Video Interview Tips for Freshers and Experienced Candidates

A laptop is usually best because it stays steady and shows more of the screen if you are asked to share it. A smartphone works fine too, as long as it is fixed on a stand or propped against books — never hold it in your hand.

Check which platform the employer will use and install it a day early. Log in with a professional display name. 'Sneha Patil' looks far better than 'Sneha's Phone' or a nickname from college.

• Update the app and your browser the night before.
• Close other apps and turn off notifications.
• Keep your charger plugged in throughout the call.
• If using a phone, put it in Do Not Disturb mode but allow calls from the recruiter.

Place the camera at eye level. If you are using a laptop on a table, raise it on a few thick books. Looking down into a camera is unflattering and makes eye contact difficult.

Sit facing a window or a lamp so light falls on your face. A bright window behind you will turn you into a dark shadow. A plain wall, a neat bookshelf or a simple curtain makes a good background. If your home is crowded, a blur background can help, but test that it does not make your face flicker.

Frame yourself so your head and shoulders fill most of the screen, with a little space above your head. Sitting too close looks intense; sitting too far makes your expressions hard to read. Remove clutter such as drying clothes, food plates or a messy bed from the camera's view.

If you share a room with siblings or work from a hostel, a quiet corner with a bedsheet pinned behind you is perfectly acceptable. Interviewers care about clarity and professionalism, not an expensive home office.

Sound matters more than video. Wired earphones with a mic are often clearer than laptop speakers and stop echo. Tell family members your interview time and close doors to reduce pressure cooker whistles, traffic and TV noise.

Power cuts and patchy Wi-Fi are real risks. Have a backup ready so a disconnection does not throw you off.

• Keep mobile data active as a hotspot backup if your Wi-Fi drops.
• Save the recruiter's phone number so you can call immediately if the link fails.
• Charge your laptop and phone fully in case of a power cut.
• Sit close to the router, and ask others at home to pause heavy streaming during your slot.

A five-minute rehearsal prevents most video interview problems. Ask a friend to join a call with you on the same platform and check how you look and sound from their side.

Practise one or two answers, such as your self introduction, and watch for habits like looking away, fiddling with a pen or speaking too fast.

1. 1Join a test call on the same app the employer will use.
2. 2Check camera height, lighting and background.
3. 3Test mic and earphones, and ask your friend about echo or noise.
4. 4Practise screen sharing if the role may involve a presentation or coding test.
5. 5Note any fixes and set up the same way on the interview day.

Dress fully as you would for an office interview, at least from the waist up — and ideally fully, in case you need to stand. Solid colours like light blue, white or pastel shades look better on camera than busy prints.

Look at the camera lens when you speak, not at the interviewer's face on screen. This feels odd at first but appears as eye contact to them. Nod and smile while listening, because small reactions are easy to miss on video. Keep your hands relaxed and visible occasionally; it makes you look natural.

If this is your first interview, join the meeting link five minutes early and wait patiently in the lobby. Keep a copy of your resume, your marksheets summary and a notepad beside you.

Freshers are often asked about final-year projects or internships. Prepare to explain them simply, as if to someone outside your field. If you get nervous, it is perfectly fine to say, 'Let me take a moment to think.' A short pause is better than rushing. For more roles suited to beginners, explore work from home jobs and fresher listings.

If you are currently employed, never take the interview from your office desk or on office equipment. Book a half-day or schedule the call before or after work hours from a private space.

Experienced candidates may be asked to share their screen and walk through a dashboard, a spreadsheet or past work. Remove confidential employer data and personal files from your desktop first, and keep only the windows you need open. Be ready with specific examples and results, and remember to discuss notice period and expected salary with care.

Some employers, especially for high-volume roles, send a link where you record answers to pre-set questions without anyone on the other side. You may get a short time to read each question, then a fixed time to answer, sometimes with only one attempt.

These can feel strange because there is no one to react to you. Treat the camera like a friendly person, speak with energy and keep to the time limit. Use any practice question the platform offers to check your light and sound first.

Read the instructions carefully before you start: how many questions there are, whether retakes are allowed and the deadline for submission. Do not leave it to the last hour, because a slow upload on mobile data can make you miss the deadline.

• Find a quiet slot when you will not be interrupted for the full duration.
• Write two or three keywords per answer on a sticky note near the camera.
• Finish each answer with a clear closing line rather than trailing off.
• Check your email afterwards for a submission confirmation.

If the video freezes or audio cuts out, stay calm. Say, 'I am sorry, I lost you for a few seconds — could you please repeat the last question?' Interviewers understand that connections fail.

If someone walks into the room or a doorbell rings, apologise briefly, mute yourself for a moment if needed, and continue. Small interruptions happen in every home; what matters is that you handle them calmly and get back to the conversation without fuss.

If you drop out entirely, rejoin the link immediately and send a short message to the recruiter. After the interview, send a brief thank-you email. Then keep applying for more jobs — on BetterJobs applying is one click and always free for job seekers. Be cautious of anyone who conducts an 'interview' only over chat and then asks for money; genuine employers never charge for jobs.