You’ve prepped for the technical questions. You know your stuff about Active Directory, cloud architecture, or whatever the role requires. You’re ready.

Then your webcam makes you look like a witness protection participant, your audio cuts out mid-sentence, and the hiring manager spends the interview squinting at your ceiling fan instead of listening to your answers.

Here’s what nobody tells you: technical interview prep is table stakes. The candidates who lose virtual interviews usually don’t lose on technical knowledge. They lose on everything around it.

According to Second Talent’s 2025 hiring research, 55% of hiring professionals conduct video interviews, and 90% use general tools like Zoom, Teams, or Skype rather than specialized interview platforms. This means your average IT interview happens on consumer software that wasn’t designed for high-stakes conversations—and most candidates haven’t optimized for that reality.

This guide covers the non-technical side of virtual interviews that technical people often overlook. If you want to brush up on answering actual IT questions, check our IT interview questions guide first.

Why Virtual Interviews Still Trip Up Technical Candidates

You’d think IT professionals would have the home advantage in virtual interviews. We understand the technology. We’ve troubleshot video calls for users who couldn’t find the mute button.

Yet technical skills don’t automatically translate to virtual interview skills. And there are specific reasons why.

The False Comfort of Familiarity

Because you use Zoom or Teams daily, you might skip the preparation steps that non-technical candidates obsess over. You know how screen sharing works, so you don’t practice it. You’ve joined hundreds of meetings, so why test your setup for this one?

This overconfidence kills more IT interviews than missing a technical question. A 2024 Indeed survey found that 54% of candidates fail to test their technology before virtual interviews—and the percentage is likely higher among tech workers who assume they’ve got it handled.

Different Stakes, Different Pressure

Your daily video calls have low stakes. Camera cuts out? You joke about it and reconnect. Bad audio? Someone asks you to repeat yourself. No big deal.

Interviews compress high pressure into short windows. That “minor” technical glitch now eats into your limited time to make an impression. The hiring manager who graciously overlooks connection issues from colleagues might subconsciously ding a candidate for the same problems.

The Zoom Fatigue Factor

Stack Overflow’s research shows most IT professionals spend significant time in virtual meetings already. By the time you hit an evening interview after a full day of video calls, you’re running on fumes—and it shows in your energy, eye contact, and responses.

The Setup Problems That Actually Matter

Forget the advice about “professional backgrounds” for a moment. Let’s talk about the technical setup issues that genuinely derail IT interviews.

Lighting Is Not Optional

You can have perfect answers to every system administrator interview question, but if your face is a shadowy blur, you’re starting at a disadvantage.

58% of hiring managers identify poor lighting or distracting backgrounds as deal-breakers. Not “minor concerns.” Deal-breakers.

The fix is simpler than most people think:

The Free Option: Face a window during daylight hours. Natural light from in front of you (not behind) is the single biggest upgrade you can make. Schedule interviews for times when your setup gets good natural light.

The Budget Option: A basic ring light ($20-40) or desk lamp positioned behind your monitor eliminates shadows. You don’t need professional studio equipment. You need even light on your face.

The Test: Open your camera app right now. What do you see? If you can’t clearly see your facial expressions, neither can your interviewer.

Audio Quality Matters More Than Video

Here’s something counterintuitive: interviewers will forgive mediocre video quality faster than choppy audio. They need to hear your technical explanations clearly. They need to understand you the first time, not ask you to repeat yourself three times during your answer about troubleshooting methodologies.

Laptop microphones pick up keyboard noise, HVAC systems, and that neighbor who’s decided today is lawn mowing day. External microphones (even the cheap ones that come with earbuds) typically produce clearer audio.

Minimum viable setup:

  • Wired earbuds with inline mic: $15-30
  • Position yourself in the quietest room available
  • Close windows if outside noise is an issue
  • Mute when not speaking during group interviews

Better setup:

  • USB condenser microphone: $50-100
  • Headphones (keeps audio from bleeding into your mic)
  • Acoustic treatment (even a blanket on a hard wall helps)

Internet Stability Beats Speed

A 100 Mbps connection that drops packets is worse than a stable 25 Mbps connection. For interviews, you want reliability, not raw speed.

Before any interview:

  • Connect via ethernet if possible (WiFi adds latency and instability)
  • Close bandwidth-hogging applications (cloud backups, streaming, large downloads)
  • Have a mobile hotspot ready as backup
  • Know your ISP’s typical problem times (often early evening in residential areas)

If you’re interviewing for remote IT jobs, demonstrating that you can manage a stable home connection isn’t just about the interview—it’s evidence that you can work remotely without technical drama.

Eye Contact on Video Is Different (And Weird)

In person, you make eye contact by looking at someone’s eyes. On video, you make “eye contact” by looking at your camera lens—which means not looking at the person’s face on your screen.

This creates a strange dynamic: to appear engaged to your interviewer, you need to look at a tiny dot above your screen instead of their actual face. It feels unnatural because it is unnatural.

The Practical Approach

Look at the camera when you’re speaking. This projects confidence and direct engagement. You can glance at the screen (the interviewer’s face) when they’re speaking—they won’t notice because you’re not the visual focus.

Positioning tip: Move your video call window as close to your camera as possible. Most laptops have the camera at the top of the screen. If your call window is at the bottom, you’ll appear to be looking down constantly.

For desktop setups: External webcams can be positioned directly above or even slightly in front of your monitor, making the camera-to-screen gap smaller.

64% of interviewers prefer candidates who maintain eye contact through the camera. Whether you agree that this matters, it’s how you’ll be judged.

Screen Sharing Without Embarrassment

If you’re interviewing for technical roles, you’ll likely need to share your screen—whether for a coding interview, system design discussion, or walking through a portfolio project.

The nightmare scenario: you share your screen and everyone sees your 47 open browser tabs, including that Reddit thread about whether the company you’re interviewing with is a good place to work.

Before the Interview

  • Close everything you don’t need open
  • Clear your desktop (or have a clean desktop ready to switch to)
  • Disable notifications system-wide (macOS: Do Not Disturb, Windows: Focus Assist)
  • Open only the applications you’ll need to share
  • Rename any files you’ll reference with professional names (not “resume_final_final_v3_USE_THIS.pdf”)

During Screen Sharing

Practice the exact flow: “Let me share my screen” → click Share Screen → select the correct window → confirm it’s visible → begin presenting. Do this three times before your interview so the muscle memory is there.

Pro tip: Share a specific window, not your entire screen. This prevents accidental reveals when you need to reference something else.

For DevOps interviews or cloud engineer roles, you might be sharing terminal sessions or cloud consoles. Make sure your font size is readable on a shared screen (usually bigger than you think) and that you can navigate without hunting for things.

The Interruption Problem

Working from home means potential interruptions from the physical world: pets, family members, delivery drivers, construction noise. Over 70% of professionals experience anxiety during virtual interviews, and interruption worries contribute to that anxiety.

Realistic Prevention

You can’t control everything, but you can reduce the probability of disasters:

  • Tell household members about your interview time (put it on a shared calendar)
  • Put pets in another room or have someone watch them
  • Disable your doorbell or put up a “do not disturb” sign
  • Interview in a room with a door that locks
  • Have a backup plan: if working from home is too risky, book a library study room or use a co-working space

When Interruptions Happen Anyway

If your kid walks in or your dog starts barking, handle it briefly and professionally. Don’t over-apologize or let it derail you. “Sorry about that—my dog heard the mail carrier. Where were we?”

Hiring managers are humans too. Most have experienced their own pandemic-era video call interruptions. What they notice is how you handle disruption, not that it happened.

Platform-Specific Prep

Don’t assume all video platforms work the same. Each has quirks that can trip you up.

Zoom

  • Virtual backgrounds work but require decent lighting and a solid-color background behind you
  • Screen sharing defaults might share audio or not—know which setting you need
  • Breakout rooms are increasingly used for panel portions; know how to join when prompted
  • Gallery view vs. speaker view changes where participants appear

Microsoft Teams

  • If interviewing with a company that uses Teams, you might need their invitation to work properly
  • Screen sharing integrates with Office apps in specific ways
  • Chat panel is often used to share links or questions during technical interviews
  • Background blur works better than custom backgrounds for many setups

Google Meet

  • Works best in Chrome (surprise)
  • Screen sharing quality can vary—test it specifically
  • No native virtual backgrounds without extensions (for personal accounts)
  • Recording indicators are visible—expect the interview to be recorded

Cisco Webex

  • Often used by enterprise companies and government
  • Interface differs significantly from other platforms
  • Test it specifically if it’s listed in your interview invite
  • Join the waiting room early—Webex can be slower to connect

Universal advice: Join every platform’s test meeting option before your actual interview. Every platform has one. Use it.

The First 90 Seconds Matter More on Video

Research consistently shows that interviewers form impressions within the first few minutes of meeting a candidate. On video, this window compresses because:

  • You’re already “on stage” from the moment you join
  • There’s no handshake, small talk while walking to the meeting room, or other buffer time
  • Technical hiccups in the first minute color the entire interaction

Your Pre-Interview Checklist

30 minutes before:

  • Test camera, audio, and internet one more time
  • Close all unnecessary applications
  • Silence your phone and put it out of sight
  • Get water (but in a spill-proof container away from your keyboard)
  • Use the bathroom
  • Have your resume, notes, and any portfolio items ready

5 minutes before:

  • Join the waiting room (being slightly early shows respect; being late suggests you don’t care)
  • Check your appearance on camera
  • Take three deep breaths
  • Put on a neutral, pleasant expression before the host admits you

When admitted:

  • Smile genuinely (it comes through on camera)
  • Confirm they can see and hear you: “Can you hear me okay? Great.”
  • Make brief small talk if they initiate, but don’t force it

Your goal in the first 90 seconds is simple: establish that you’re a professional who has their act together. Everything after that builds on this foundation.

Remote Technical Interviews Have Changed

If you’re interviewing for IT roles in 2026, the technical portion has evolved significantly. Course Report’s research on technical interviews notes that companies increasingly use live pair-programming sessions over isolated coding tests.

This shift means:

Communication During Problem-Solving Matters More

Interviewers want to hear how you think, not just see whether you reach the correct answer. Practice narrating your thought process out loud while working through technical problems.

“I’m going to start by checking what services are actually running on this system… okay, I see the web server is up but the database connection looks like it’s timing out… let me verify the database service status…”

For network engineer interviews, this might mean walking through your troubleshooting methodology verbally. For help desk interviews, it might mean explaining how you’d communicate with a user while resolving their issue.

Collaborative Tools Require Practice

You might be asked to work in:

  • Shared coding environments (CoderPad, HackerRank, etc.)
  • Cloud console walkthroughs (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Whiteboarding tools (Miro, FigJam, Excalidraw)
  • Terminal sharing sessions

Each of these has latency, and typing in someone else’s environment while being watched feels different than working in your own setup. Practice with these tools before your interview, not during it.

If you’re preparing for system design interviews, get comfortable diagramming on a digital whiteboard. It’s slower than physical whiteboarding, and you need that muscle memory.

AI Proctoring Is Increasingly Common

Some companies now use AI to monitor virtual interviews for signs that candidates are using unauthorized assistance. This isn’t universal, but it’s growing.

What this means practically:

  • Don’t have ChatGPT or other AI tools visible during interviews
  • If you need to search documentation (and this is allowed), be transparent: “Let me pull up the AWS docs for that…”
  • Eye movements that constantly go off-screen can flag concerns
  • Audio of you “talking to yourself” that sounds like reading can be detected

The best approach: know your material well enough that you don’t need to sneak glances at notes. If the interview allows notes or documentation, use them openly.

Behavioral Questions on Video

Virtual interviews don’t change what behavioral questions assess—your past experiences and how you handled specific situations. But the medium changes how you deliver your answers.

The STAR Method Still Works

The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) structures your answers clearly. On video, this structure is even more important because:

  • You can’t read body language as easily to know if you’re losing them
  • Audio quality issues mean rambling answers become unintelligible
  • Screen fatigue makes concise answers more appreciated

Video-Specific Adjustments

Keep answers tighter. Where you might speak for 2-3 minutes in person, aim for 90 seconds to 2 minutes on video. The format amplifies any tendency to ramble.

Pause before answering. Video adds slight delays. A brief pause after they ask a question (1) ensures you’re not talking over them, (2) gives you time to formulate a response, and (3) prevents the awkward moment where you both start talking.

Check for comprehension. “Does that answer your question, or would you like me to go deeper into any part?” This works better on video than in person because it’s harder to read whether they’re satisfied.

For more on handling the non-technical portion of IT interviews, our guide on IT communication skills covers how to explain technical concepts to various audiences—including HR screeners who might conduct your first interview.

The Remote Work Signal

Here’s something most interview guides don’t mention: for remote IT jobs, your virtual interview performance signals how you’ll work remotely.

Think about it from the hiring manager’s perspective. They’re hiring someone who will:

  • Join video meetings from home
  • Communicate primarily through digital channels
  • Manage their own workspace and technical setup
  • Handle asynchronous collaboration

If you can’t manage a single high-stakes video call without technical issues, what does that suggest about your ability to do the job every day?

This cuts both ways. A smooth, professional virtual interview demonstrates:

  • You have a functional home office setup
  • You can handle the technical aspects of remote work
  • You present well on camera (important for client-facing roles)
  • You’re comfortable with the communication style remote work requires

For candidates targeting remote positions, treating the interview as a demonstration of your remote work readiness—not just your technical skills—can set you apart.

After the Interview Ends

The call is over. You nailed the technical questions, maintained good eye contact, and didn’t have any cats walk across your keyboard. Now what?

Immediate Actions

  • Write down any questions they asked that you want to research further
  • Note names and roles of everyone you spoke with
  • Record any follow-up items they mentioned
  • Breathe

Follow-Up

Send a brief thank-you email within 24 hours. This isn’t about brown-nosing—it’s about:

  • Demonstrating professionalism
  • Reiterating your interest
  • Addressing anything you feel you could have answered better
  • Standing out from candidates who don’t follow up

Keep it short. Three to four sentences acknowledging the conversation, expressing continued interest, and thanking them for their time.

Building Your Virtual Interview Skills

Like any skill, virtual interviewing improves with practice. Here’s how to build the skill before it’s high-stakes.

Record Yourself

Set up a video call with yourself (yes, really). Record 5 minutes of yourself answering common interview questions. Watch it back. You’ll immediately notice:

  • Where you’re looking (probably not at the camera)
  • Filler words and verbal tics
  • Lighting and background issues
  • Whether you appear engaged or checked out

This is uncomfortable. Do it anyway. Better to cringe at yourself in private than during an actual interview.

Practice with Friends

Ask a friend to run a mock video interview. It doesn’t need to be technical—the goal is practicing the format. Have them give you honest feedback on your presence, audio/video quality, and how you come across.

If you’re targeting specific types of roles, use our interview question guides:

Join Toastmasters or Similar Groups

Many professional speaking groups have moved to virtual formats. Practicing speaking on camera in a supportive environment builds the skill for when it counts.

Take Non-Interview Video Calls Seriously

Every work video call is practice. Treat them as opportunities to refine your presence, test equipment, and build comfort with the medium.

Common Mistakes Checklist

Before your next virtual IT interview, check yourself against these common failure modes:

Technical Setup

  • Camera shows your face clearly (no shadows, no ceiling-focused angle)
  • Audio is clear without background noise
  • Internet connection is stable (test with a speed test that measures jitter and packet loss)
  • You’ve tested the specific platform you’ll use

Environment

  • Background is professional or appropriately blurred
  • Lighting is in front of you, not behind
  • Interruption sources are managed
  • Notifications are disabled across all devices

Preparation

  • You’ve practiced screen sharing on this platform
  • Relevant files are named professionally and easy to find
  • You’ve researched the company and role
  • You’ve prepared questions to ask them

During the Interview

  • You look at the camera when speaking
  • You pause before answering to avoid talking over them
  • You keep answers focused and appropriately brief
  • You handle any technical issues gracefully

FAQ

Should I use a virtual background for IT interviews?

Generally, a real clean background beats a virtual one. Virtual backgrounds can glitch, especially with movement, and some hiring managers find them distracting or inauthentic. However, a simple blur effect is usually fine if your actual background is problematic. If you do use a virtual background, test it thoroughly and avoid anything gimmicky.

What if my internet connection fails during the interview?

Have a backup plan ready. Before the interview, exchange phone numbers or alternative contact methods. If you lose connection, try to reconnect immediately. If that fails, call or text to let them know what happened and ask to reschedule. Most interviewers understand that technical issues happen—how you handle the situation matters more than the fact that it occurred.

Is it okay to have notes visible during a virtual interview?

Yes, but use them strategically. Having a few bullet points about the company, the role, or questions you want to ask is reasonable. Reading directly from a script is obvious and comes across poorly. Position notes near your camera so looking at them doesn’t appear as looking away from the screen.

How should I dress for a virtual IT interview?

Dress as you would for an in-person interview at that company. For most IT roles, this means business casual at minimum—collared shirt or professional top. Even if the company is casual, slightly overdressing for interviews signals that you take the opportunity seriously. Avoid patterns that create visual noise on camera (tight stripes, busy prints).

Should I stand or sit during virtual interviews?

Sitting is the norm and usually provides better stability for your camera angle. If you prefer standing, use a standing desk setup that keeps the camera at eye level and ensures you’re not swaying or pacing. Some people find standing helps their energy levels during longer interview sessions.

Making It Work

Virtual interviews aren’t going away. Remote hiring is 16% faster than traditional hiring, and companies have invested too much in virtual processes to abandon them. For IT candidates especially, demonstrating comfort with virtual communication is increasingly part of the job requirement, not just the interview process.

The good news: the skills that make you good at virtual interviews—clear communication, technical preparation, professional presentation—are the same skills that make you effective in remote IT roles. Investing in your virtual presence pays dividends beyond just landing the job.

Take the time to optimize your setup, practice the format, and treat virtual interviews as the distinct skill they are. The candidate who shows up with perfect technical knowledge but a grainy webcam and constant audio issues is at a real disadvantage against the candidate who matches their technical competence with professional virtual presence.

Your technical skills got you the interview. Don’t let your webcam lose it for you.

More interview prep resources: