Job Interview: Video (Page 1 of 3)	
Job Interview: Video	
Video job interviews with Skype, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, and 
Zoom are popular with employers.  Video job interviews save time, 
travel, and keep people socially distanced during the Covid situation.  
After applying for a job opening, you will receive call, email, or text 
with an appointment time and instructions for the video job interview.  
You may receive a link and password that the empoyer shares with 
you — or you may told to expect a call from Skype, Google, or other 
video service that the interviewer is using.  
When you set up a Skype, Google, FaceTime, or Zoom account, make sure that your username sounds 
busines-like.  If you do not want to change your username, set up a seco
nd (new) account to use for video 
job interviews  
When you are connected for the job interview, you will be able to see and talk to the interviewer.  But, 
some employers are starting to use 	pre-recorded video interviews 	— where you will be told to answer 	
the interview questions that appear in writing on the screen.  Your answer is recorded as a video for the 
employer to see later.  There is a time limit for you to answer each question.  Pre-recorded vid
eo interviews 
feel strange because you are only talking to a computer screen.  Try to imagine you are talking to a person.  
PREPARE for this type of interview by thinking of good answers to common int
erview questions BEFORE 
the pre-recorded video interview! 
VIDEO TIPS — FOR THE VIDEO JOB INTERVIEW	
Dress business-like — the same way you would for an in-person 
interview.  Wear what workers in the job wear — such as formal 
business or casual business.  Avoid clothing with busy patterns; 
solid colors look best for videos.  The interviewer will see your 
upper body, but it is important to wear business-like pants or 
skirt in case you need to stand up for any reason.  Position your 
camera so that you are looking up slightly at the screen.  To 
make eye-contact, talk to your camera instead of the middle of 
the sceen.  When you listen to the interviewer, you can look at 
the middle of the screen.	
Let the interviewer see your positive interest in the job opening — s
it in your chair with back straight and 
shoulder back, feet on the floor, arms resting in your lap or on the desk.  Nod your head "yes" and smile 
when the interviewer is talking to show that you are giving your full at
tention.  Use hand gestures when it 
feels right, and keep the movements close to your body (within your camera's view).  Do not "fidgit." 
Fidgeting is making small movements with your hands and feet such as tap
ping your pencil or foot.  
Fidgeting makes it appear that you are not paying attention, uncomfortab
le, and restlessness.  Relax and 
try to enjoy the video job interview.  Just as actors discover, making a video becomes easier and successful 
with practice.

Permission to use allowed with usworkworld.com subscription.	Job Interview: Video (page 2 of 3)	
1. What 2 things are making video job interviews 	
popular among employers?	
2. a) Why do employers like to use video job 
 interviews?  b) What happens to job seekers 	
who pass the video job interview?	
3. What 2 things need to be business-like?
4. How do you learn to use Skype or FaceTime?
5. Why do you make eye contact with the camera?  
6. a) How do you dress?  b) What colors are best? 	
c) What distracts from the person?	
7. Why do you dress "head to toe"?
8. List 5 ways to prepare a room for the video.
9. Why is it important that the camera is eye level?
10. a) For what do you use sticky notes?  b) What 2 	
things do you keep nearby? 	
11. a) What 3 things do you do when interviewer 	
connects?  b) What do you say?	
12. a) How do you sit?  b) Relax what? c) For what 	
should you wait?  d) Why?	
13. a) What is magnified on camera?  b) List 5 	
things to not do.	
14. a) What do you tell interviewer at the end of 	
interview?  b) What may you ask?	
15. Write down the 4 sentences you may say in the 	
thank you note.	
16. You are the manager of several clothing stores.
 a) Write down 5 questions you would ask job 	
seekers during a video job interview.  b) Do 
you think video job interviews are a good way 
to find good workers for your store?  c) Give a 
reason for your answer.	
QUICK CHECK:
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
To practice for a video job interview, do some video calls with friends or family 
members.  Record the video so you can see how you answered questions, or
 ask your 
friends and family to give you feedback for improvements.  Also, is the lighting good, or 
do you need to bring in a lamp to provide better light for the video of 
your face?
ON THE DAY OF THE VIDEO JOB INTERVIEW
1) Make sure you will not be interrupted.  Lock the door, tell others to keep out of the 
room, or put a note on the outside of the door — "Do Not Disturb   — Video Job 
Interview In Progress."  2) Make sure the room that the interviewer sees behind you is free of clutter and 
looks business-like.  3) Clear desk space around your computer.  4) Keep notepad and pen/pencil nearby for 
you to take notes.  5) Close all applications and windows that you are 
not using on your computer.  6) Put 
your resume nearby to help you remember dates, names, and details of you
r work experience.  7) Place a 
few yellow sticky notes on the sides of the computer to remind you of im
portant things to say.  Be sure that 
the interviewer cannot see the yellow sticky notes.  8) Put a glass or 
bottle of water, with no ice, nearby to 
use if your throat becomes dry.  9) Set your phone to silent.  Turn off any music or TV.
AFTER THE VIDEO JOB INTERVIEW
Within two days, send a thank you note to the interviewer.  Use small, folding card that simply says "Thank 
You" on the outside and is blank on the inside.  Neatly handwrite a sh
ort message on the inside to say 
"thank you" and to remind the interviewer of your qualifications: 	"Thank you for the interview for the 	
customer service job.  I am interested in the opportunity to work for the Home Store.  I believe that my job 
training certificate and work experience qualify me to be an outstanding Home Store team 
member.  Sincerely, Jason Smith
• 	Or, email a thank you letter to the interviewer. See sample of email on next page.	
• 	Do not send a "thank you" text message to the employer.  Text messages are too       
informal for the work world — text messages are used with friends.

Permission to use allowed with usworkworld.com subscription.
SAMPLE #1 —  THANK YOU EMAIL
To - SSmith@FashionBug.com
Subject:  Janet Jones . Thank you for the interview
Dear Ms. Jones:
Thank you for the interview for the sales associate job.  I am intereste
d in working for the Fashion Bug.  I 
believe that my sales skills and work experience qualifies me to be an outstanding sales team member for 
the Fashion Bug.             
Sincerely, 
Janet Jones
SAMPLE #2 — THANK YOU EMAIL
To - RLopez@TheHomeStore.com
Subject:  Jason Smith . Thank you for the interview 
Dear Mr. Lopez:
Thank you for the interview for the customer service job.  I am interest
ed in the opportunity to work for the 
Home Store.  I believe that my job training certificate and work experience qualify me to be an outstanding 
Home Store team member.  
Sincerely, 
Jason Smith	
Job Interview: Video (page 3 of 3)