Get Ready to Shine: Top Tips for Video Interviews
You’ve applied for a job and been invited to a video interview — congratulations!
Now it’s time to plan ahead. With the right interview skills coaching, you can feel confident and perform at your best, whether the interview is live or pre-recorded.
Video interviews have become a standard part of the hiring process across the UK. While they share the same purpose as in-person interviews, they come with subtle but important differences. Many candidates find communicating over video slightly awkward, but with some guidance from a professional interview coach, you can learn how to present yourself clearly, confidently, and naturally on screen.
What Is a Video Interview?
There are two main types of video interviews you may encounter:
1. Live Video Interviews
This is a traditional, real-time conversation over platforms like Zoom, Teams, Skype or Google Meet. You and the interviewer can interact naturally, ask follow-up questions, and engage in dialogue just as you would face-to-face.
2. Pre-Recorded Video Interviews
These are becoming increasingly common. A pre-recorded video interview (sometimes called an asynchronous interview) involves answering a fixed list of pre-recorded video interview questions. You record your responses on camera — often with strict time limits — and your answers are reviewed later by the employer.
Recruiters often use platforms such as HireVue, Sonru, or SparkHire for these recorded interviews.
Unlike live interviews, pre-recorded interviews don’t allow for follow-up questions or human interaction, which can feel a little strange at first. That’s why practising this format — ideally with the help of job interview coaches — can make all the difference.
How to Prepare for Any Video Interview
Research Thoroughly
Treat your video interview as seriously as an in-person one. Research the organisation, the role, and the interviewer if possible. Be ready to discuss company achievements and challenges, and prepare intelligent questions to ask in return. A skilled interview coach can help you craft and rehearse these.
Be Punctual
Log in early — at least 10 minutes before your scheduled time. This gives you a buffer to handle technical issues calmly and demonstrates professionalism.
Setting Up Your Interview Space
Your environment says a lot about you. Choose a quiet, tidy space with good lighting and minimal background distractions. Avoid busy coffee shops or echoing open spaces.
Use a plain wall or a neat background such as a bookshelf.
Position your webcam slightly above eye level for a flattering angle.
Check your lighting — avoid sitting directly in front of a window.
Test your microphone, camera, and internet connection ahead of time.
If your home Wi-Fi is unreliable, consider using a wired connection or booking a private room in a library or co-working space.
Body Language and Behaviour
Good body language communicates confidence even through a screen.
Sit upright, relax your shoulders, and maintain eye contact with the camera (not the screen). Avoid fidgeting or tapping a pen, as these movements are amplified on camera.
Pro tip: Record yourself answering questions and watch the playback. You’ll quickly notice habits you can improve — something interview coaching can help refine.
Speaking Clearly and Confidently
Nerves often make people speak too fast. Practise slowing down, articulating clearly, and pausing naturally. A few sessions with an interview coach or interview skills coaching programme can help you find your ideal speaking pace and tone.
Avoid Distractions
Close all unnecessary browser tabs and notifications before you start.
Keep key materials — such as your CV, cover letter, and notes — nearby.
However, avoid reading directly from them. Interviewers can tell when your eyes are darting away from the camera.
Listening Skills
Active listening is crucial in both live and pre-recorded interviews.
Pay attention to each question, take a moment to breathe, and only start speaking once you’re sure the interviewer has finished. For pre-recorded video interview questions, pause briefly before responding to show composure and control.
Using Notes Effectively
One advantage of video interviews is that you can discreetly keep notes nearby.
Write short bullet points about your key achievements or STAR examples (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and stick them at eye level behind your screen. This lets you glance naturally without breaking eye contact.
Practise, Practise, Practise
Nothing builds confidence like rehearsal.
Ask a friend or your interview coach to run a mock interview using the same platform you’ll use for the real thing. If your interview involves pre-recorded video interview questions, practise answering within the given time limit so you learn to structure concise, powerful responses.
Professional job interview coaches in the UK often offer recorded interview practice sessions, where you can review your performance and fine-tune your delivery.
Dress for Success
Even if you’re interviewing from home, your outfit sets the tone.
Dress professionally — ideally the same way you would for an in-person interview. Avoid overly bright patterns and check your appearance on camera before you begin.
Feeling “dressed for the part” also helps you mentally step into professional mode.
Final Tips from Professional Job Interview Coaches
Prepare as thoroughly as you would for any other interview.
Practise your pre-recorded interview technique — clarity, eye contact, and confidence are key.
Set up your space thoughtfully to project professionalism.
Remember: employers aren’t just assessing your answers — they’re assessing how you communicate on screen.
Ready to Boost Your Interview Confidence?
If you want to master both live and pre-recorded video interviews, personalised support from a professional Interview Coach can make all the difference.
At Working Career, we offer Interview Coaching UK programmes tailored to help you:
✅ Build confidence in answering pre-recorded video interview questions
✅ Improve your interview skills for all formats
✅ Learn practical strategies to handle nerves and structure your answers
👉 Find out more about Interview Coaching UK
or
📞 Book a session with an Interview Coach today
Before You Go - GRAB A FREEBIE!
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Are you going for an interview and want to get prepared for it so you can smash it? Download the interactive Interview Readiness Score sheet to see if you are ready.
💼 What’s Inside the Interview Readiness Scoresheet
🎯 A clear checklist of the key areas you need to master — from preparation to STAR responses.
💡 A self-rating scale to help you identify your strengths and the areas that could use a little extra polish.
🚀 Practical prompts & coaching tips so you know exactly where to focus before your interview.
📥 Instant, downloadable PDF — clear, actionable insight that help you face your next interview with confidence.
About Diana Dawson
Diana Dawson is a Coaching Psychologist, Accredited Master Coach (Association for Coaching), and founder of Working Career — one of the UK’s most established career and interview coaching practices.
With over 20 years’ experience helping professionals succeed at every career stage, Diana specialises in Interview Coaching UK, Job Interview Skills Coaching, and Career Development. She’s worked with hundreds of clients across industries to improve performance in both live and pre-recorded video interviews, build confidence, and present their best professional selves.
Her coaching combines proven psychological techniques with practical tools, including mock recorded interviews and feedback sessions, to help clients perform calmly and confidently — even under pressure.