This guide will explain how best to prepare your video interview setup. No matter what equipment you have - you will be able to make a positive effect through proper presentation via video.

Background

The first and easiest point to consider is your background.

You want as little in the background as possible. A plain wall will do best but if that is not possible, then ensure your background looks presentable and tidy. Remove objects from view, they are only serving as a distraction from the main event (which is you!).

Another consideration that may act as a distraction is headphone wires. While if it is a choice between no wires and good audio quality you should definitely go for wires, they can look messy and unprofessional.

One key point is to ensure that your bed and door are not in the background.

With regards to your bed, even if it is made, it will make you look less professional.

With regards to your door, even if you have informed your flatmates/family that you are going to be undertaking a video interview (which you should!) you can reduce the impact of someone unknowingly walking in mid interview by having the door out of frame.

Finally, do not have a window behind you - we will go into this later.

Camera

For optimal use of your webcam, you will want it to be just above eye line. Almost directly in line with your forehead and slanted very slightly downwards.

If this is not the case with your laptop or monitor, consider placing it on top of some books or a stand. Or on the other hand, using a cushion to prop yourself up if it is too high.

Sit so that the top of your torso is in frame and that none of your head is cut off at the top. Your face should be just above centre, while maintaining good positive pos

Lighting

This is potentially the most important factor and leads on from not having a window behind you in your video interview.

Lighting is crucial for the interviewer being able to see you in all of your glory - and may actually make you look far more attractive and hence, more confident!

So how do you accomplish great lighting?

Things to avoid

First of all, lets cover things to avoid.

Sitting with a window directly behind you

Due to the very high levels of light that will come from a window, the visual will be over exposed and highlight the light source. Leaving you essentially displayed in the dark.

I've been in plenty of video interviews where the candidate is quite literally a vague outline due to a bright window in the background. No one will tell you to correct this mid interview!

A bright light behind you

Similarly to the point on windows, a bright light can have the same effect. Try to position yourself so that there are no bright light sources behind you.

Overly white light

Many lighting features and ring lights specifically have extremely white light that can leave you looking over exposed and washed out.

Shadows

Ensure that the light reaches your full face, there shouldn't be any shadows casted across your face.

What to do instead

Now, what can you do to ensure great lighting.

Position yourself infront of a window

Windows are a great source of natural light that will leave you glowing. Try to set up your video interview station opposite a window and face towards it.

Use (multiple) warm light sources

Make use of warm light sources, either a lamp or a ring-light will work great. Often, ring lights have a mode that is between the white light and the warmer light. This can work best - giving bright enough light with a warm tint.

What will really do wonders is using multiple light sources. If you use one light source you will need to position it directly infront of you to avoid it causing shadows over one side of your face. Whereas, when using two in conjunction, you can position them slightly off to either side and achieve great lighting on your entire face.

These lights should ideally be just slightly higher than your webcam.

Mic/Audio

Once you've purchased or tested a great microphone (audio quality is really important!) you'll need to figure out where to position it.

The microphone should ideally be around 1ft or 30cm away from you. This will ensure that it can pick up everything you say but won't boom or distort when your voice is slightly louder.

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