The advice is written for candidates in Jordan and the Gulf, where a first interview with a regional office, a recruiter in another country or a hiring manager on a site visit is very often done over Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
When the invite arrives: check four things the same day
Do this within a few hours of receiving the invitation, not the night before.
- The time zone. The UAE and Oman are one hour ahead of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. A recruiter in Dubai who writes “10:00” may mean 9:00 your time in Amman or Riyadh. Add the invite to your calendar and read the converted time, then confirm it in your reply: “Confirmed for Tuesday at 10:00 UAE time (9:00 Jordan time).”
- The platform and the link. Note whether it is Zoom, Teams or something else, and whether the link needs a passcode.
- The format. Ask politely who will attend and how long it will take. One line is enough: “Could you let me know how many people will join and roughly how long the call will be?”
- The language. If the job ad was in English and you are unsure, ask whether the interview will be in English or Arabic.
A reply you can adapt
“Dear [Name], thank you for the invitation. I confirm my attendance on [day] at [time and time zone]. I will join through the Teams link you shared. Please let me know if there is anything I should prepare. Best regards, [Your name], [phone number].”
Two days before: set up the tech properly
Install or update the app on the device you will actually use. If you do not have a Teams account, you can usually join a Teams meeting as a guest from a web browser, and Zoom links also offer a browser option. Test both paths so you have a backup.
Then fix the details that interviewers notice:
- Display name: your full name as it appears on your CV. Change it in the app settings or on the join screen.
- Profile picture: a plain, professional photo or none at all.
- Notifications: turn off pop-ups from WhatsApp, email and calendar on the laptop. A message preview appearing mid-screen share is a real risk.
- Test call: Zoom offers a test meeting and Teams lets you check your devices before joining. Use them, and record yourself for two minutes to hear how you sound.
Zoom interview tips vs Microsoft Teams interview: the small differences
The two platforms behave alike in most ways, but a few differences catch people out.
- Waiting rooms. Zoom interviews often put you in a waiting room. Stay on the screen and do not rejoin repeatedly, even if the panel runs late.
- Lobby in Teams. As a guest on Teams you may wait in a lobby until someone admits you. The effect is the same: be patient.
- Join audio. On Zoom, make sure you click to join with computer audio, or the panel will see your face but hear nothing.
- Backgrounds. Both apps offer background blur. Blur is safer than a virtual background, which can cut off your hands and head when you move.
The day before: build the room
Choose the quietest room at the time of the call, not the quietest room in general.
- Light in front of you, never behind. A window behind you turns you into a silhouette.
- Camera at eye level. Put the laptop on a stack of books. Looking down into the camera is unflattering and looks tired.
- Plain background. A wall, a closed wardrobe or a tidy bookshelf. Remove laundry and anything personal you would not show an employer.
- Wired or close to the router. If your Wi-Fi is weak, sit nearer to it or use mobile data from your phone as a hotspot backup.
- Tell the household. Give family the exact time and ask for quiet.
Lay out what you need on the desk: a printed copy of your CV, the job ad, a notepad, a pen and a glass of water. A printed CV is better than a second window because the panel can see your eyes move across the screen.
Thirty minutes before: the final check
- Charge the laptop or plug it in.
- Close every app and browser tab you do not need, especially anything that makes sound.
- Open the link 10 minutes early and test your camera and microphone on the preview screen.
- Put your phone on silent, face down, but within reach in case the call drops and the recruiter phones you.
Video interview tips for the call itself
Look at the camera when you speak and at the screen when you listen. That is the closest you can get to eye contact. Keep answers a little shorter than you would in person, around one to two minutes, because long answers feel longer on video.
Pause for a second before you answer, because audio delay makes interrupting easy.
If you are asked to share your screen to show a portfolio or a spreadsheet, share only the single window, not the entire desktop. Have the file open and ready before the interview.
When something goes wrong
Connections drop. What the panel judges is how you handle it.
- Frozen video: say “I think my connection dropped for a moment, could you repeat the last part?” and carry on.
- Disconnected completely: rejoin the same link immediately. If that fails within two minutes, send a short email or message to the recruiter: “I lost my connection and am trying to rejoin. I can also continue by phone on [number].”
- Noise you cannot control: mute, apologize briefly and continue once it stops.
One-way recorded video interviews
Some larger employers in the Gulf send a link to record answers to preset questions with no person on the other side. You usually see the question, get a short time to think and then a fixed time to answer.
Treat it like a live interview: same room, same clothes, same lighting. Read the instructions on how many attempts you get before starting, and use any practice question the platform offers. Speak to the camera, not to your own image on screen.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I join a Zoom or Teams interview?
Open the link about 10 minutes early to test sound and video, then wait. Joining much earlier can put you into a meeting the interviewer is still using for the previous candidate.
Can I use my phone for a video interview?
You can, but a laptop is better because the screen is larger and the camera is steadier. If the phone is your only option, fix it on a stand at eye level turned sideways and plug it into a charger.
Should I send a thank-you email after a video interview?
Yes, the same day, to the person who arranged the interview or to the interviewer if you have their email. Two or three lines that thank them and mention one point from the conversation are enough.