An experienced academic nursing leader, Devon Berry most recently served as the executive associate dean at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) School of Nursing. He received his MBA from Western Governors University and resides in Happy Valley, Oregon with his family.
With more than 20 years of consulting and academic leadership experience, Devon Berry, PhD, RN, is familiar with the job interview process. Many jobs require a preliminary video call via Zoom or Skype before meeting in person. When talking virtually, it can be hard to pick up on body language and establish a conversational cadence—with the potential for the video to cut out or end unexpectedly. Below are three tips for a video job interview so you can come prepared and leave a good impression.
Create a Quiet and Neutral Environment
Remove anything that may distract the interviewer. That can be visual—a dirty plate of food or fan within the camera shot, as well as auditory such as a dog or kids. Hire a sitter if you can, or put them in another part of the house.
Test the Equipment
Download the software you’ll be interviewed on ahead of time, both on your phone and computer in case one device fails. Make sure to do a test run a day before and the day of to make sure audio and video are working properly.
Look Forward
Though uncomfortable, look at the camera when talking, not at the video image of your interviewer. It will appear more like eye-contact, whereas looking at the screen will appear as if you are looking elsewhere. It’s also useful to make a cheat sheet of questions you want to ask or points you want to make on a sticky note or notes app on your screen, taking advantage of what the interviewer can’t see and help keep you focused.
Devon Berry 