What actually happens
You'll get a link, usually with a deadline of a few days. You'll see a question, get a short time to think, then a fixed time to answer — often one to three minutes. Some let you re-record, many don't. There's normally a practice question first that isn't scored: use it properly.
Practise out loud, not in your head
The gap between knowing what you'd say and saying it fluently to a camera is bigger than people expect. Record yourself on your phone answering "tell me about yourself" and watch it back once. It's uncomfortable and it is the single most effective thing you can do.
Time your answers. Most people either dry up at forty seconds or ramble past the limit and get cut off mid-sentence.
Set the room up
- Light in front of you, not behind — a window at your back turns you into a silhouette.
- Camera at eye level. Stack some books under the laptop.
- Look at the lens, not at yourself. That's what reads as eye contact.
- Plain background, door shut, phone silent, housemates warned.
- Wired internet or a strong signal. Don't do it on mobile data in a moving vehicle.
Structure carries you when nerves don't
With no interviewer to react to you, rambling is the main risk. Use the same STAR shape as a written answer and signpost it out loud: "The situation was… what I did was… in the end…". It sounds slightly formal in your head and lands as clear and confident on the recording.
A short pause is fine. Editing doesn't exist here, so gather the thought and start the sentence properly.
Do it in good time
Don't leave it to the deadline evening. If your camera fails or the link expires you want time to sort it out, and support teams don't answer at 11pm. Doing it two days early also means you're not doing it tired.
The short version
- Use the practice question properly — it isn't scored
- Record yourself once on your phone and watch it back
- Light in front, camera at eye level, look at the lens
- Signpost your structure out loud so you don't ramble
- Complete it a couple of days before the deadline
Common questions
Can I have notes on screen?
Bullet points beside the camera are fine and normal. Reading a script isn't — it's obvious from your eyeline and it flattens how you come across.
What if my connection drops?
Most platforms let you resume, and support teams are used to it. Screenshot any error and contact them — doing it early is exactly why you shouldn't leave it to the last night.
Do I get feedback?
Sometimes. Where an interview is run through GetMyFirstJob you may get written feedback in your account once it's been reviewed — check the Applications page.