You’ve heard the classics for interviews: turn up 10 minutes before, dress well, confident eye contact, firm handshake.
Great, until you are not in the room.
Welcome to virtual interviews, where your mic is your handshake, your camera is your eye contact, and your conference room might also be your bedroom. Here is how to nail it.
Before the interview
- Do a test call in Teams, Zoom or Meet. Check mic, camera and speakers.
- Update and restart the app and laptop, close heavy apps, and test your headset on another device.
- Have a backup ready: phone hotspot, charger, and the dial-in number as a last resort.
Think of this as a dress rehearsal. You would not arrive in person to find that your suit does not fit. - Make sure you’ve done your research! Dive into the company you’re interviewing for, the people who are on the panel (if you can), and get your questions for them ready!
Your setup (rapport starts here)
- Timing. Join the call 5 minutes early. This gives you time to check your tech, settle your nerves, and be ready to greet the interviewer calmly and confidently. Rushing in at the last second risks fluster and fumbling.
- Audio first. If they cannot hear you, they cannot hire you. Wired earbuds or a USB mic beat laptop mics.
- Lighting. Face a window or a lamp behind the screen, not behind you, or risk looking like you are in witness protection.
- Framing. Camera at eye level, head and upper torso in shot so hand gestures are visible. No one needs a tour of your nostrils.
- Background. Tidy and neutral with a few safe personal items such as books, a plant or a tasteful Lego Death Star. This gives interviewers an easy, natural ice breaker without visual noise.
- Presence. Sit slightly forward, feet grounded, shoulders relaxed, and aim for 10 to 15% more energy than in person. Video flattens tone, shrinks gestures and hides micro expressions, so a small lift restores warmth and clarity without feeling performative.
Clothing (Yes, even two feet from your bed)
It may feel odd to get dressed up while sitting two feet from your bed, but clothes change your psychology and signal to everyone that you are taking this seriously. Dress as if you are meeting in person, and yes, that includes the bottom half. If you stand up to grab a notebook, you will thank me later.
The first 30 seconds (set tone and trust)
- Quick wave, smile and your name. Visible hands signal warmth and openness.
- Look at the camera for your greeting and headline points. Pin the interviewer’s tile near the lens to help.
- Use names early, confirm audio is clear, and mention you will pause briefly in case of lag.
These micro moments replace the in room cues that build rapport.
During the interview (content and connection)
- Camera gaze rule. Speak headline points to the camera, glance to the screen for reactions, then return to the camera to finish.
- Gestures. Keep hands chest to waist height inside the frame. Use open palms for welcomes and transitions, avoid pointing. Park hands between points to avoid fidgeting.
- Beat the lag. Add a one beat pause after questions and answers. Use verbal nods such as “got it” and “makes sense” because micro cues get lost on video.
- Thread rapport. Use the interviewer’s name, lightly mirror pace and tone, and add short reflective summaries, for example “So the key challenge is X, and success looks like Y, have I got that right”.
- Notifications off on desktop and phone.
- Glitch fix. Name it, offer the fix, move on. For example, “I am noticing a delay, I will pause between points.” Switch to phone audio if needed.
Screen share etiquette
- Close unrelated tabs, turn off notifications, and zoom to 120 to 150% for readability.
- Keep a local PDF copy of anything you share in case the Wi Fi gets dramatic.
Quick pre join interview checklist
- Name correct in the app, camera at eye level, lens clean.
- Earbuds plugged in, test call passed, Do Not Disturb on all devices.
- Notes near the camera, water nearby, CV and JD open locally.
That is it. Virtual interviews are just real interviews with a few extra buttons. If you can be heard, be seen and be human, you are most of the way there. Nail the basics, add a touch of warmth and avoid shaky cam, echoey bathroom acoustics and surprise nostril close ups. Future you will not only thank you, they might also get the job.
Take a breath before you join, sip of water, quick lens wipe, then go show your best work. If the Wi Fi gets dramatic, you have a plan. If the cat walks in, smile and carry on. Humans hire humans.
Additional Support from InfoSec People
If you’re working with InfoSec People as your recruitment agency, we offer prep calls ahead of your virtual interview to help ensure you’re fully prepared and confident.
InfoSec People is a boutique cyber security and IT recruitment consultancy, built by genuine experts. We were founded with one goal in mind: to inspire people to find the careers that inspire them. With the success of companies fundamentally driven by the quality of their people, acquiring and retaining talent has never been more important. We believe that recruitment, executed effectively, elevates and enables your business to prosper.
We also understand that cyber and information security recruitment can genuinely change people’s lives, that’s why we take the duty of care to those we represent very seriously. All our actions are underpinned by our core values:
- Always do the right thing
- Be the best we can be
- Add value
We work with businesses in the cyber/tech arena, from start-ups and scale-ups to FTSE100 and central Government, many of whom are always looking for great people.
Call us directly on 01242 507100 to discuss opportunities or email info@infosecpeople.co.uk.