🎥 Lights, camera, interview! Prepare your setup for a Zoom interview checklist!

✔ Find a quiet private place where you won’t be interrupted.

*Make sure there is nothing distracting or unprofessional, like an unmade bed in the background. If you don’t have such a space, turn on a virtual background. If you have an older laptop with a slow graphics card, or the call is not on Zoom or Webex this option may not work for you. In that case, put your back to the wall and turn your camera to face you- which may mean sitting on the side of the desk.

*Put a reminder note on the door for your housemates, if needed, so you’re not interrupted.

✔ Technology loves Murphy’s law so plan ahead.

*Check your wifi speed and plug in your laptop about 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Leave yourself time to reset your router or go to a Starbucks if the technology gods are conspiring against you. If you wait till just before the call and something goes wrong, you’ll be frazzled and it will show.

*If it’s a video service you’ve never used before, leave extra time to download and install if needed.

*Log into your own Zoom (free versions available) a few minutes ahead of time to make sure you look okay and everything is working. No food in my teeth? Whew.

*Don’t log into the actual interview until a couple minutes ahead max. Some people use the same link for every meeting and it can get awkward…

✔Have good eye contact with the camera.

*Raise your camera so that your face and shoulders are filling ⅔ of the frame and you are looking at the camera eye level.

*Staring at the top of your screen doesn’t come naturally. So if you struggle with looking into the camera, try a post-it note near the spot you need to look to remind your eyes to return there.

*Hide your view of yourself if seeing yourself on video is distracting.

✔ Go for the glow.

*Avoid being backlit- you’re not in the witness protection program. If there are shadows on your face, bring a lamp behind the camera and off to the side.

*If it’s too bright you may look like you are in an interrogation room. Turn off overhead lights especially fluorescent lights and switch to a softer bulb or lamp as needed.

*Zoom has a ‘touch up my appearance’ setting that lets your air-bush away some wrinkles or fly-aways.

✔ Help the interviewer focus on your answers with good audio.

*Use a good microphone, or sit close to your laptop. If your mic is in your air-pods, make sure they are fully charged.

*Take notes on paper. It can be really loud to type during a video call. Scribble down what you need to remember and transpose it later.

✔ Dress appropriately- see my recent post on this linked in the chat

✔ Smile! Don’t be afraid to show your personality.