Where do I put my hands? And why is my hair sticking up like that? It's easy to lose sight of what really matters in a job interview when you switch to video format. We asked camera pros and career professionals to boil their online interview advice into four tips.

You rarely get a second chance to make a first impression - this also the case for job interviews. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has not only put an end to the handshake, but often the entire interview. Instead, video interviews have become the norm. But do the same rules apply? How do you manage to make a good impression in front of the camera?

1. Be prepared

Whether it's face-to-face or video: preparing for a job interview hasn't changed, says career and business coach Bernd Slaghuis. It's important to research the company, the products or services as well as office locations, turnover and number of employees. The advantage of video interviews: cheat sheets are allowed. As long as you don't read everything with your head lowered, the interviewers won't mind what's on the piece of paper.

To make sure the conversation flows, you should do a technical check in advance. In addition, the German Federal Association of HR Managers recommends testing various features before the interview starts. For example, if you're asked to share your screen, you ideally shouldn't have to search for too long.

2. Professional light and sound

Probably the biggest difference to an in-person job interview is the reduced level of communication, explains Nicole Krieger, head of a School for Presenters in Germany. You only see the upper body and the whole picture is flat and two-dimensional. "That's why you have to be even more convincing with what the other person can see and hear." Light and sound are crucial for this. Natural daylight is best, so try to face towards the window.

You should also test the sound beforehand. If you sound tinny, Krieger recommends trying an external microphone. Andrea Ballschuh, a TV presenter and expert in camera and face-to-face training, recommends: "Shortly before the start of the conversation, make a "mmm" sound as if you were thinking of something delicious." This helps you find your natural vocal range.

3. Eye contact is crucial

Eye contact via video is not easy: When looking at your interviewer on the screen, your gaze is no longer looking directly in the camera but to the image of them on your screen, explains Andrea Ballschuh.

Especially when you are the one talking, you should force yourself to look directly into the camera so that the interviewer feels you are really looking at them. This is unusual at first, but it leaves a good impression. To make sure you don't forget, stick a post-it note next to the lens.

Your position is also important: Never conduct a video interview with a tablet or smartphone in your hand or on the table. Instead, Ballschuh recommends aligning the computer camera to eye level or putting your smartphone on a tripod. As with news announcers, the image should extend from the elbows to just above the head, says Nicole Krieger.

4. Maintain posture and ask questions

An upright posture also makes a good impression. According to Krieger, if you're sitting down, you should sit on the front part of the chair, put your feet on the floor and not lean back, but lean slightly towards the camera.

At home, Ballschuh prefers to shoot her videos standing up and barefoot. This gives her a firm footing. In addition, your body language is more natural when standing. It's best not to think about what you do with your hands, says Ballschuh. "Your hands automatically support what you're saying."

Bernd Slaghuis rates the inner stance higher than posture. "Your expertise and career has already been checked in your CV. A job interview is about getting to know people as potential employees and coworkers." This includes being transparent: If you're nervous because it's your first video job interview, say so at the beginning.

 - dpa