One of my interview coaching clients recently asked me, “Why do technicalities in video interviews matter so much?”
They do matter–sometimes a lot–and in this post, we’ll look at several important reasons why.
Why Technicalities Matter in Video Interviews
There are a number of reasons why video interviewers’ most common complaints include technicalities–by which I mean issues like these:
- Internet connectivity problems such as freezing or lag
- Unclear audio or microphone problems
- Poor lighting
- Awkward eye contact or camera positioning
- Poor framing
- A cluttered or distracting background
- A distracting or malfunctioning virtual background
- A shaky image because the computer is on an unstable surface
- Background noise
- Problems with camera/microphone permissions or unfamiliarity with the video platform
- An outdated or inappropriate name display
Video Interview Technicalities as a Clue about Skills
Every little thing you do in the interview process may to be taken as a clue to your character, skills and work style. Technical issues can be seen as a reflection of your motivation, attention to detail, learning ability, resourcefulness, or comfort level with technology.
Technicalities and Confidence
When your lighting is good, your audio is clear, your camera is steady and you know your internet connection is reliable, you can concentrate on the interview itself instead of worrying about what might go wrong. You’ll feel more confident, and the interviewer will pick up on that. Hiring managers tend to see confidence as a sign that you know what you’re doing.
Gut-level Impressions
Even when employers try to make hiring decisions systematically, interviewers can still form quick impressions based on how an interaction feels. If the interviewer sees the candidate sitting in the dark with half of their face in shadow, their voice sounds muffled and they aren’t making good eye contact, they just won’t feel as good about the candidate. This is a big reason why technicalities in virtual interviews matter.
Interviewer Distractions
There’s an even simpler reason technicalities matter: they distract the interviewer. If your audio keeps cutting out, your picture is freezing, or your background is full of distractions, the interviewer has to spend mental energy dealing with the problem instead of listening to your answers. You’ve planned and practiced to communicate a clear message; you want them to be able to focus on it.
Motivating Yourself to Ace the Video Interview Technicalities
Job search takes a lot of patience, doesn’t it? There are so many details to attend to that it’s easy to become annoyed and procrastinate. I totally get it.
What do you need to tell yourself in order to be thorough about these details? Maybe it would be helpful to see it as a game–one that you really want to win. Or to see it as “not rocket science,” but simply a series of small problem-solving steps. Celebrate each little problem solved.
How to Fix These Issues
Now that you know why technicalities in video interviews matter, get ready to fix them. For specific tips, read my post, How to Ace a Video Interview. Get yourself set up for success! (This article has been updated in 2026.)
