What to Wear (or Not) for a Video Interview (2024)

FAQs

What to Wear (or Not) for a Video Interview? ›

Professionals usually wear slacks, dress pants, and skirts on the bottom, yet some might wear jeans to work if their company follows more of a casual dress code. The best Zoom interview attire is clothing that matches the level of professionalism at the company and feels comfortable to you.

While your interviewer can only see your top half in a video interview, it's a good idea to wear full professional attire from head to toe to avoid any unnecessary embarrassments. Professional attire usually means a suit or blazer, a shirt and dress pants or skirt.

Choose the right colors to wear

To look best in the camera, it's better for job seekers to avoid bright colors and distracting patterns. Instead, opt for clothes that are neutral in color and do not blend in with the background, such as beige, grey, black, navy blue, etc.

Stick to neutral tones that do not blend in with your background. A busy pattern can look wild if the Zoom video buffers, while a white shirt on a person with a light skin tone against a white backdrop may be difficult to see.

Unless otherwise indicated, business casual interview attire should be the go-to for most Zoom calls. Business casual usually means blouses, button-downs and/or blazers. Video-based interviewees don't have to worry too much about what's going on below the waist due to the nature of the medium.

Because your interviewer won't be able to see everything you have on your desk (or on your computer screen), it might be tempting to have a lot of information in front of you for a video interview. But be careful. Turner recommends having only a few quick notes in front of you and glancing at them sparingly.

Keep it simple with a ponytail

Instead of wearing your hair down, wear a classy bun or ponytail, or twist your hair into a smooth, long braid to keep your hair away from your face. Classy buns, ponytails or a long braid can give a professional look to your style while keeping you comfortable.

It's usually better to have your hair up for an interview.

However, having your hair down can be just as professional if that's what you feel most comfortable with — just make sure it's tidy and kept out of your eyes.

What 3 questions should I ask interviewer? ›

In an interview setting, black is a good choice, just don't wear too much of it. Like white, black pairs nicely with most other interview colors. Black says you respect the formality of the interview and the authority of the hiring company. Avoid matching black with brown, charcoal, or dark grey.

Yes, you should wear glasses to an interview, especially if your quality of vision requires it. Many might think to just wear contacts for an interview, but there have been studies that show that candidates that wear glasses to an interview are more likely to be hired if they do so.

Dress a little nicer for the interview than you would for the workday. Keep makeup and accessories light – they should enhance your appearance, not dominate it. You can wear your hair any way you like it as long as it's clean, tidy, and out of your face.

Your Zoom interview is an opportunity to make a positive impression on your prospective employer, so it is important that you dress to impress. If in doubt, you should wear the same type of outfit as you would for a face-to-face job interview.

Say the name of the person you are greeting. It sounds polite and friendly – and people like hearing their own name. But remember: only address the interviewer by his or her first name if they invite you to. Don't forget to smile and make eye contact with the interviewer!

If you're recording your answers, you'll likely start off with a prompt to introduce yourself. Look into the camera (not at the screen), and begin by stating your name and the position to which you're applying. Then, launch into your elevator speech.

You would never read from a pre-written script in a face-to-face interview, so you shouldn't do that in a video interview either. Considering the interviewer can't see your screen or your desk, you may be tempted to have multiple windows open or documents out just in case.

The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing.

What is the rule of thirds in video interview? ›

The basic principle is to divide your image into thirds horizontally and vertically. These lines and their intersections act as guidelines for where to position important compositional elements in your frame. It is particularly helpful for positioning your subject correctly for an off camera interview.

Just as you would for an in-person interview, it is highly recommended to send a thank you email as soon as possible. This is so for both one-way and live video interviews so, collect your notes from the interview and send them over right away.

Keep tight, revealing, and hole-filled clothing off your list of options. Anything that shows underclothing, cleavage, too much skin, or midriffs is unacceptable. While ripped and tight clothing can make a positive impact and can be trendy, it would be detrimental in a job interview.

Experts recommend that you should go in to your interview 10-15 minutes before it begins. Try to arrive at the location of the interview anywhere from 30-15 minutes before your interview is scheduled and then enter the building from 10-15 minutes before the interview begins.

This gets tricky – cameras can make someone appear different on screen than off. Factors such as lighting and angles can also alter appearance when filming. Luckily, you don't need a makeup artist to make yourself look presentable for your video interview.

Professional nail colors for interviews include neutral pinks and beiges. ... Stick to sheer colors, taupe, beige or clear nail polish and ensure your nails are well-manicured.

Even if you're not thirsty, take it. If you're offered coffee and you don't drink coffee, politely ask for water instead. This very simple act will make the person you're interviewing with feel like a good host, put her at ease, and prime you to be able to read her well and interview accordingly.

As a general rule, professional hairstyles are neat, out of the face, and not time-consuming. Brushed, loose, chest-length hair is also professional. If you have natural hair, protective braids are a good way to maintain a neat look. Avoid unnecessary accessories.

Yellow, green, orange and purple

Orange, in particular, is considered the most inappropriate color for an interview and can come across as overly confident and unprofessional.

The safest choice is to wear white, light blue, light gray, or another light color, providing that you don't disappear into your background—it might not be ideal to wear white against a white wall/background. Always research the culture of the company you're interviewing with to be sure what's appropriate to wear.

What color is calming for interview? ›

Brown - Brown is a neutral color that evokes feelings of calm. It is a great solid, neutral color for any interview. Blue - Blue, particularly navy, is another great neutral color for interview outfits. Blues convey feelings of calm, trust, and confidence - great qualities for an interviewer to sense in you.

Finish with a polite conclusion

"I am grateful for interviewing with you today. You have given me a clear overview of the position. I think my experience and accomplishments can provide value to the organization. Is there anything else you need to confirm if I am the right candidate for this position?"

The first thing you should do when answering “why should we hire you?” is to highlight any skills and professional experience that are relevant to the position you're applying for. To make your answer all the more valid, make sure to always back up everything you say with examples, experiences, and achievements.

“I should be hired for this role because of my relevant skills, experience, and passion for the industry. I've researched the company and can add value to its growth. My positive attitude, work ethics, and long-term goals align with the job requirements, making me a committed and valuable asset to the company.”

Choose an area that is quiet and free of distractions. This way your interviewer can direct their full attention to what you have to say. A room where you can shut the door is an ideal space to interview. Limit other noises by closing windows and turning off your music or the television.

Stick to sheer colors, taupe, beige or clear nail polish and ensure your nails are well-manicured. If you're concerned about what the interviewer might think about your choice of nail polish, then it's likely not a good choice.

It's perfectly acceptable to drink water during an interview. It's often encouraged! Water will help keep you hydrated and focused and prevent you from getting thirsty or distracted.

Maintain Eye Contact

Make it a point to look directly into the camera, rather than your computer screen. Looking anywhere else—even at the interviewer—makes it seem like you're paying attention to someone or something else.

Some experts recommend sticking to neutral colors in an interview, often for fear that bright colors or patterns will distract from your face in the video. However, if your outfit doesn't affect your camera view, there's no need to dull your outfit or accessories.

Avoid clumpy mascara.

You will want your mascara to look professional and polished. If you usually use false lashes and you are trying to achieve that long lash look without the false lashes, skip it for this interview.

What color looks best for Zoom interview? ›

When choosing your interview attire, opt for appropriate colors such as gray, black, tan and blue. Extend these colors to every item of your outfit. These colors help you look professional and keep you from wearing bright colors or wild patterns that can distract your interviewer and present a more casual look.

Maintain Eye Contact

Make it a point to look directly into the camera, rather than your computer screen. Looking anywhere else—even at the interviewer—makes it seem like you're paying attention to someone or something else.

To achieve perfect eye contact via video, you need to look directly into your webcam. In practice, in a live video interview you have to look at your interviewer's face on the screen so you can respond to them properly. For the best of both worlds, resize the window and move it as close to your webcam as possible.

Neutral colors - navy, gray, black, and brown - are the best colors for a job interview. White is also an excellent color for a blouse or button-down shirt. You can certainly add a pop of color to a neutral interview outfit.

In an interview setting, black is a good choice, just don't wear too much of it. Like white, black pairs nicely with most other interview colors. Black says you respect the formality of the interview and the authority of the hiring company. Avoid matching black with brown, charcoal, or dark grey.

Say that “you have the right experience.” Whatever you do, don't oversell yourself: “I'm the best salesman you've ever met!” Instead, make a general statement (I'm a great fit for the position because…) and talk about your experiences and achievements.

Is it OK to look at notes during a zoom interview? ›

Unlike in-person interviews, Zoom interviews allow you to refer to notes during the interview. As you prepare, write down important points and questions on Post-it notes. While you don't want to be reading out a script, these small notes can help cue you to stay focused and on task while you're interviewing.

Aside from giving the interviewer a bad first impression of who you are as a person and/or potential employee, it is also extremely unprofessional and is not standard business practice to join an interview call from your phone.

It's perfectly acceptable to drink water during an interview. It's often encouraged! Water will help keep you hydrated and focused and prevent you from getting thirsty or distracted.