How do I ace my video interview?

So you've been invited to a video interview - congratulations 🥳

I mean, there's no formula we can give you to guarantee you land your dream role but there are some key things you can do that'll help you impress at your interview:

Show up on time: Put yourself in the manager's shoes - You're busy, you need a new awesome person you can trust to turn up and get the job done. If someone shows up for an interview late, it doesn't exactly scream "this person's going to be someone I can rely on".

Prepare yourself ahead of time, plan to log into your video interview a few minutes early - that way you can check your technical equipment and test the sound so you know everything is working ok. If a real emergency happens and there's no way round it, make sure you text or call to let them know you can no longer attend.

Look presentable: This is customer service - first impressions really count. If you're clean, tidy and friendly, people are more likely to feel comfortable asking you questions. This is the vibe your interviewer is looking for too so dress appropriately for your video call and be sure look directly at the camera.   De-clutter your space to minimise distractions.  

Do your research: This is your chance to knock your interviewer's socks off. Nothing makes as good an impression as showing you care about someone's business. Check out their website before you log into your interview and make sure you've visited a store or two. That way you'll be able to speak with confidence about why this company and this role is the right fit for you.  The great thing about a video interview is that you can have any research notes to hand, just make sure you're not obviously reading from these during the interview; remember your body language and maintain eye contact.

Have some questions prepared: Avoid that awkward silence after the inevitable "so, do you have any questions for me?" question at the end of the interview. Have a list of a few things you can ask before you log in - things like "what do you like best about working here?" or "What kind of training do you offer?".

Have answers prepped for these questions: These (or similar versions of these) are really commonly asked Big Questions in interviews. Make sure you've thought of how you'd answer them if they crop up:

Why are you right for this job?

What excites you about working in this role/company?

What are your plans for the next year or two?

What are you into in your spare time?

What are the achievements you're really proud of?