How to Prepare for a Video Interview
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses are encouraging employees to work from home. But what if you are currently in the process of job hunting?
The good news is that your job search doesn’t have to stop, with many recruiters and employers choosing to conduct video interviews as a way to responsibly continue their hiring processes.
Whilst video conferencing has become common in people’s day-to-day work, we understand that many candidates will not have used it for formal interviews and this can often lead to preventable problems and mistakes. So, if you’re applying for a role that requires you to interview virtually, here are our top video interview tips to help you ensure it goes off without a hitch.
Set the Stage
One predictable but often overlooked element of preparing for a video interview is making sure you have the right environment. Clutter can be distracting, so try to find a quiet area of your home with a plain, minimalist background, such as in front of a blank wall.
Consider whether you have enough natural light from windows or if you need to supplement with lamps and overhead lighting. Avoid being backlit by a window, as this can make it difficult for the interviewer to see you clearly.
Finally, think about any audio disruption, for example, noises such as road traffic, ticking clocks or incoming messages and emails on your phone or laptop. This could all be distracting to both you and the interviewer, as well as cause potential issues with audibility. If there are others at home with you, consider letting them know you need quiet whilst your interview takes place.
Check Your Equipment
This may sound obvious, but it’s essential to make sure that all your equipment is functioning properly, even if you haven’t previously encountered a problem. You’d be surprised how many candidates we speak to have audio or visual issues which could easily be avoided with a little extra preparation.
Get online a few minutes beforehand and do a simple check of things like battery life and internet connection, and do a test run with the specific video conferencing software. The most common options are Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime and Google Hangouts (the interviewer/we will generally let you know which one they are going to use). Once you have everything set up, see if a friend, family member or your recruiter can call through and check that you look and sound clear – that way, you can be confident that everything is going to work as it should when it comes to the real thing
Dress the Part
We’ve all heard the jokes about telecommuters wearing business attire on the top and pyjamas on the bottom, but don’t be tempted to try this out yourself! We always advise candidates to dress as though they are going into the office. Putting on professional attire can also help you mentally prepare. You may be interviewing from your home, but the way you dress will get you into the right mindset for success.
Prepare your Paperwork
It’s okay to have a copy of your CV at hand, just as you might have in a face-to-face interview. You can also do some additional preparation and note the key points you’d like to cover in the interview, and either print them out or display them on a second screen. Just be mindful that you are not reading answers outright or referring to your notes too often.
Don’t forget to have a notepad and pen at the ready, in case you want to jot down any points or questions to ask after the formal section of the interview is over.
Communicate Clearly
As you probably know, there are some challenges when communicating over video conference, not the least of which are issues with lagging. The easiest way to overcome this is to leave a pause after each interaction to ensure your interviewer has finished speaking. This will also give you time to gather your thoughts and plan your response.
Try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer through the camera lens rather than getting distracted by other things on your screen, and nod and smile throughout to show you are engaged, as you would if you were conversing in person. And don’t be afraid to be yourself – just like in a face-to-face interview, showing a little personality amid the professionalism can go a long way.
Summary
Since we can expect Coronavirus to change the way we do business – at least in the short term – many Australian businesses will be utilising options like video interviews to keep their hiring moving, so it’s important to make sure you’re ready.
If you’d like to speak to our expert team of recruitment specialists about how to prepare for a video interview or your options for job hunting during the pandemic, contact us.
Somewhere in the world right now, a hiring manager is asking a question… and three seconds later ChatGPT is answering it.
The AI Authenticity Gap: Why Your AI-Generated CV Might Be Costing You the Job I see hundreds of CVs every week. I spend more time on LinkedIn than I care to admit. And one thing that's becoming increasingly prevalent is the appearance of overly authored posts and descriptions with plenty of words but precious little substance. Much of this has coincided with the widespread adoption of tools like ChatGPT. As someone working adjacent to the tech space, I was genuinely excited when AI started making waves across the world. I thought this was going to be a real game changer, and in many ways, it has been. But the overuse of generic AI-generated content has become so prevalent that I feel some people are now failing to show their authentic voice - the very thing that makes them stand out in a competitive market. The Early Adopter's Reality Check I was one of those people who tried to adapt early to AI, using it to help me in my professional and personal life. But here's the crucial difference: I didn't just accept the standard output I was given. I took the bones and made them my own. I used AI as a tool, not as a ghost-writer. Too often now, I see CVs that have been completely assembled by ChatGPT - so generic, so obviously automated, that I genuinely feel the candidate would have been better off not sending anything at all. These applications don't just blend into the background; they actively work against the candidate by signalling a lack of effort and authenticity. The Numbers Don't Lie Recent research validates what recruiters like myself are seeing daily. A May 2025 survey of 600 U.S. hiring managers revealed some startling statistics: One in five recruiters (19.6%) would outright reject a candidate with an AI-generated resume or cover letter Over a third of hiring managers (33.5%) can spot an AI-generated resume in under 20 seconds 58% of hiring managers express concern about AI-generated applications Think about that for a moment. Hiring managers are detecting AI-written CVs in less time than it takes to read a single paragraph. The very tool candidates think gives them an edge is often the red flag that gets them filtered out. The Efficiency Versus Laziness Debate When ChatGPT first emerged, many of my colleagues said outright that this was going to make people lazy. I argued against that view. I believed that just as Excel made formulating reports easier without making us worse at analysis, ChatGPT would help people be more efficient in their work - freeing them up to focus on strategic thinking and creative problem-solving rather than getting bogged down in formatting and structure. I still believe AI can be a powerful efficiency tool when used correctly. The problem is that many candidates aren't using it to enhance their work; they're using it to replace their work entirely. The Personal Touch in an AI World While improvements are being made to make AI-generated content seem less generic, there's a fundamental issue when you're putting forward something meant to be a representation of yourself. Your CV is your professional story. It's your opportunity to showcase not just what you've done, but who you are, how you think, and what makes you different from the hundreds of other applicants. When you rely on AI to put it all together, you lose all control and that crucial personal touch. The research backs this up: Baby Boomers and Gen X hiring managers are particularly sceptical, with one in four Baby Boomer managers likely to reject fully AI-generated resumes. Even among younger Millennials and Gen Z managers, who you might expect to be more accepting of AI use, there's a clear expectation that the final product must sound human, show real effort, and reflect the individual behind the words. The Right Way to Use AI in Your Job Search By all means, use the tools available to you. AI can be excellent for: Brainstorming bullet points you might have forgotten Identifying gaps in your experience narrative Improving grammar and clarity in your existing writing Suggesting different ways to frame an achievement Creating a first draft structure that you then completely personalise But don't think that because you can do something quickly and easily, you're going to get the same results as someone who actually takes the time to show they've invested effort. The data shows that 74% of hiring managers have encountered AI-generated content in applications, and they're becoming increasingly adept at spotting it. Standing Out in a Tough Market It's a challenging market out there in many sectors of the technology industry. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to ensure you can show exactly who you are. That means: Write in your own voice - Not the corporate-speak that AI defaults to Include specific examples - Generic achievements sound hollow Show your personality - What drives you? What excites you about your work? Customize for each role - AI-generated applications often feel one-size-fits-all Proofread beyond grammar - Does this sound like something you would actually say? The Bottom Line The irony is that in trying to use AI to save time and improve their chances, many candidates are actually undermining themselves. They're creating a sea of sameness in which their application drowns rather than floats to the top. Remember: hiring managers want to hire people, not algorithms. They want to understand your unique perspective, your problem-solving approach, your communication style. They want to see evidence that you've put thought and effort into your application because that's a strong indicator of the thought and effort you'll put into the job itself. Use AI as a tool in your toolkit - but make sure the final product is unmistakably, authentically you. That's what will make you stand out in 2025 and beyond. Need help crafting a CV that showcases your authentic voice while still being competitive in today's market? Get in touch, I'd be happy to provide guidance on how to strike that perfect balance between efficiency and authenticity. Article written by: Jack Davies PRA Brisbane Associate Consultant - Development and Testing M: 0483 969 454 E: jack.davies@pra.com.au
Job hunting can be tricky, but we’ve got you covered. Our 2025 PRA Job Seeker Handbook is full of tips and insights to help you:
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