How do I prepare my setup for a video interview?

Start with anything that could stop you joining or being heard:

1. Open the invitation and confirm the date, time, time zone, meeting link, and access instructions.
2. Use the device and meeting app you plan to use. Check that you can open the link and allow the app or browser to use your microphone and camera.
3. Use the meeting preview or make a short test recording. Check that your face is visible and your speech is clear.
4. Charge your device or keep its power cable within reach.

If something fails, try an alternative in advance, such as another device or browser, rather than waiting until the interview starts.

Choose a place where you are unlikely to be interrupted. Put the camera near eye level and frame yourself so your face and shoulders are visible. Face a window or lamp if you can; avoid a bright window directly behind you, which can make your face harder to see. Use the preview from the position where you will actually sit.

For example, if your desk is beside a window, turn your chair toward it and raise your laptop on a stable stack of books if needed. Check the background for anything you would rather not show. A tidy, ordinary space is enough; you do not need a special backdrop.

Speak at your normal volume during a test and listen for muffling, echo, or nearby noise. If you have headphones or a headset you already know how to use, test them beforehand. Otherwise, check the device’s built-in microphone and speakers. Silence notifications and, if applicable, ask household members to avoid interrupting during the interview.

Test the meeting link from the location where you expect to take the call. Pause downloads or streaming on your own devices if you can. If the connection becomes unreliable, have an alternative ready, such as another suitable spot or device, and test it in advance.

Keep the materials you may need within easy reach: your résumé, the job description, your notes, and any work sample the interviewer requested. Use recognizable filenames, close unrelated windows, and keep brief notes near the camera so you are not searching through folders during the conversation.

Check the invitation for instructions about what to do if the call fails. If it gives no plan, prepare a short message you can send through the existing interview channel or another contact method already provided. For example: “Hello [interviewer name], I’m having trouble joining the video call. I’m trying to reconnect. Please let me know if you’d prefer another meeting link or contact method.” Use only contact details you have been given.

Here is a reusable routine. The timing is a planning suggestion, not a promise that every problem can be fixed in time.

About 15 minutes before:

1. Open the invitation and meeting link. Confirm you have the right interview and display name.
2. Check camera framing, lighting, microphone, and speakers with a preview or brief test.
3. Put your résumé, job description, and notes where you can reach them.
4. Plug in your device, silence notifications, and settle in your chosen location.
5. Keep your brief backup message ready, using only a contact route already provided.

A few minutes before, close distractions and follow the invitation’s instructions to join. If a problem occurs, try reconnecting and use your prepared backup plan if needed. Keep any message brief and focused on how to continue.