How to prepare for a virtual interview and avoid common mistakes

Test the technology the day before

Do a full trial run 24 hours ahead: open the interview platform, check your camera and microphone, and test your internet connection. Indeed recommends a wired Ethernet connection for maximum stability where possible, headphones or earbuds with a built-in microphone for cleaner audio, and a charged backup phone nearby in case the call drops. Close unnecessary apps, confirm the meeting link and time a day in advance, and if you are using a personal account, make sure the username on screen is a professional one.

Set up the room

Choose a quiet, well-lit spot with a clean, neutral background; a plain wall works, and a tested virtual background is an acceptable fallback. Use natural light when you can, supplemented by a lamp so the interviewer can see your face clearly, and position the camera at eye level or slightly above.

Then remove the interruptions in advance: tell the people you live with when the interview is, silence your phone, and turn on do-not-disturb so notifications cannot pull your eyes away mid-answer. Appearing distracted is one of the most common video-interview mistakes, and it is entirely preventable.

During the call

Log in 5 to 10 minutes early so you arrive composed rather than rushed. Dress in full business attire from head to toe, exactly as you would in person. When you speak, look at the camera lens rather than the interviewer's face on screen; it feels unnatural, but it is what creates the sense of eye contact on the other end.

Keep answers concise, on the order of a minute, and treat the interview as a conversation rather than an interrogation: listen carefully, respond thoughtfully, and ask relevant follow-up questions. Notes placed around the edge of your monitor, a paper copy of your resume, and a glass of water are all fair to have within reach.

The mistakes that sink candidates

Indeed's roundup of common Zoom interview mistakes is a useful pre-flight checklist: a messy background, poor lighting, rushed or unclear speech, visible distraction, background noise, arriving late, forgetting materials, and general lack of preparation. Almost every item on the list is caught by the day-before run-through, which is the strongest argument for doing one.

Afterward

Send a personalized thank-you email within 24 hours that mentions specific topics from the conversation, which shows you were actually listening. Many first conversations on LiveRec happen over video, so a debrief with your Live Recruiter afterward is worth the ten minutes: they can pass along feedback and tell you how the employer read the call.