Youre ready for your video interview, what could possibly go wrong

Youre ready for your video bewerbungsgesprch, what could possibly go wrongYoure ready for your video interview, what could possibly go wrongDont like being interviewed on video? Prefer an in-person meeting? Well, according to Chris Brown, Vice President of Human Resources at West Corporation, you are out of luck. Video interviewing is here to stay. Love it (most Millennials) or loathe it (many of the rest of us) weve all got to get better at it. And getting better at it means avoiding some of the pitfalls that are inherent in this kind of virtual interaction. So when I spoke with Brown last week, I was eager to hear his tips.Carol Kinsey GomanAfter all the interviews youve conducted via video, Im sure youve seen your share of potentially career-limiting errors. Can you give me a to do list of how to best prepare for the kinds of technical glitches that can derail an interview?Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisf action, Neuroscience, and moraChris BrownHere are a few basic steps to follow.Give yourself plenty of time to set up and test meeting equipment before the interviewTo make sure your technology is compatible, do a dry run before your interview. Video call a friend and test out the clarity and sound of your video chat. Calling into the interview early also gives you the mglichkeit to make sure all equipment is working properly and test for connectivity issues. In the end, giving yourself an extra few minutes will help you feel more calm and confident at the start of the call.Be proactiveIf your computer needs rebooting, make sure you do that before the interview begins. Shutting down programs you dont need during the call avoids possible alerts or pop-ups and keeps your computer from getting bogged down. In general, a wired connection is better than a wireless connection, so use landlines or Ethernet cables when possible to avoid signal issues. Make sure your audio quality is strong. I think the headset works best.Share large and important files beforehand.If youre planning to share or go over big files with the interviewer, send them in advanceNot only will this help you prepare, but it will also reduce the likelihood that pieces get lost either in the web or in other participants inboxes while on the call.Skip the free conference call servicesWhile free services can seem very appealing, free generally means low quality and inconsistency which can leave a bad impression on your customers. Unlike free services, trusted providers elend only own the infrastructure they operate, they operate at fractional capacity to ensure peak times are covered and service delivery is consistent. While you dont always have control over which video conference service the interviewer uses if possible see if they have enterprise-grade services you can use.Work through glitchesIf glitches are minor, try your best to ignore them and keep moving forward. However, if technology proble ms are blatant and preventing effective communication, acknowledge and apologize for the issue. If video is giving you trouble, try switching to audio only. And make sure you have the number for tech support or customer service at hand. Do your best to keep talking while they work to fix problems.Always have an alternative way to connectIf you are nervous about having connectivity issues, its smart to share your contact info with your interviewer beforehand, either via email or in the chat element of the product that you are using. That way, your interviewer has a way to reach you in case technical glitches prevent the interview from going as planned. Make sure you have the information and confidence to dial in both ways. Being prepared to switch to Plan B saves times and energy when youre trying to get your interview back on track. Outages happen. Ask for a phone number and have an email addressed, up, and ready to send if there is a problem.GomanWhat is the most annoying technical mistake an applicant has made in an interview with you?BrownWell, I dont know if youd call this technical, but one applicant scheduled the interview while his house was being renovated and we had to pause several times due to the sawing noise of workman cutting drywall. Although he apologized for the interruptions, it was irritating because I felt as though he thought so little of my time that he couldnt be bothered to make other arrangements. (Note This comes under an expanded category that Brow has labeled Dont Be That Story, and illustrates why it is important to do all you can to make the interview go smoothly.GomanWhich brings up the issue of where we should set up our computer for the interview.BrownYes, the setting is important especially if it proves to be a distraction. A plain hintergrund works best. Also be aware of the lighting and how it may change during the day, depending on where you are setting up. And no pets or babies, please.GomanOkay, weve got the technical s ide covered. What else should a candidate in a video interview prepare for?BrownI think the number one thing to keep in mind is that unlike an in-person interview, where a hand-written elende is all the evidence of what you said, this interaction is being recorded. You need to anticipate that your interview will be shared with other interested parties. When you answer questions you need to think about what other people in the hiring process might want to hear from you. And if you are asked back for a second round, dont be surprised if you are asked to expand on something you said previously. So be prepared.GomanI understand the importance of impression management in any interview. How is this different in a virtual setting?BrownJust an in a face-to-face interview, first impressions matter. A lot. Thats why you need to be technically connected early. If you are late, the interviewers perception is that you are not prepared or you simply dont care. And an interviewer is impressed whe n it is apparent that youve has done your homework and can subtly display your knowledge of the companys history, value proposition, or recent product announcement. Remember to speak to the camera and not the picture so that youll give the impression of making eye contact. Smile. HR professionals want prospective employees to be upbeat and display good, positive energy. (Note One of Brows suggestions is to listen to happy music as part of preparing for the interview. My suggestions include power posing like Superman or Wonder Woman for two minutes before the interview and reading a list of your successes to prime your brain).GomanIs there anything you want to add that I havent asked?BrownThere is one more important tip Just because you are conducting the interview in the comfort of your home, dont treat it lightly. Be genuine, be yourself, but dont get sloppy. This is a business meeting. Look like a professional. Dress and conduct yourself as you would if the setting were more cor porate.GomanThank you so muchThis article first appeared on Forbes.