Best Strategies to Ace a Virtual Job Interview

If you’re job hunting right now, chances are you’re doing interviews remotely. There are definitely some perks to this. No need to worry about being late because of traffic, you can have notes handy without it being too obvious, and if you live in a rural area, you now have access to the same opportunities as those in the city—plus, you save money!

But there are also downsides. Technical glitches, like forgetting to mute yourself or having a filter stuck on your face, can make things go wrong quickly. You also miss out on visiting the office, meeting potential coworkers in person, and getting a real feel for the company culture. On top of that, since more people have access to remote jobs, your competition has likely increased.

In our latest research on remote hiring, we wanted to find out how candidates can truly stand out during virtual interviews, given these pros and cons. We reviewed 513 recordings of remote interviews from around the world—55% from North and South America, and 45% from Europe and Australia—conducted between March and November 2020. We analyzed recruiter feedback, participant behavior, and details like interview length, backgrounds used, and whether the candidate built a connection with the interviewer.

Of the 72% of candidates who didn’t get offers, most (about 80%) seemed distracted, didn’t engage with the recruiter in a meaningful way, or came across as if they were reading from a script. In short, they failed to leave a strong impression because of poor interview skills. On the flip side, candidates who had a strong virtual presence, showed confidence, communicated clearly, and built a natural rapport with the interviewer had much better success. In fact, out of the 28% who did get offers, about 90% stood out because they mastered the tips we’ll cover below.

Based on our research, here are four key practices to help turn your next virtual interview into a job offer.

Set up your space

Yes, you can wear formal clothes on top and PJs on the bottom for your virtual interview. But you still need to control how you come across on a 9×16 screen. In virtual interviews, it’s harder to show your personality and emotions, so you need to use your space and environment to leave a strong impression.

Keep your background simple and clean: You don’t need to rearrange your entire room, but pick a spot that’s tidy and free of distractions, like a blank wall or one with just a few pictures. A cluttered background will pull the recruiter’s attention away from you. If your room’s messy, a simple virtual background can work too. Interestingly, 97% of recruiters we spoke to preferred virtual office backgrounds over more “fun” options like beaches or space.

Check your lighting: You want to look your best, so make sure you’re well-lit. Light yourself from the front—if the light is behind you, you’ll look like a shadow, and the recruiter might focus more on trying to see you than listening to what you’re saying. If you have a desk lamp, point it towards your face. Cool light, which gives a clean and modern look, was preferred by 95% of recruiters we surveyed.

Test your internet speed: A slow connection can mess up communication, which 88% of recruiters said is their biggest pet peeve. To avoid this, ask others in your house to log off the internet while you’re in your interview. If your WiFi is unreliable, use a LAN cable to connect directly to your router. You can easily check your internet speed by searching “Internet speed test” on Google—just make sure to test the upload speed, as that’s what matters for your video.

Pro Tip: Remember, it’s the upload speed (you’re “uploading” your video) that’s crucial, not the download speed.

Prepare for the unexpected

Unlike in-person interviews, virtual ones let you stay in the comfort of your home, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be unexpected hiccups.

Master the platform: Whatever video platform is being used for your interview—whether it’s Zoom, WebEx, or Microsoft Teams—make sure you know it inside and out. If you haven’t used it before, download the app and practice with a friend or family member. Tech issues caused breakdowns in 41% of interviews we looked at. In one case, a candidate stayed upside down on camera the whole time because they couldn’t fix it! In 22% of successful interviews, candidates even shared helpful video call tips with their interviewers.

Keep notes handy, but use them wisely: It’s common for recruiters to ask for examples of your best work. Prepare a printout or a Word doc with short bullet points covering the key projects you want to mention. Organize them under clear headers like accomplishments, research, and volunteer work. But don’t go overboard—stick to one page of notes. We found that 42% of unsuccessful candidates seemed overwhelmed by their notes, constantly looking down or scrolling through them. The goal is to use your notes as a quick reference, not to rely on them too much.

Stay calm: If you feel nervous or need a moment to gather your thoughts, it’s perfectly fine to ask for a few seconds. You can simply say, “Can I take a moment to think?” Recruiters will appreciate your calmness under pressure. In fact, this was a key factor in 72% of the interviews we observed.

Pro Tip: Write your notes on a few flashcards with bold headers. They’re less distracting and way easier to handle than scrolling through a long document.

Rehearse

When you meet someone in person, it’s easier to pick up on facial expressions, body language, and tone. But in virtual interviews, those cues can get lost or be harder to notice.

Watch your pace: You don’t want to speak so slowly that your recruiter loses interest, but not so fast that they can’t keep up. Speaking at around 115 words per minute (wpm) is a sweet spot. For reference, audiobooks are around 150 wpm, and TED Talks average 173 wpm. To figure out your speaking pace, record yourself talking for a few minutes. Then, use a speech-to-text tool to get a transcript. You can count the words in Microsoft Word or use an online word counter. Divide the total number of words by the length of your recording in minutes. For example, if you spoke 500 words in three minutes, you’d divide 500 by 3 to get 166 wpm. Once you know your rate, you can practice slowing down or speeding up depending on where you fall.

We found that nervous candidates tend to speak faster, sometimes over 140 wpm. Recruiters often got frustrated and asked them to slow down 38% of the time. By keeping a steady pace and pausing before important points, you’ll not only connect better with the interviewer but also come across as more confident, even if you’re feeling nervous.

Use hand gestures: Successful candidates in our study (89%) used hand gestures to highlight key points. They made wider gestures for exciting points and brought their hands closer to their chest when sharing something personal. Body language matters, and keeping an open posture—like not crossing your arms—helps you connect with the interviewer. And when they feel connected, they’re more likely to trust what you’re saying.

Look into the camera, not at yourself: Making eye contact is crucial for building trust. Our research showed that 79% of unsuccessful candidates struggled with this. Make sure you’re framed well on camera, about two feet away, with your head and shoulders visible. And here’s an important tip: look into the webcam when you speak, not at your own reflection. You can even turn off video mirroring to avoid the temptation of watching yourself.

Pro tip: Turning off video mirroring helps you focus on the interviewer, not your reflection, making you more present during the conversation.

Also Read: Ultimate Time Management Guide

Don’t perform a monologue; spark conversations

Zoom interviews can feel a bit dull compared to in-person ones. Your main challenge is keeping the conversation engaging.

Show genuine interest: 89% of successful candidates in our study had natural, candid conversations with their recruiters by asking thoughtful questions. Some great ones include: “How does the team communicate right now? What tools do you use to collaborate? How do you monitor remote work? Does the office host a virtual Friday happy hour where I could meet colleagues?” On the other hand, avoid questions that are easy to find online, like “Where is the company based?” or “What awards have you won recently?”

Find common ground: Do some research beforehand to see if you and your interviewer have any shared interests. Most companies will tell you who you’ll be meeting with, so take that chance to Google them. Check out what articles they’ve posted on LinkedIn, the groups they’re part of, conferences they’ve spoken at, or any volunteer work they do. When the conversation slows down, bring up these topics. We found that 81% of unsuccessful candidates had trouble keeping the conversation flowing and often gave long, one-sided answers without engaging the interviewer, which made the recruiter lose interest.

Ask meaningful questions: When you’re interviewing remotely, you’ll naturally have more questions about the office and company culture. Don’t be afraid to ask. The recruiter will appreciate your curiosity, and it won’t make you look silly. That said, don’t just focus on office perks and benefits. Instead, ask questions that show your values and interests, like: “What kind of technology will I have access to working remotely?” or “How is success measured here?” You can also personalize your questions to reveal something about yourself, like asking, “Do you offer flexible work policies?” followed by, “I volunteer as an English teacher for marginalized communities twice a week, and it would be great to continue doing that.”

Pro tip: If your interviewer looks bored—maybe they’re fidgeting or flipping through notes—they probably are. Wrap up your answer before you lose them. And always add a bit of personality to your responses!

While remote hiring is likely here to stay, and it comes with plenty of perks, it’s important to nail this new process. Just remember: Pants may be optional, but delivering a great interview isn’t!