Most first-round interviews now are remote. Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, whatever.
People underestimate how much the setup matters. Two candidates with identical qualifications will come across completely differently if one looks like a news anchor and the other looks like a hostage video.
**Lighting:**
- Face a window. Don't sit with one behind you.
- If your natural light is bad, get a cheap ring light. $20 online. Single best career investment you'll make this year.
- Goal: your face is clearly lit. Not shadowy. Not blown out.
**Audio:**
- Do not use your laptop mic unless you absolutely have to. Laptop mics are bad.
- AirPods or any decent earbuds are a massive upgrade.
- A cheap USB mic is an even bigger one.
- Do a test recording before the interview. Listen to yourself. If you sound muffled or echoey, fix it.
**Camera:**
- Camera at eye level. Stack books under your laptop if you have to.
- Not looking up your nose. Not looking down at your chin. Eye level.
**Background:**
- A clean wall. A bookshelf. A tidy room.
- Not your unmade bed.
- Not a door people are walking in and out of.
- If in doubt, use a subtle blur. Not a fake beach scene.
**Clothes:**
- Dress like you would if this was in person. Even though they'll only see your shoulders up, wear real pants. It changes how you feel, and therefore how you come across.
**Connection:**
- Test it the day before.
- If your wifi is shaky, plug in via ethernet or pick the spot closest to the router.
- Have your phone ready as a backup in case everything breaks.
One last thing: **log on five minutes early.** Not one minute. Five. It gives you buffer for tech issues and lets you settle. Showing up flustered at 1:00:47 for a 1pm interview is a bad start.
What's one small upgrade you could make to your remote interview setup this week for under $30? Commit to it in the comments.
