Video interviews are now routine for many Nigerian employers, including those outside Lagos and Abuja. The technology is rarely the problem. Power, mobile data and light are, and they are predictable enough to plan for.
Plan for the three things that fail
- Power. Charge the laptop fully before the call. Know how long your inverter or generator will last, and have a power bank for your phone.
- Data. Run a speed test the day before at the same time of day. A wired connection to the router is far more stable than Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot.
- Light. Sit facing a window or a lamp. A light behind you turns you into a silhouette.
Have a backup route
Ask the employer in advance which platform they will use and what to do if the call drops. Save the recruiter's phone number and send them yours before the interview, so you can call in if the video fails.
On the day
- Open the link 15 minutes early and check your camera and microphone.
- Place the camera at eye level, so you are looking into the lens, not down at the screen.
- Close other apps, switch off notifications and keep a glass of water nearby.
- Dress as you would in person. The camera shows the whole top half of you.
Set up the room
Choose a plain wall and sit facing the light, not with a window behind you. If traffic or a generator is loud, move to a quieter room. Test the camera and microphone at the same time of day as the interview, because evening light and power supply change the picture and the sound.
Dress as you would for an in-person interview, even though the camera may only show your shoulders. You may need to stand up, the call may switch to full view, or the connection may drop and you may need to reconnect quickly.
- Close other apps and turn off notifications before the call starts.
- Keep your CV, the advert and a pen beside the screen, not on it.
- Have a charged phone nearby with the interviewer's number in case the call fails.