Video Interview 6 Things You Might Not Think of But Should

Video Interview 6 Things You Might Not Think of But ShouldVideo Interview 6 Things You Might Not Think of But ShouldFor a lot of us, job vorstellungsgesprchs can be nerve-wracking and stressful. They can also be costly, what with having to pay for commuting costs (i.e., gas, tolls, public transportation, parking, etc.). And then theres your interview outfit- since your potential boss is going to be seeing you for the first time, you might want to make a positive impression with a knock-em-dead outfit and fancy briefcase or bag. What about doing a video interview, though?When youre looking for a remote job, the job interview process might seem a whole lot easier. You dont have to worry about shelling out money to get there and back, or offering a handshake with clammy hands. Heres the thing, though. A video interview is leid as easy as it might seem.Here are six things you might never think of when doing a video interview, butshould.1. Cover up your tattoos.Whether youre sleeved or sp ort a single tat, you absolutely, positively should cover it up during your job interview. While you might think that a potential employer wont spot the little angel on your wrist, he probably will- and might think there are more tats where that came from. Dont give a potential employer the chance to cast a negative (and incorrect) impression of you, and cover up all of your tattoos accordingly.2. Close the windows.Sure, you like to feel the breeze wafting through your home office while you job search, but its a good idea to keep the windows closed during a video interview. Why? Well, if youre living in the city, theres a good chance that horns will be honking just at the moment when the hiring manager says something critical- and you cant hear it. Or if you live out in the sticks, chances are the FedEx truck will plow down your driveway just as you get into the nitty gritty of the job interview, setting off your dogs and causing them to bark and howl. Which brings us to3. Put away your pets. Although you love it when Sam your pitbull snuggles by you while you go through job postings, its smart to move him away from where youll be conducting the video interview. You never know what could set him off and make him bark, whimper, or howl, and that can be construed as unprofessional (after all, you wouldnt bring him to an in-office job interview, right?). So even if its hard to separate yourself from your four-legged sweetie, do it during the video interview.4. Clean up your space.In its current condition, you would say that your office sports a messy chic look. But to a hiring manager, all hell see in the background is piles of paper and half-opened filing cabinets, not the fabulous vintage bookends you bought online. Unfortunately, some managers might assume that your home office environment is representative of your work style, and if its sloppy, they might think the work youll produce for them will be poorly executed, too. So before your interview, take the ti me to go through your office and remove everything that isnt necessary. Purge old papers (or scan the important ones), remove all clutter, and make it look as clean and professional as possible.5. Consider what youre eating.Of course, you know that its not the best idea to have a chili cheese hot dog (with extra onions) right before an in-person interview. But if you think it doesnt matter what you eat before a video interview, think again. No doubt youll be excited/nervous before your job interview, and eating something that can produce extra, well, bubbles into your system might need to be rethought. Eat something at least half an hour before your interview so that you will feel satiated and your brain can benefit from the nutrients. Lean proteins and whole grains are a good way to go- and save the double stuffed bean burrito for aprs interview. You can even drink coffee while doing a video interview- just dont overdo it or youll wind up a jittery job seeker6. Get completely dress ed. You have a video interview with a company you really want to work for. You prepped your home office, but figure since youre going to be seated for the entire interview that you only need to get dressed from the waist up- and leave your PJ bottoms and fluffy slippers on so youll feel comfortable. This should go without saying, but you should always get completely dressed for a video interview. You never know if the hiring manager will ask you for some sort of documentation that is sitting on top of a cabinet across the room- and requires you to get up right then and there. So even if your suit is feeling a little tight from your nerves (or those last 20 pounds you need to lose as part of your New Years resolution), be dressed to impress from head to toe for your video interview.Although video interviews might seem easier to do, they actually require the same (if not more) prep and careful consideration. So put the tips above into practice before doing a video interview, and youll surely ace itReaders, are you prepared for doing a video interview? Have you ever not done one of these tips- and regretted it later? Let us know in the comments below