Communication
Set up for video interviews you don't have to think about
8 minutesLast verified July 2026Free
I
Why it matters
A video interview adds a layer that an in-person one doesn't: your setup is part of the first impression before you say a word. None of it needs to be elaborate — it just needs to be sorted out before the interview, not during it.
Zoom is the platform you'll meet most often, but everything here — lighting, framing, a quiet space, a backup plan — carries over to any video platform an employer uses.
II
Create your account
- 1Install Zoom from zoom.us (or use the browser version) and create an account ahead of time rather than the morning of your first interview.
- 2Set your display name to your real, full name — the one on your resume — so you're easy to identify when a host lets you into a call.
- 3Run a test call with a friend or family member to check your camera, microphone, and how you sound and look on their end.
- 4Confirm you can join a meeting from the calendar invite link alone, without hunting for the app or a password.
III
Set it up right
- Camera height: prop the device so the camera sits roughly at eye level rather than looking up or down at you.
- Light: put the light source in front of you, not behind — a window or lamp facing you beats overhead light or a bright window at your back.
- Background: a plain, tidy space behind you keeps the focus on the conversation.
- Audio: headphones with a built-in microphone usually sound clearer than a laptop's built-in mic, especially in an untreated room.
- Quiet: pick a space where you won't be interrupted, and let anyone you live with know the time in advance.
Have the interviewer's phone number or a dial-in option on hand, in case the video connection drops — a quick switch to a call beats a long silence.
IV
Best practices
- Join a couple of minutes early, so a small technical hiccup doesn't turn into being late.
- Close other tabs and apps beforehand — notifications and slow connections are both easier to avoid than explain mid-interview.
- Keep a glass of water and a copy of your resume within reach, out of frame, before you start.
- Look at the camera when you're speaking, not the screen — it's a small habit that reads as more direct eye contact.
V
Mistakes to avoid
- Testing your setup for the first time minutes before the interview. Run the test call at least a day ahead, so there's time to fix anything.
- Joining from a noisy or public space by default — a quiet room beats a coffee shop or a shared kitchen.
- Skipping a backup plan entirely. A phone number for the interviewer, saved in advance, turns a dropped call into a minor delay instead of a missed interview.