Online interview tips for video calls, coding rounds and proctored tests

For most candidates, at least the first rounds of an interview now happen online, and many companies run the entire process remotely: an online assessment, video interviews and even the HR discussion. Online interviews test the same things as in-person ones, but they add a layer of technical risk and make some habits, such as eye contact and pauses, work differently. A little preparation removes most of the risk.

The day before: check your setup

Technology

• Install and test the platform. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Webex all behave slightly differently. Open the meeting link in advance, update the app, and check that your camera and microphone work in it.
• Use headphones with a microphone. They cut echo and background noise far better than laptop speakers.
• Check your internet. Sit close to your Wi-Fi router, close downloads and streaming on other devices, and keep a mobile hotspot ready as a backup.
• Charge your laptop and keep the charger plugged in. If power cuts are common where you live, know how long your inverter or power bank will last.

Camera and lighting

• Place the camera at eye level. Stack books under your laptop if needed, so the interviewer is not looking up your nose.
• Face a window or a lamp, so light falls on your face. A bright window behind you turns you into a silhouette.
• Choose a plain, tidy background. Avoid virtual backgrounds, which can glitch around your head and distract the interviewer.

Your space

• Find a quiet room and tell your family or housemates when the interview is, so nobody walks in.
• Silence your phone and turn off notifications on your laptop, including chat apps and email.
• Keep a glass of water, a pen and paper, your resume and the job description within reach.

Dress as you would for an in-person interview, at least from the waist up. It affects how you carry yourself as well as how you look.

During the interview

• Join five minutes early, with your display name set to your full name.
• Look at the camera when you speak. Looking at the interviewer's face on screen feels natural, but on their side it looks as if you are looking down. Glance at the camera, especially when making key points.
• Pause before answering. Video calls have a small delay. A brief pause after the interviewer finishes prevents you from talking over each other.
• Mute when you are not speaking in panel interviews, and unmute before you answer.
• Keep notes brief. A few keywords on paper are fine, but reading answers from the screen is obvious on camera.

Coding rounds on shared editors

Technical interviews often use a shared coding environment such as CoderPad, HackerRank or CodeSignal, or simply a shared document. These usually lack the autocomplete and error highlighting you rely on in your own editor.

• Practise writing code without autocomplete, including remembering common method names in your language.
• Try the platform beforehand if the company sends a practice link.
• Ask which languages are allowed and pick the one you know best.
• Think out loud. On video, silence is even harder for the interviewer to read than in person. Our guide on approaching coding problems shows how.
• Test your code with examples before saying you are finished.

Proctored online assessments

Online tests are often remotely proctored, which means software, and sometimes a person, watches you through your webcam while you take the test. The rules are strict and usually enforced automatically:

• Your webcam and microphone stay on for the whole test.
• You may need to show an ID card and scan the room with your camera.
• Switching tabs, opening other applications, using a second monitor or having another person in the room can be flagged and may end your test.
• Headphones are sometimes not allowed. Read the rules for each test.

Run the system check that most platforms provide, a day before the test and again shortly before it starts.

Recorded video interviews

Some companies use one-way video interviews, where you record answers to questions shown on screen, usually with a time limit for each. Practise recording yourself answering common questions, watch the recordings, and work on speaking clearly and looking at the camera. Check whether retakes are allowed before you start.

When something goes wrong

Technical problems happen to everyone, and interviewers expect them. What they notice is how you handle them.

• If your connection drops, rejoin immediately using the same link.
• If you cannot rejoin within a couple of minutes, email or call the recruiter to explain and ask how they would like to continue.
• If the audio is poor, say so politely and suggest turning off video to save bandwidth.
• Keep the recruiter's phone number handy for exactly this reason.

Stay calm and courteous. A candidate who handles a dropped call gracefully often leaves a better impression than one whose interview went smoothly.

The questions are the same whether you are online or in person. Prepare with our interview guides by role, and plan what to ask at the end using our list of questions to ask at the end of an interview.