The Puzzle: Blog

It’s summertime, the living’s easy, and you’re finally setting aside some time to complete the video interview that will help you get noticed—and hopefully get hired—by school hiring contacts. How do you make sure you rock the interview?

At this point in the hiring season, the best thing you can do regarding a video is…record one. Many schools have completed their hiring requirements, and thus competition for the jobs that remain open is higher. Set yourself apart: record a video.

We know it can be daunting to see yourself on camera. How do you ensure that your video is awesome, and not awkward? Here are four simple tips.

1. Practice

This may seem obvious—as the old adage says, practice does make perfect. But you might not realize that before you submit your final recording you’ll have as many chances as you need to practice recording each question before you move on. Get tongue-tied when introducing yourself? Re-record the question. Feel like you nailed it, but notice that you had spinach in your teeth when you review the video? Re-record the question. The video is an opportunity to have an “optimized” interview: your voice, your face, your personality—without any of the stumbles, sneezes, or mishaps that can happen in “real” life.

2. Smile

It’s true in in-person interviews, and it’s true when it comes to recorded ones: candidates who smile are more likely to be remembered by interviewers. Smiling automatically implies relaxation, confidence, and likeability—all qualities school hiring contacts will ostensibly seek in their interviewees.

It can be hard to stay engaged and animated when you’re sitting in a room by yourself, talking to a blank computer screen. The tendency might be to squint at the screen or remain mirthless and immobile, which could lead to an awkward presentation. Grin it—literally—and bear it: ten minutes later, you’ll be glad you did when you look natural and charismatic on camera.

3. Look at the Camera

This tiny detail is one of the most important: when recording your video, look directly at the beady eye of the webcam—not the computer screen. Treat the webcam like your interviewer’s eyes, and make strong eye contact when recording your interview. If you look at the screen, your glance will appear slightly off, and your recording won’t be quite as strong.

4. Go Off-Script

While it’s admirable to prepare before you record your interview, when the time comes to say “action,” make sure you leave the script behind. If you’ve written your responses to the questions we’ve posed, try to commit them to memory or riff on general themes rather than read responses that you’ve placed just off-screen. You might not realize it, but it’s apparent to schools when you’re reading and when you’re speaking naturally. Don’t worry about perfection—a few stumbles or “ums” in a free-flowing natural conversation are better than a flawless, robotic reading.

We’re confident that a video interview will help set you apart. If you’re a candidate with CS&A, don’t hesitate—record yours today.

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