How to Set Up for a Video Interview at Home

In a remote interview the room is part of the first impression, and technical problems eat into the time you have to talk about your work. None of this needs expensive equipment. It needs fifteen minutes of preparation.

Light

Sit facing your light source, not with it behind you. A window in front of you is ideal during the day; a desk lamp pointed at a wall in front of you works in the evening. Avoid overhead light alone, which casts shadows under the eyes.

Sound

Sound matters more than video. Use earphones with a built-in microphone if you have them; they cut echo and background noise. Choose the smallest, most furnished room available — soft furnishings absorb echo. Tell the people you live with when the interview is.

Camera

Put the camera at eye level by raising the laptop on books. Sit far enough back that your shoulders are visible. Keep the background plain or tidy; a blurred background is fine if the platform allows it.

Connection and screen

• Close downloads, cloud syncing and streaming on every device in the house if you can.
• Use a cable or sit close to the router.
• Turn off notifications and close unrelated tabs — some interviews ask you to share your screen.
• Charge the laptop and keep the charger plugged in.

Our guide to internet speed for remote work explains what a video call actually needs.

The five-minute test

The day before, record a short video of yourself answering a practice question, using the same browser you will use for the interview. Watch it back. You will notice light, sound and framing problems instantly. If the interview requires screen sharing or camera permissions, check that the browser asks for and gets them.

A checklist for the morning of the interview

1. Restart your computer so updates don't interrupt the session.
2. Open only the browser tab you need and close chat apps.
3. Test camera and microphone in the browser's settings.
4. Put water within reach and your phone on silent, face down.
5. Have a short note with two or three examples you want to mention.
6. Join five minutes early to deal with any permission prompts.

During the interview

Look at the camera when you speak, not at your own video. Pause before answering a hard question; a few seconds of thought reads as confidence, not hesitation. If audio breaks up, say so calmly and ask to repeat. Interviewers — and AI interviewers — expect occasional technical hiccups; how you handle them is part of the impression.