By Jill Kurtz
Online Career Tips Contributor
Are you about to be videotaped for an interview? Here are three tips to present yourself in a way that will make people want to watch.
Be prepared
If possible get the interviewer’s questions beforehand. If you can’t get the questions in advance, brainstorm likely topics and work with those.
Develop 2 or 3 talking points to answer each question. Stick to information you know well. You want to respond to the interviewer as you would in any conversation. Avoid having to refer to notes or stumbling on information that you aren’t completely comfortable with.
If you are going to cite any references, be sure to look them up and check you recollection of the facts. You’d be amazed how often people cite quotes, books, or other references and get the fact incorrect.
Be visual
Smile! Look at the interviewer as you respond and use facial and hand gestures that demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the subject matter. If you look bored or uncomfortable, people watching will be too. Show your passion and you will draw people in.
Telling brief stories as part of your answers is another way to be “visual.” Stories help people process information and ideas. Paint a picture with your words.
If appropriate, provide the interviewer with images. Interspersing related images along with shots of the person talking can make a video more visually interesting and dynamic.
Be concise
Keep your answers brief and to the point. Don’t put the interviewer (and, later, the viewers) to sleep with long-winded answers. If you pique the interviewer’s interest, he or she will ask follow up questions to allow you to provide more detail.
Decide on the most important thing you want to convey in your answer and stick to that. If you cover too many things you risk losing others in your train of thought.
Remember that the average attention span is pretty short. Don’t convince yourself that your interview is the exception that will generate longer interest. Keep it short and you will keep everyone’s attention long enough to share your key points.
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