Video interviews rarely go badly because of what someone said. They go badly because of lighting that leaves half a face in shadow, a laptop camera angled up someone's nose, or a connection that keeps dropping the interviewer's last sentence. Fix the practical things and your answers get to do the actual work.
It's worth taking this seriously precisely because it's so fixable. Unlike an in-person interview, where nerves or a difficult question can genuinely throw you, almost every video interview problem is solvable in advance with fifteen minutes of setup. Here's what actually moves the needle.
Camera position and eye line
Prop your laptop up so the camera sits roughly at eye level — a stack of books works fine. A camera angled up from a lower desk is the single most common video interview mistake, and it's an easy one to avoid once you know to check for it. Sit far enough back that your head and shoulders are visible, not just a close-up of your face.
Lighting
Face a window or a lamp rather than sitting with your back to one — backlighting turns you into a silhouette no matter how good your answers are. Natural daylight facing you is usually the easiest fix; if that's not available, a desk lamp behind your laptop pointed at your face does the job.
Background and setup
A plain wall or tidy bookshelf works better than a virtual background, which can glitch or blur your hands mid-gesture on a weaker connection. Test your internet speed beforehand if you can, close unnecessary tabs and apps to free up bandwidth, and have a backup — mobile hotspot, a phone number for the interviewer — in case something drops.
Sound
Built-in laptop microphones are usually fine for a quiet room, but wired headphones with a mic noticeably improve clarity if you have them — and eliminate any echo from your own speakers. Warn anyone else in the house, and silence notifications on every device in the room.
Body language on camera
Video compresses body language, so it needs to be slightly more deliberate than in person. Nod and lean in a little more than feels natural to signal engagement — subtle cues that read clearly face to face often disappear almost entirely on a small webcam feed. Keep hands visible above the desk; gesturing naturally still comes across, it just needs to happen in frame.
Do a full dry run
The night before, do a five-minute test call with a friend using the exact platform the interview will be on — Teams, Zoom, Google Meet all behave slightly differently. Check your camera angle, lighting, and audio in that specific app, not just in your laptop's built-in camera preview.
Once the practical setup is sorted, the content of your answers matters just as much as it would in person — our guide to common UK interview questions is worth revisiting before you log on. And if this is a second-round video call rather than a first screening, see our notes on preparing for a second interview, since the format usually shifts even if the medium doesn't.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I actually look during a video interview?
Into the camera lens when you're speaking, not at the interviewer's face on screen. It feels unnatural at first, but it's what reads as eye contact on the other end. Glance at their face while listening — it's only your own speaking moments where the camera matters most.
What should I do if my internet connection drops mid-interview?
Say so as soon as you notice, rather than hoping it resolves itself. Most interviewers have had this happen before and will happily pause or reconnect. Staying quiet while frozen or glitching looks far worse than briefly acknowledging a technical issue.
Is it okay to have notes visible during a video interview?
A short list of bullet points — key examples, questions to ask, points about the role — is fine and genuinely useful. Reading full sentences off a script is usually obvious and undermines how natural you sound, so keep notes to prompts, not paragraphs.
What should I wear for a video interview?
The same as you would for an in-person interview for that role — video doesn't lower the bar. Solid colours read better on camera than busy patterns or stripes, which can distort slightly on lower-quality webcams.
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