A lot of us have been forced to learn the ins and outs of video calling over the past couple of weeks!  Whether it be video interviews, video meetings or online video sessions, there are a few things you need to be aware of. 

As some of you may know, we here at Forge Recruitment operate remotely.  So, we do a lot of team meetings, interviews and workshops via video.  Here are some of the important things we think you should keep in mind before your video call.   

First, make sure that you test your equipment in advance.  There is nothing worse than having a video interview scheduled and having your laptop’s camera or sound not working.  Be sure to test all of your equipment in advance.  Make a practice call to a friend if you need to. 

While you're making sure that your video equipment works prepare a back-up plan just in case.  For example, if your computer fails you, can you make your video call on your phone?  Download the video app you are using to your phone and sign in to your account just in case. 

Second, make sure you find the right place for your call.  A quiet, well-lit spot will be the best.  You also want to ensure that you are in a room or place where you will not be distracted.  Further, you want to ensure that you don’t have anything distracting or even controversial behind you.  Be aware of your surroundings when preparing for a video call. 

Third, you will want to dress appropriately.  If you are doing a video interview, dress just as you would for an in-person interview.  Take it seriously and dress professionally. 

Fourth, during the video call, make sure your face is in the center of the camera.  You will want to look the person in the eyes, but depending on your camera lay-out, this may mean looking at your computer’s camera – so be aware.  Be sure to speak clearly, don’t shout, and don’t interrupt the other person.

A few additional points:

• Be ready for the call a few minutes before your scheduled call time.  Don’t be late. 
• During your video call or video meeting, it can be really tempting to give in to distractions.  For example, you may be tempted to look at your phone, check your emails, open the door to let your dog out or respond to a family member as they enter the room.  If you are doing a video interview, remember to treat it exactly as you would with an in-person interview.  Would you do any of these things if you were in the same room as the interviewer? Probably not. So, don’t do it when doing a video interview.
• If you are in a video meeting, doing these things may not be a big deal, but you are still distracting the other people on the call.  Don’t be a distraction. 
• Also, during a video meeting, the other attendees have their cameras on, meaning you can see them and see what they are doing.  Therefore, your camera should be on as well.  If you set your profile up to just have the photo or a still picture of you, the other attendees will assume that you are not paying attention or figure you are doing something else – it just looks bad. 
• Finally – and a big point here.  Remember, that just because you think the video call may be over, the other attendee’s camera and microphone may be on.  Be careful what you say and do at the end of the call.  The last thing you want to do is finish the interview, think you have hung up on your call, only to have the interviewer hear you yell at your cat for breaking a vase.

These are some of our video interview and meeting tips.  I hope you found this helpful.  Thanks for reading! If you have any questions around this or any other job searching or interview topics, be sure to contact us.

Happy Job Hunting and Good Luck!