Online interview tips: how to prepare and impress employers

Online interviews have become a standard part of the hiring process, offering flexibility for both employers and candidates. Whether your interview takes place over Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet, it's important to approach it with the same preparation and professionalism as an in-person meeting. 

Knowing how to prepare for an online interview can help you stand out, show confidence on camera, and make a strong first impression. In this guide, we share practical online interview tips - from setting up your space to communicating effectively - to help you perform at your best and secure your next role. 

Before your online interview: how to prepare your setup

This involves much more than clearing away some on-camera laundry and closing the window to reduce outside noise. You should be thinking about your camera height and angle, depending on whether you’re using your laptop or phone, and turning off any desktop/mobile notifications to avoid being distracted – or to stop an interviewer from seeing your email pop-ups whilst conducting a screen share. Here are some other tips:

• Unusual place for the interview: if, for any reason, you have to join the interview in an ‘unusual place’, we would recommend forewarning the interviewer. We have some candidates who are on their lunch break from work and don’t have a suitable space to speak on camera and therefore need to sit in their car. Most clients won’t mind this, but it’s definitely worth letting them know beforehand or speaking to your recruiter to figure out the best way to go about these situations.
• Camera angle: it always looks more professional when candidates have their laptop or phone camera suitably placed at eye level. If you have your phone propped up against a book for example, it can look quite odd, and you run the risk of it falling over mid-conversation. We would recommend that you invest in a phone/laptop stand, especially if you are going to be working from home and conducting video calls on a regular basis.
• Signal, Wi-Fi, and battery life: ensuring you have reliable connections, your phone or laptop is fully charged, and your signal isn’t going to drop out for any reason is crucial. Having to reschedule an interview because you didn’t check this first could result in a missed opportunity and the employer choosing a different candidate.
• Download the programme in advance: if the interview is being conducted on a programme you are not familiar with, we would always recommend this is downloaded in advance (as early as possible), and that you use it to familiarise yourself with how it works. You can ask a friend or family member to send you an invite to fully understand what you need to do to get on the call.

During your online interview: communication and confidence

Emphasise: when you’re in a face-to-face interview you can make sure your body language does some talking for you, but this isn’t possible when speaking to an interviewer remotely. Therefore, it’s even more important to keep eye contact and use your facial expressions to show interest in the position you are interviewing for.

Always look at the interviewer when they are talking to you, engage with them and remember not to slouch – even though they can’t see your body language they will be able to see how you hold yourself.

Ask questions: treat a video interview the same as any other interview and make sure you’ve done your company research and have some questions to hand that you can ask the interviewer. Some great questions put emphasis on career progression, company culture, and the interviewer’s career at the company, take a look at our blog What are the best questions to ask during an interview?

Have a copy of your CV or prompt cards if needed: online interviews offer the chance for you to have some pre-written prompt cards or at least a copy of your CV next to you that you can quickly look at and refer to if you need to.

But keep notes to a minimum, as it will be obvious if you’re staring at them; instead, use buzz words to trigger reminders in your head. Alternatively, you could split your screen and use one half as prompt cards.

Review our blog, The best questions to ask during an interview, for inspiration. 

Different types of online interviews 

Every employer has a unique stance when it comes to the online stages of the interview process. Some clients we work with use online questionnaires or ask for recorded questions as the first step in the process because it widens the pool of candidates available and saves the client some time.

However, the majority would only utilise these steps for junior candidates, and would opt for a more formal online interview or a face-to-face interview with someone applying for a senior position.

Pre-recorded interviews

Some candidates we work with have taken part in pre-recorded interviews where there’s a question that appears on their screen and they record their answer. The candidate usually has two practice runs to go through their answer and then they record it.

Personality questionnaire 

These can be used in the first instance to get an idea of how someone will work with current teams that are already established in a business, to see where they could be best placed and work most effectively.

Critical thinking questionnaires 

Similar to the personality questionnaires, critical thinking questions can be asked early on in the process, however, they can be used to assess things such as how a candidate performs under pressure.

When it comes to pre-recorded interviews and questionnaires, we would always recommend these be completed as soon as possible. If you leave it until the deadline date, the company might have already met with, interviewed, and offered the job to a different candidate who completed it straight away.

Ultimately, interview types come down to a number of factors, including preference, efficiency, and time: looking at what makes the most sense for everyone involved in the process.

There’s no denying that in-person interviews are favoured by some employers. However, many others reap the benefits that come from conducting interviews online, or at least understand why it can be easier for candidates. 

After your online interview: follow up and reflect

Your preparation shouldn't end when the call does. Following up professionally can help you stand out. 

• Send a thank you email within 24 hours to express your appreciation and confirm your continued interest. 
• Reflect on your performance - note any questions that took you by surprise or areas you could improve on next time. 
• Stay connected with your recruiter for feedback and updates on next steps. 

Expert support from Sellick Partnership

Regardless of whether you’re actively looking for a new role, or are wanting to find out more about the market you’re in, we would always recommend speaking to a reputable recruiter like Sellick Partnership.

We are best placed to offer advice when it comes to navigating the interview process and often have pre-existing relationships with firms you may be interested in speaking to.

To find out more, please get in touch with us today.

Interview guides 

We’ve put together two essential guides to help you succeed. Our Interview Guide: Preparation offers a deep dive into everything from competency-based questions to post-interview follow-ups, while our Interview Guide: Tips provides a streamlined version. Take a look and boost your confidence before your next big opportunity.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• What should I wear for an online interview? 
  Dress professionally, just as you would for an in-person interview. Avoid overly bright colours or busy patterns, and ensure your outfit contrasts well with your background. 
• How early should I join an online interview? 
  Aim to join the call around 5 minutes early to test your audio and video settings and avoid technical delays. 
• What background is best for a video interview? 
  Choose a neutral, tidy background. If that's not possible, use a plain virtual background that looks professional and distraction-free or blur your background. 
• How can I look confident on camera? 
  Sit upright, look into the camera, and smile. Practising your answers out loud before the interview can also help you appear more self-assured. 
• How should I follow up after an online interview? 
  Send a short, polite email thanking the interviewer/s for their time and reiterate your enthusiasm for the position.