I did my first remote interview in 2020, like everyone else. Sat on my bed with my laptop propped on a stack of books. The WiFi dropped twice. My roommate walked through the background in a towel.
I did not get that job.
Since then, I’ve done probably 30+ remote interviews and I’ve learned that video interviews aren’t just in-person interviews on a screen. They’re a different format with different rules, and most people haven’t adapted.
The Technical Setup (Get This Right First)
Before we talk about interview skills, let’s talk about the basics — because a bad setup can tank your interview before you say a word.
Internet Connection
Wired ethernet > WiFi. Always. If you can’t do wired, at least sit close to the router. Test your connection beforehand — not just “is the internet working” but “can I hold a video call without lag.”
If your connection is unreliable, tell the interviewer at the start: “My internet’s been a bit spotty today. If I freeze, I’ll rejoin quickly.” Setting expectations is always better than a surprise disconnect.
Camera and Lighting
Your camera should be at eye level. Not looking up your nose (laptop on lap), not looking down at you (monitor too high). Stack some books under your laptop if needed.
For lighting: face a window if you can. Natural light from behind your screen is the most flattering setup that exists and it costs nothing. If you don’t have a window, any lamp behind your camera works. Just don’t sit with a window BEHIND you — you’ll look like a shadow in a witness protection program.
Audio
This matters more than video. Interviewers will forgive bad video quality but they won’t forgive not being able to hear you.
Use headphones with a mic — even the basic ones that came with your phone are better than your laptop’s built-in mic. Built-in mics pick up room echo, keyboard sounds, and that construction happening outside.
Test your audio in the actual app (Zoom, Meet, Teams) before the interview. Not just “can I hear myself” but “does it sound clear to another person.”
Background
You don’t need a fancy home office. A clean, boring wall is fine. A bookshelf is fine. A tidy kitchen is fine.
What’s NOT fine: unmade bed visible, pile of laundry, moving people in the background, a virtual background that glitches every time you move your hands (this is weirdly distracting and makes you look like you’re hiding something).
If your space is messy, just blur the background. Every app supports this now and it looks natural.
The Stuff That’s Different About Video
Eye Contact Means Looking at the Camera
This is the #1 thing people get wrong on video calls. When you look at the person’s face on screen, you’re actually looking slightly away from the camera. To the other person, it looks like you’re not making eye contact.
The fix: look at the camera lens when you’re talking. Look at the screen when they’re talking. It feels weird at first, but it makes a huge difference in how engaged you appear.
A trick: put a small sticky note with a smiley face right next to your camera. It gives you something to look at that’s in the right spot.
You Need More Energy
Video flattens your energy. If you feel like you’re being normally expressive, you probably look flat and disengaged on screen. You need to bump up your expressiveness by about 20%.
This doesn’t mean being fake or hyperactive. It means:
- Nodding when they talk (they can’t feel your body language, they need to see it)
- Smiling a bit more than feels natural
- Using slightly more vocal variation
- Sitting up straight (slouching looks terrible on camera)
The Delay Changes Conversation Flow
There’s always a slight delay on video calls — even on good connections. This means:
- Don’t jump in the moment they stop talking. Wait a beat. Otherwise you’ll talk over each other constantly.
- Pauses feel longer to you than they do to them. A 3-second pause that feels awkward to you is barely noticeable on their end.
- If you accidentally talk over each other, just say “Sorry, go ahead” and let them finish.
Screen Sharing Has Its Own Rules
If you’re doing a technical interview with screen sharing:
- Close every other tab and app. Notifications, Slack messages, personal emails — close it all.
- Increase your font size. What’s readable on your monitor is tiny on their screen.
- Narrate what you’re doing. They can see your screen but they can’t see your thought process. “I’m going to start by defining the interface, then I’ll implement the main logic…”
The Hidden Advantage of Remote Interviews
Here’s something most people don’t realize: remote interviews have advantages that in-person interviews don’t.
You can have notes. Not a full script — that’s obvious and weird. But a few bullet points taped next to your camera with your key stories, the company’s recent news, and questions you want to ask? Totally fair game.
You control the environment. No fluorescent lighting, no weird office chairs, no getting lost in the building looking for the right conference room. You’re in your space.
You can manage anxiety better. You can do box breathing on mute before they join. You can have water right there. You can have your brag document on your desk.
This is also where tools like MurMur AI shine — it works on any video call platform and provides real-time hints that only you can see. In an in-person interview, your notes are in your head. In a remote interview, your notes can be right there on screen.
Before, During, and After
5 Minutes Before
- Close all unnecessary apps and tabs
- Test your camera and mic one final time
- Open the meeting link but don’t join yet
- Take three deep breaths
- Have water within reach
During
- Join 1-2 minutes early, not 10 minutes early
- Start with a brief tech check: “Can you hear me okay?”
- Look at the camera when speaking, screen when listening
- Keep your hands visible — gestures help convey engagement
- Don’t check your phone (yes, they can tell even if it’s off-screen)
After
- Send a thank-you email within 24 hours
- Keep it short — two sentences about something specific from the conversation, not a generic template
- If they mentioned a concern or you flubbed an answer, you can briefly address it: “I thought more about your question on X, and I wanted to add…”
The Thing Nobody Mentions
Remote interviews feel less “real” than in-person ones, which cuts both ways.
On one hand, it can feel lower-stakes, which reduces anxiety. On the other hand, it’s easy to be too casual — answering from bed, eating during the call, having your phone out.
Treat it like an in-person interview in terms of preparation and professionalism. But take advantage of the format where you can.
Related: If you freeze up during interviews regardless of format, here’s the science behind interview anxiety and what evidence says actually works.