Video Interview Tips for Zoom, Teams, and Online Interviews
Video interviews are now standard at every stage of the hiring process. In 2026, many companies run their entire interview process remotely, from initial screen to final round.
That means your ability to perform on camera is no longer a nice-to-have. It is a core interview skill.
Most candidates treat a video interview like an in-person one with a screen in front of them. That is the wrong approach. Video interviews have their own distinct challenges: camera placement, lighting, eye contact, audio quality, and the psychological effect of watching yourself on screen while trying to think clearly.
This guide covers all of it.
The 2026 Video Interview Landscape
A 2025 survey found that 93% of companies now use video interviews at some stage of their hiring process. That number has grown year on year since 2020 and shows no sign of declining.
More relevant is the rise of asynchronous video interviews, where candidates record responses to preset questions without a live interviewer. Platforms like HireVue, Spark Hire, and Velents are used by a growing number of large employers as a screening stage before any human interviewer is involved.
A 2025 recruitment technology report found that 21% of companies now use AI-analyzed video interviews for initial screening. Your facial expressions, speech patterns, word choice, and response structure are scored algorithmically before a human reviews your answers.
This does not require a different approach to your content. It does require you to take the technical setup of your video environment seriously, because the quality of your setup directly affects how you are perceived.
Camera Placement
Camera placement is the single most overlooked variable in video interview performance.
Your camera should be at eye level. Not below eye level (which creates an unflattering upward angle and looks unprofessional) and not above eye level (which makes you look small and distant). Eye level means the camera lens is aligned with the bridge of your nose.
If you use a laptop, the built-in camera is almost always too low unless you prop the laptop up on books or a stand. Use a stack of books, a laptop stand, or a monitor riser to bring the camera to the right height.
Look at the camera lens, not the interviewer’s face on screen. This is the most important and most counterintuitive thing about video interviews. When you look at the interviewer’s face on your screen, you appear to be looking slightly downward or to the side in the recording. When you look at the camera lens, you appear to be making direct eye contact. Practice this before the interview. It feels unnatural at first because you get no visual feedback from the interviewer while doing it.
Lighting
Good lighting makes you look competent and engaged. Poor lighting makes you look tired, unprofessional, or distracted, regardless of what you are actually saying.
Position a light source in front of you, facing your face. This is called front lighting or fill lighting. A window works well if natural light is available and the sun is not harsh or shifting. A desk lamp or ring light works reliably in any conditions.
Avoid sitting with a window behind you. Backlit subjects appear as silhouettes. The interviewer will struggle to see your face clearly.
Avoid overhead lighting as your only source. It creates unflattering shadows under your eyes and chin.
Test your lighting by opening your camera app before the interview and looking at how you appear on screen. Adjust until your face is evenly lit with no harsh shadows.
Background
Your background sends a signal before you say a single word.
A clean, uncluttered background is the safest choice. A plain wall, a tidy bookshelf, or a simple professional setting all work. The goal is for the background to be neutral enough that it does not distract from you.
Avoid virtual backgrounds if possible. In 2026, most virtual background filters have improved, but they still produce occasional glitching, edge bleeding, and visual artifacts that look unprofessional. If you use one, test it thoroughly beforehand and choose something plain rather than a branded or decorative background.
If your home environment is cluttered or unprofessional and you cannot change the physical space, a neutral-colored virtual background is better than a messy room.
Audio
Poor audio quality kills a video interview faster than poor video quality.
Use a headset or earphones with a built-in microphone rather than relying on your laptop’s built-in microphone. Laptop microphones pick up keyboard noise, room echo, and ambient sound that a headset mic filters out.
Test your audio before the interview. Open the video platform you will be using and check how your voice sounds in a test recording. Listen for echo, background hum, or digital distortion.
Eliminate ambient noise. Close windows to reduce street noise. Turn off fans, air conditioning, and appliances that create background hum. If others are in your home, let them know the timing of your interview so they can keep the noise down.
Technical Setup: Test Everything 24 Hours Before
Test every component of your setup at least 24 hours before the interview. Not the morning of, not one hour before. The day before.
Check your internet speed. Video interviews require a stable connection. A 2025 technology report recommends at least 10 Mbps upload speed for reliable video. If your home connection is weak, consider a wired Ethernet connection rather than Wi-Fi, or find a location with a stronger connection.
Download and test the interview platform. If the company uses Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, or a proprietary platform, install it, create a test meeting, and confirm your camera and microphone work correctly within that specific platform. Settings that work in one platform do not always transfer to another.
Close unnecessary browser tabs and applications before the interview. These compete for processing power and can cause your video to stutter or freeze.
Charge your device fully and keep it plugged in during the interview.
Managing the Self-View Problem
One of the most psychologically challenging aspects of video interviews is the presence of your own face on screen. Watching yourself talk makes most people more self-conscious, more prone to second-guessing their expressions, and more distracted from actually thinking.
If your platform allows it, hide your self-view during the interview. In Zoom, right-click on your own video tile and select “Hide Self View.” In Teams, you can minimize your self-view. In Google Meet, you can pin the interviewer’s video so it fills the screen.
If you cannot hide your self-view, position it at the top of the screen so it is near the camera and less tempting to watch while you talk.
Practice with self-view on during your preparation so you adjust to the discomfort before the actual interview.
Asynchronous Video Interviews: How to Handle Them
Asynchronous interviews, where you record answers to preset questions alone without a live interviewer, require a different approach.
You typically have one to three attempts per question and a time limit for each response. Read the question fully before you start recording. Take a breath. Speak directly to the camera lens as if the interviewer is right there.
Do not over-rehearse your answers until they sound scripted. Asynchronous platforms often score for naturalness and authenticity. Speak clearly, structure your answer using the STAR method for behavioral questions, and stop when you have covered the point rather than filling time.
Dress and set up your environment the same way you would for a live interview. The camera is recording. Treat it accordingly.
Dress for Video the Same Way You Would for In-Person
Dress professionally from head to toe, not just from the waist up. You may need to stand, adjust your camera, or move during the interview. Being caught in interview clothes on top and casual clothes below is a real and avoidable problem.
Avoid bright white or busy patterns on camera. White can create exposure issues under certain lighting. Busy patterns can cause a moire effect on video. Solid, mid-tone colors work best.
Common Video Interview Mistakes
Camera below eye level, creating an unflattering upward angle.
Looking at the interviewer’s face on screen instead of the camera lens.
Poor lighting, especially when sitting with a window behind you.
Not testing the audio or the interview platform in advance.
Watching yourself on the self-view during the interview.
Treating it as less formal than an in-person interview.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Q: How do I set up the best video interview environment?
Camera at eye level, a light source in front of your face, a clean background, and a headset microphone. Test your camera, audio, internet, and the interview platform 24 hours before, not the morning of.
Q: Where should I look during a video interview?
At the camera lens, not the interviewer’s face on screen. Looking at the face makes you appear to look downward in the recording. Looking at the lens creates direct eye contact. Practice this before the interview.
Q: How do I handle an asynchronous video interview?
Read the question fully before recording. Speak to the camera lens as if the interviewer is present. Use the STAR structure for behavioral questions and stop when you have covered the point. Dress and set up your environment as you would for a live interview.
Q: Should I use a virtual background?
Avoid it if possible. Most filters still produce glitching and visual artifacts that look unprofessional. A clean physical background is always better. Use a plain neutral virtual background only if your physical space is genuinely unsuitable.
Q: How do I stop watching myself during the interview?
Hide your self-view. In Zoom, right-click your video tile and select “Hide Self View.” In Teams, minimize it. In Google Meet, pin the interviewer’s video. Watching yourself talk mid-answer makes most people more self-conscious and less focused.
Related reading
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Interview Preparation Tips
How to Control Interview Anxiety