Virtual interviews are weird. There, I said it.
You’re sitting in your spare bedroom or at your kitchen table, staring at a little glass dot, trying to convince a stranger you’re the perfect fit for their team. It feels like a performance. It feels sterile. And for most people, that leads to a "robotic" version of themselves that lacks the spark they have in real life.
If you’ve ever finished a Zoom interview and felt like you didn’t really connect with the person on the other side, you aren't alone. You didn't lose your personality; the technology just ate it.
The good news? You don't need a professional studio or a theater degree to win at this. You just need to understand how the camera changes the game.
The Eye Contact Lie
The most common virtual interview tip you’ve heard is probably "make eye contact." But in a virtual world, that advice is actually a trap.
When you look at the interviewer's face on your screen, you feel like you’re looking them in the eye. You see their smile, their nod, and their reactions. But to them, you are looking down. You are looking at their chin or their chest.
The connection breaks before you even finish your first sentence.
To them, eye contact lives in that tiny lens at the top of your monitor. That is the only place where the human connection happens.
The 80/20 Rule
Try to spend 80% of your time looking directly into the camera lens when you are speaking. This feels incredibly unnatural. It feels like you’re talking to a wall. But on their end, it looks like you are looking them straight in the eyes with confidence.
Use the other 20% to glance down at the screen, check their facial expressions, and see how your story is landing. Then, pivot your gaze back to the lens to drive your point home. ⚡
Why the Camera Flattens Your Energy
Have you ever noticed that even when you feel like you’re being friendly and engaged on video, you look back at a recording and see someone who looks... bored?
Cameras are energy vampires. They compress your warmth. They flatten your enthusiasm.
If you bring "normal" in-person energy to a virtual interview, it reads as "low" energy on the screen. To show up as your normal, vibrant self, you have to intentionally dial it up by about 10% to 15%.
More Movement, Not More Performance
This doesn't mean you should be "on" like a game show host. It means you should let your face move. Smile a little bigger. Use your hands within the frame.
When you sit perfectly still to avoid "distracting" the interviewer, you actually just look like a frozen image. Movement proves you’re alive, engaged, and excited to be there.
Less Prep. More Pep.
The Technical Setup (Keep It Minimal)
You don't need a $500 ring light or a green screen to look professional. In fact, over-producing your background can make you feel more like a YouTuber and less like a candidate.
Keep it clean. Keep it simple.
- Eye Level is a Must: Prop your laptop up on a stack of books if you have to. If the camera is below your chin, you’re literally looking down on the interviewer. It’s a subconscious power dynamic that doesn't feel good to them.
- Front-Facing Light: Position yourself so the light is hitting your face, not your back. If there’s a window behind you, you’ll look like a silhouette in a witness protection program.
- The "Hands Visible" Secret: Try to sit far enough back that the interviewer can see your hands when you gesture. Seeing someone’s hands builds trust. It’s a psychological cue that you have nothing to hide.
Bringing Guess What Energy™ to the Screen
At Less Prep, More Pep, we talk a lot about Guess What Energy™. It’s that natural, conversational vibe you have when you’re telling a friend a story.
"Guess what happened at work today..."
That energy is the antidote to the virtual interview "robot mode." When you’re on camera, it’s even more important to lean into this.
Stop trying to recall a script you wrote in a Google Doc. Instead, visualize the person you’re talking to as a colleague you already like. When you tell your stories, tell them with the intent of sharing a win, not passing a test.
Your Brag Bank™ Is Your Safety Net
One of the biggest advantages of a virtual interview is that you can have notes. But most people use notes the wrong way: they write out full sentences and end up reading them.
Interviewers can tell when you’re reading. Your eyes track across the screen, your tone goes flat, and the connection dies instantly.
Instead, use your Brag Bank™. These aren't scripts; they are bulleted "story triggers" that remind you of the results you’ve achieved.
Stick a few Post-it notes near your camera lens with one-word reminders of your best stories. This keeps your eyes near the camera and your brain focused on the story, not the script.
Specific. Engaging. Real. ⚡
The Foundation of Your Confidence
The reality is that virtual interview tips only work if you actually believe in the stories you’re telling. If you’re trying to "hack" the camera but you’re still terrified of the questions, the camera will catch that too.
Confidence isn't about being perfect on video. It’s about being prepared enough that you can stop worrying about yourself and start focusing on the conversation.
That’s exactly why we built the Pep Kit™.
The Pep Kit™ is designed to take you from over-preparing to actually being ready. It features 20 worksheets that help you:
- Discover your stories: Build a Brag Bank™ that works for any question.
- Shift your energy: Move from nervous to "ready to chat."
- Own the conversation: Learn how to ask the right questions and leave a lasting impression.
Whether you’re interviewing for a Fortune 500 role or your first management position, the goal is the same: show up as the most confident version of yourself.
Virtual interviews don't have to be awkward. They just require a little more "pep."
Download the Pep Kit™ today and start showing up with the confidence you deserve.
Less Prep. More Pep.