Preparing for a Video Interview Part III

Part III

In Parts I and II , we talked about external factors to consider, such as how to look good and how to sound good , during an on-camera interview. Internally, you might notice a few butterflies in your stomach or your heart running a little fast as you approach “show time.”

While many people get nervous in front of a camera, there are a few things you can do to tame those nerves and give a confident interview:

See to your physical needs before the interview begins. Take a brisk walk to release tension. Drink water to soothe your nerves. Use the washroom before being mic’d up.
Take a last look at your physical appearance. Spit out that gum. De-shine your face. Touch up make-up and straighten out hair and clothing. Tell yourself you look great!
Show us that smile!
Breathe deeply. Slow, deep breathing has been shown to ease tension and slow heart rates. Visualize your breath going up through the nose and slowly down to your belly button. Hold it for a second. Then, equally slowly, exhale through your mouth. Do this about five times in a row.
Relax, take a deep breath!
Develop some rapport with the interviewer. Talking to someone you know is always easier than talking to a stranger. Introduce yourself to the interviewer and make a little small talk. Ask him or her to tell you a little about what to expect. You will find yourself focusing on the interviewer instead of the camera once things are rolling.
Converse instead of perform. Although you’ve seen the questions ahead of time and prepared what you want to say, avoid reciting answers. Think of the interview as a conversation with someone who is very interested in what you have to say. Smile and joke a little. Chat with the interviewer.