Strategies For Conducting Interviews Over Video

Harsh truth: Most people fail virtual interviews Because of basic mistakes The complete guide to nail your next virtual interview From tech setup to virtual presence Your background speaks before you do: ✅ Test your tech 1 hour before ✅ Ring light or face natural light ✅ Clean, professional background ✅ Camera at eye level (stack books) ✅ Stable internet connection Pro Tip: Have phone hotspot ready (but keep your phone away on DND) Backup plans win interviews Your virtual image matters: ✅ Solid colors that pop on camera ✅ Top-half styling is critical ✅ No busy patterns (they strobe) ✅ Frame yourself chest-up ✅ Clean lens = clear first impression Pro Tip: Record your setup check Watch how you'll actually appear Preparation defeats pressure: ✅ Show you've done research ✅ Master your STAR stories ✅ Keep notes subtle (post-its at camera) ✅ Own your impact numbers ✅ Nail your 60-second story Pro Tip: Have water nearby A quick sip gives you time to think Command the screen: ✅ Subtle head nods while listening ✅ Look directly at camera lens ✅ Animate facial expressions 20% more ✅ Use hand gestures in frame ✅ Match their virtual energy Pro Tip: Stand up while presenting Your energy reads differently online What separates good from great: ✅ Zero audio delays (use headphones) ✅ Master the virtual pause ✅ Stories with business impact ✅ Digital thank you (video for bonus points) ✅ Stay human despite the screen Remember: Virtual interviews amplify everything Small details create big impressions ♻️ Share this with someone prepping for virtual interviews 🔔 Follow Jordan to crush your next interview & perform better

Your face during a video interview is 50% of your answer. And I'll tell you why. Yesterday, a candidate messaged me in panic. "I know everything about clinical research, but I freeze on camera. My face went blank." Sound familiar? Here's what nobody tells you about video interviews: The hiring manager made their first decision before you opened your mouth. Within 7 seconds, they've decided if you're: • Confident or nervous • Engaged or checked out • Someone they'd enjoy working with or endure Your facial expressions are speaking louder than your STAR stories. THE PSYCHOLOGY NOBODY TALKS ABOUT: When you smile genuinely during tough questions? The interviewer's stress hormones drop. They literally feel calmer around you. When your face shows you're listening (not just waiting to talk)? They feel heard. Valued. Connected. When you maintain warm eye contact through the camera? Trust chemicals fire in their brain. You're not just answering questions. You're creating a chemical reaction that says: "I belong on your team." THE TECHNIQUES THAT ACTUALLY WORK: The 3-Second Reset: Between questions, take a breath and micro-smile. Resets your face. Calms your nerves. Shows confidence even when you're scrambling. The Active Listening Face: Slight head tilts. Occasional nods. Raised eyebrows for emphasis. Shows engagement without interrupting. Makes them feel like the smartest person in the room. The Strategic Smile: Not constant (that's creepy). But during introductions, transitions, and when discussing achievements. Creates warmth without seeming fake. The Eye Contact Hack: Look at the camera, not the screen. Put a small arrow pointing to your camera. Feels weird to you. Feels perfect to them. WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE: Question: "Tell me about a challenging protocol deviation." Bad: Stone face while recounting the disaster. Good: Slight smile + "This was a valuable learning experience..." Your face says: "I can handle pressure with grace." Not: "I'm still traumatized by this event." THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH: I've seen brilliant CRCs with 10 years experience lose to candidates with 2 years. Why? Because the 2-year candidate smiled when discussing challenges. Maintained eye contact when admitting mistakes. Showed enthusiasm through their expressions, not just words. The 10-year veteran? Technically perfect. Emotionally flat. Guess who got the offer? THE PRACTICE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING: Record yourself answering common questions. Watch without sound. Would you hire that person based on face alone? Do they look engaged or enduring? Confident or constipated? Fix your face first. Your answers will follow. Because here's the reality: They're not just hiring your brain. They're hiring your energy. Your presence. Your ability to make tough days bearable. And 50% of that message? It's written on your face. What's your biggest video interview challenge? #ClinicalResearch #InterviewTips #VideoInterviews #BodyLanguage

Video interviews… these days, almost all job searches start with a video interview. Some of them never have a face-to-face interview, so how candidates come across over video is crucial to the success of their search. You would think that after almost five years of working in a virtual world, proper etiquette for a video interview would be “common” sense, but we all know that common sense isn’t so common anymore… So – from a recruiter who focuses much of her day on interviewing candidates, take it from me: treat the interview as if you are meeting the interviewer in person. 🚬 Do not vape or smoke (yes, this has happened – multiple times) 🚶♀️ Do not walk around 🥙 Do not eat (or drink for that matter, unless it’s necessary to clear or moisten your throat) 👚 Dress appropriately: yes, this is virtual, but (at least from the waist up) dress as if you are interviewing in person. 📺 Turn off all other media in the room: no TVs, radios, or podcasts, please. The sound is distracting to everyone. Even if it’s muted, YOU might get distracted by something you see on the TV. If your phone is in the room with you, turn it upside down and move it away from you so that you don’t get distracted by someone trying to sell you a car warranty or a political text.🙄 💡 Use a blurred or virtual background: seeing an unmade bed, a pile of laundry or dirty dishes, or another person in the background is distracting to the interviewer and shows a lack of attention to detail. (Sadly, it can also create an unintentional bias to the interviewer.) If you can’t create a personal virtual background, or don’t like the virtual backgrounds that are available as part of the platform, just use the blurred effect. 👀 Place your device at a level that gives you direct eye contact with your interviewer. Do not place your device at an angle that is looking up at you. If you’re using a phone or a tablet, make sure it’s steady. If you need to prop it on a pile of books or boxes, do it! Of course, there are also very inexpensive options that can be purchased that are a bit more reliable. ⏱️ Do not log into the meeting more than 5 minutes before its start time! If the interviewer is on another virtual call, it can be distracting to them to see that someone is in the waiting room too far in advance of the meeting. 🐶👼 Distractions happen! If a pet or child comes into the room while you’re on the interview, it shows that you’re human. Once the distraction is over, simply apologize to the interviewer. At this point, 100% of us have been interrupted on a video call by a barking dog, crying child, doorbell, etc. It’s all about how you acknowledge it and move on. ❗❗PS – this goes to the interviewers out there too!! Like the Golden Rule says: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  If you don’t want to see it in a virtual call, then don’t let it be seen by the other person! What have you seen in a virtual interview that made you stop and go, “Hmmmmm…”? I’m all ears!!

Success is in the details. When we focus on the details in our remote job search, we’ll always win. Remote job interviews take even more time to prepare and perfect. Let’s introduce the story of Sarah. Last week, Sarah reached out to us devastated. She'd made it to final interviews for her dream remote role but didn't get the offer. "I don't understand," she said. "My qualifications were perfect." After reviewing her interview recording, the problem became crystal clear - and it wasn't her experience. The truth is: Remote interviews require a completely different approach than traditional ones. ✅ 1. The Background Story Matters Sarah had her camera angled up (showing her ceiling), poor lighting, and kids' toys visible behind her. The hiring manager later shared this made them question her remote work readiness. Simple fix: Create a dedicated space that shows you understand remote work professionalism. ✅ 2. Digital Presence is Everything During group discussions, Sarah kept looking down at her notes instead of at the camera. In remote work, your virtual presence is your only presence. Practice looking at your camera while speaking. It's the remote equivalent of eye contact. ✅ 3. Remote-Specific Examples Win When asked about challenges, Sarah talked about office experiences. The most successful candidates weave in remote work scenarios: "When our team was spread across three time zones, I created a new async update system..." ✅ 4. The Follow-Up Difference Instead of a standard thank you email, top candidates send short video messages or digital presentations showing their remote work setup and ideas. Sarah implemented these changes and landed her next remote role within two weeks. The difference? She showed she understood remote work culture, not just talked about it. Always remember: the details matter. Wes Question - What's been your biggest remote interview challenge? Question - Which of these tips will you implement in your next virtual interview? 🎥 @mastihin_kateriny #remotejobsearch #interviewtips #careercoach #remotework