Before the interview

• Advise the interviewee whether he/she will be required to operate the video conferencing equipment
• Allow the interviewee to visit the video conferencing site in advance to become familiar with the room and the equipment.  Have somebody onsite to explain how the system works
• Connect the candidate with another site to allow him/her to experience the picture quality and the short delay that can sometimes occur during a video conference

During the interview

Dress and body language

• Advise the interviewee to wear standard business dress, but to avoid "busy" patterns that may blur the picture and make it appear fuzzy.  Pastel colours are more suitable in a video conference than white, and bright, flashy jewellery should be avoided as it might reflect the light and be distracting
• Remind the interviewee that small actions (such as shuffling, looking away from the camera, fidgeting, etc.) look larger on camera and can be distracting or indicate feelings not intended to other interview participants.  Similarly, movements such as swinging in a chair or swaying from side to side look very odd on video
• Demonstrate to the interviewee that he/she will appear more sincere and interested by leaning slightly towards the camera when speaking

Camera shots

• Set up the camera so the candidate is shown from the waist up.  If the interviewee is seated at a table, it is best to keep the tabletop just out of camera shot (to avoid displaying papers)
• Capture the interviewee's eyes one-third from the top of the screen, whilst his/her body should be in the centre of the screen, with some space allowed around the perimeter to minimise the likelihood of the interviewee leaning out of shot

Using the camera

• Position the camera directly above the monitor so that the interviewee appears to be looking straight at the interview panel
• Advise the candidate not to stare at the camera, but encourage him/her to look at the camera, especially to help emphasise strong points
• Remind the interviewee not to shift his/her gaze about the room or to look down at notes on the table too frequently
• Above all, coach the interviewee to relax, smile and convey his/her personality

Carol Daunt is Founder and Managing Director of LearnTel, a leading provider of training and consultancy for the application of collaborative communications technologies.  With 20 years’ experience, she is recognised as a leader in her field.  To learn more, go to www.learntel.com.au