How To Nail Your Next Video Interview

Your next job interview may be around the corner, or it could be right in your own living room.

For an entire year, Lisa Berger has been pounding the pavement trying to find a new job. "It's definitely rough out there," she said. But her next job interview may be closer, as in close-up on a webcam.

Many companies are cutting travel costs by bringing their job candidates in via the internet using video conferencing services. Berger said she'd prefer giving her pitch in person.

"I believe that a lot of why I do well in an interview is because you're making a personal person-to-person contact. And I guess I'm a little worried that if you're doing it on a camera, that advantage won't be there," she said.

But now companies like 360JobInterview.com are providing coaching for online interviewing skills. "I would suggest that you keep your eye contact steady," said the company's Linda Egerton. "You want to make sure you're in a distraction free area, that there's not going to be any interruptions from the phone, doorbells, barking dogs."

And in this case the key word in job placement is placement. Where you place your webcam could make the difference between getting the job or not.

"The first thing I would say is it's a little too bright behind her," Egerton said.

Experts say avoid bright lighting, and wearing white or patterned clothes. Make sure you're centered on your screen and keep eye contact with the camera.

"So I can look at you if you're talking to me, but if I'm talking to you I should look into this camera," Berger said.

"Exactly, because that's what your eye contact would be," Egerton said.

Egerton said the most important tip is to dress and prepare for your online interview just as you would for an in person interview and practice.