Video or phone interview: prepare without the stress

What remote interview formats are there?

A remote interview is prepared like an in-person one, with an extra layer of tech: connection, sound, picture. The Government of Alberta sums up the rule in its guide on how to ace your phone or online interview (opens in a new tab): even if the format feels informal, prepare just as seriously. This guide covers all three formats, with a checklist for the day before and the hour before.

The Public Service Commission of Canada makes the same distinction in its video recruitment toolkit (opens in a new tab): a synchronous video interview is conducted live online with the hiring manager and the candidate present, while a pre-recorded interview lets candidates record their answers at their convenience.

How do you prepare for a phone interview?

Confirm the time and the number the employer should call, then prepare your space. The Alberta guide recommends, among other things:

• A quiet room, away from distractions and noise.
• A phone that is ready: call waiting turned off, speaker and microphone checked, battery fully charged.
• Your notes within reach: resume, achievements, questions to ask, pen and paper. Notes are fine, but avoid sounding rehearsed.

On the phone, your voice carries everything. Speak a little more slowly than usual, smile as you answer (people can hear it), and let the other person finish before you reply. Prepare a one-minute introduction: our guide to interview questions in Canada helps you structure it.

How do you prepare for a live video interview?

Ask which platform will be used, install it and learn how it works before the day. According to the Alberta guide:

• A steady picture: put your device on a stand or tripod; do not hold it in your hand.
• The camera at eye level: too low or too high distorts your face.
• Light on your face, ideally facing a window, not behind, beside or above you.
• A clean, uncluttered background: virtual backgrounds can be distracting and look unprofessional.
• A test run with a friend about an hour before the interview.

During the interview, look at the camera rather than the screen or your notes: that is what creates eye contact. If your connection is weak, pause briefly before speaking so the delay doesn’t make you talk over the interviewer.

How do you succeed at a pre-recorded video interview?

In this format, nobody answers you live: a question appears, you get preparation time, then you record your answer. For its own video assessments, the Public Service Commission of Canada recommends a desktop or laptop with a webcam rather than a phone, an up-to-date browser, a dedicated internet connection, wired if possible (public Wi-Fi may cause problems), and a blank or blurred background. A practice question is provided, and you can take as much time as you need with it: use it to check your sound and picture.

Since nobody prompts you, structure each answer: context, action, result. The STAR method is ideal for this format. Aim for a complete answer within the time allowed rather than a perfect one cut off halfway, and set aside enough uninterrupted time for the whole interview.

Which checklist should you run before the interview?

Also keep the phone number or email of the person who invited you: if the connection drops, a short message is enough to suggest continuing by phone.

What should you do if the tech fails during the interview?

Stay calm: dropped connections happen to everyone, and how you react is what people remember. If the picture freezes, reconnect right away; if the connection does not come back within a minute, send a short message to the person who invited you and offer to continue by phone. Once the interview resumes, sum up the interrupted answer in one sentence rather than starting over.

For the content, prepare the two moments that matter most: your answer to "Tell me about yourself" and the questions to ask at the end of the interview. Remotely, they are often your only chances to create a real conversation.

How can Postulio help?

Postulio’s job posting analysis identifies the skills and requirements in the posting, which helps you choose which examples to prepare. The Premium plan adds one session with a person a month, your choice of mentoring, resume review or mock interview. After the interview, our thank-you email guide helps you wrap up. No tool or preparation can guarantee an offer.

Sources

• alis, Government of Alberta, How to ace your phone or online interview (opens in a new tab) — preparation, quiet room, equipment, lighting, background, testing, looking at the camera, pausing for delays.
• Public Service Commission of Canada, video recruitment toolkit, module 1 (opens in a new tab) — live or pre-recorded video interviews, device, connection, background, practice question.