Body Language Strategies for Virtual Remote Video Interviews

Preparation & Background

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Virtual remote camera interviews are more popular today than ever before.⁴ Some preparation can help it go smoothly. To begin, test your equipment: internet connection, webcam, and microphone. Familiarize yourself with the software platform: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc. A shotgun microphone can be a good choice for a virtual remote camera interview. It picks up sound from a specific direction with minimal background noise.⁷ Make sure the background is not distracting and that bright lighting is in front but not behind you. Avoid noise distractions, such as a cell phone, TV, open computer apps, outside noises, and other people.¹⁵ Have brief keyword notes available on paper, flat on a surface to glance down at while using a conversational voice with variety. Have well-timed pauses before important points to prevent virtual fatigue and sounding memorized or read.^2,10,14

Body Language Posture and Movements

Body Language Posture & Movements

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Sit slightly forward about two feet from looking into the camera lens light.^2,4,6,12,14 Have your chin slightly raised steadily into the top third of the screen while looking at the camera light until you are told the remote camera video interview is finished.^1,3,11 Look down to break eye contact to infer you are thinking. About 80 percent of the time, eye contact should be at the camera, and about 20 percent, it should be looking at the other person’s facial feedback.¹⁷ Pause before answering questions to ensure the other person has finished talking.² Use facial and voice expressions that are more exuberant than in person to have your positive energy come through.^1,17 Dress in the way that would be expected if the interview were in person.^9,10 A few things to avoid are watching yourself on screen, licking your lips, squinting, rolling your eyes, or excessively blinking.⁹

Rapport Behaviors

Body Language Rapport Behaviors

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Even though virtual remote camera interviews have the host and guest on split screens, their nonverbal behaviors can still synchronize. Often, facial displays for both are less animated expressions for informative content interviews to project credibility compared with entertainment interviews. For informative content interviews, Fujiwara et al. (2022) found synchronized facial displays with the right amount of comfort to be fundamental to communication and building rapport between host and guest. Have your hands visible while using gestures within the screen.^2,17

Van Edwards (2025) overviews some specific nonverbal behaviors to display for building rapport and appearing more charismatic. One way to show interest is to lean in as the other person is speaking. Another is to raise one’s eyebrows after the other person says something interesting to display interest. Some other ways to help build a connection are a slight head tilt, vocal affirmations, or mouth movements resembling them.

Final Suggestions

Hahn (2020) covers several suggestions for virtual remote camera video interviews. Only have a little space between the top of your head and the top of the screen. Have the camera lens light at eye level. Keep the light source in front of you and avoid backlight because it creates a silhouette. Pay attention to the background, such as pictures, plants, or objects that can be viewed behind your head.⁶ Darker colors often work better for virtual backgrounds.¹⁷ Sometimes people get nervous and forget to naturally move their head on video. It is acceptable to naturally move one’s head, and that leads to a better perception of your performance.⁸ Occasionally tilting it can be acceptable as natural, but too much comes across as passive. Quick jerking head movements should also be avoided.¹⁶