unnatural. When speaking to your interviewer, try to look directly at the camera—although it may seem uncomfortable to speak to someone without looking at them, your interviewers will see you as speaking naturally and making excellent eye contact.
- Be “present.” Avoid tinkering with your computer, looking away, or seeming distracted. Also, don’t hesitate to use natural body language or hand-gestures, provided that you remain on screen. Although it may not “feel” natural to do so, try to act as naturally as you can.
- Listen! Show that you are listening to your interviewer when they are talking, either through facial expressions, nodding, smiling, or other quiet verbal cues.
- Get to the point. One of the most unnatural aspects of video interviews is that there are frequently uncomfortable pauses between the end of one speaker’s words and the start of the next speaker’s words. It’s often unclear to a listener when a speaker is done talking, either because of a lag in the signal or that simultaneous talking is often impossible. Therefore, once you have made your point, avoid the urge to add additional details or clarify your answers just because there is a momentary pause in the conversation – that will allow you, ideally, to avoid interrupting others while they are speaking.