Video and phone interviews: how to do well

Updated November 2026

Most hiring now starts with a phone or video call, and many interviews happen entirely on screen. The questions are the same as in person, but the setting is yours to control: a quiet room, a working connection and good light make you easier to listen to.

Three kinds of remote interview

Phone screen: Usually 15–30 minutes with a recruiter. They check that you meet the basic requirements, your interest, availability and sometimes pay expectations. Your goal is to get to the next round.
Live video interview: A real-time conversation on a video platform with the hiring manager or a panel. Treat it exactly like an in-person interview.
One-way (recorded) interview: You log in to a platform, read or hear a question, and record your answer within a time limit, with nobody on the other end. Recruiters watch the recordings later. You may get a short thinking time and a set number of retakes, or none.

Tech setup: test it the day before

Open the exact link or app you were sent. Install any software and sign in ahead of time; updates can take several minutes.
Use a laptop or desktop if you can. If you use a phone, put it on a stand in landscape position, plugged in, with notifications silenced.
Use wired earbuds or a headset with a microphone. They cut echo and background noise better than built-in speakers.
Check your connection. If Wi-Fi is weak, sit closer to the router, plug in a cable, or ask others at home not to stream during the call.
Close other programs and browser tabs, and turn off notifications.
Set your display name to your real first and last name.
Do a test call with a friend, or record yourself, to check picture and sound.

Camera, light and background

Camera at eye level. Stack books under the laptop so you are not looking down into it. Frame yourself from mid-chest up, with a little space above your head.
Light in front of you. Face a window or put a lamp behind the screen. A window behind you turns you into a silhouette.
Plain background. A tidy wall or bookshelf is best. A blur or neutral virtual background is fine if your real one is distracting, but test it: some make hair and hands flicker.
Dress as you would in person, including the bottom half in case you need to stand up. Solid colors look better on camera than tight patterns.

During a live video interview

Join 3–5 minutes early. If there is a waiting room, stay there calmly.
Look at the camera when you speak, not at your own image. Moving the video window close to the camera helps.
Pause a beat before answering. Video delay causes people to talk over each other.
Nod and smile while listening; with less body language on screen, these signals matter more.
Keep a short note with your STAR stories and questions next to the camera, but do not read from it. (See the STAR method in job interview tips.)
Mute when you are not speaking only in a panel or if there is noise; otherwise stay unmuted so the conversation flows.
For a panel, address the person who asked the question, then briefly widen your answer to everyone.

Phone interviews

On the phone your voice does all the work.

Find a quiet room with good signal. Do not take the call while driving or in a public place.
Have your resume, the job posting and your notes in front of you. This is the one advantage of the phone, so use it.
Stand up or sit up straight and smile; it changes how your voice sounds.
Answer an expected call with your name: "Hello, this is Maria Lopez."
Keep answers shorter than in person, about 60–90 seconds, because the listener cannot see you.
Before you hang up, ask about next steps and confirm the best email to follow up.

One-way recorded interviews

Read the instructions first: how much thinking time, how long each answer can be, and how many retakes you get.
Use any practice question the platform offers to check your camera and sound.
Answer in full sentences that make sense without the question, because the reviewer may watch your clips out of order: "A time I solved a scheduling problem was…"
Watch the timer. If you have 2 minutes, aim for about 90 seconds and finish with the result.
Do not chase perfection. If you have one retake and your first answer was solid, keep it.

If something goes wrong

Technical problems happen, and how you handle them is noticed more than the glitch itself.

Before the interview, save the interviewer's or recruiter's phone number and email.
If the video freezes, say so calmly, leave and rejoin the link.
If you cannot reconnect within 2 minutes, email or call: "My connection dropped. I'm happy to continue by phone at 555-0142, or to rejoin whenever suits you."
For a one-way interview that fails, email the contact immediately with a screenshot of the error.

Accommodations. If you have a disability and need an adjustment for a video or recorded interview, such as captions, extra time or a phone interview instead, you can ask the employer. The EEOC says the request can be made orally or in writing, and that it is best to ask as soon as you know you will need it.

Watch for fake interviews

Scammers copy real hiring steps. The Federal Trade Commission describes fake recruiters who contact people on job sites, invite them to a "virtual interview" from a personal email account rather than a company one, then send an official-looking offer letter and an invoice for equipment. Honest employers will never ask you to pay upfront for a job or equipment. Be wary of any "interview" held only by text or chat app, and verify the company using contact details you find yourself. More warning signs are in how to spot job scams.

After any interview, send a short thank-you the same day; see thank-you notes with examples.