Virtual interviews can feel like a performance. Lights. Camera. All eyes on you.
It’s easy to forget the truth: they’re not looking for perfection. They’re looking for presence.
The pause before your answer doesn’t signal weakness. It signals thought. The stammer mid-sentence isn’t failure. It’s human.
What wins interviews isn’t flawless delivery. It’s showing you’re prepared, engaged, and real.
So breathe. Smile. Look into the lens. And remind yourself that you belong here.
Video Interview Setup
Why it Matters
Before you say a word, your setup speaks for you. Good lighting and framing show confidence and focus. Distractions, like clutter or shadows, pull attention away from your story. A clear, intentional setup helps them see you as prepared and professional.
How to Do It
Camera height: Level with your eyes—no “looking down at the laptop” angle.
Lighting: Face a window or use a lamp behind the screen. Bright beats shadow.
Background: Simple and uncluttered. Neutral walls or a tidy corner.
Sound: Headphones with a mic cut out echo and background noise.
Connection: Plug in or sit close to your router. Test before the call.
Pro Tip
One small shift, like raising your camera, can move you from “distracted parent in a dark cave” to “confident professional ready to contribute.”
STAR Answers for Gaps
What is the STAR Method?
STAR is a simple, structured way to answer behavioral interview questions. It helps you tell your story with clarity and confidence:
Situation: Set the scene and describe the context.
Task: Explain the challenge or goal you faced.
Action: Walk through what you did to address it.
Result: End with what happened and what you learned.
It turns vague “Tell me about a time…” questions into clear, specific, and memorable stories.
Why it Matters
When your career path includes caregiving, interviewers may ask about the gap. The STAR method gives you a framework to show structure, self-awareness, and transferable skills without sounding defensive or rehearsed.
Examples
General
Situation: I took time away from the workforce to be the primary caregiver for my children.
Task: I managed all aspects of our household, balancing schedules, logistics, and finances.
Action: I built systems to streamline routines, coordinated care, and developed new skills in time management and problem-solving.
Result: I gained leadership, adaptability, and resilience; skills that directly apply to leading projects and teams at work.
Finance
Situation: I managed our household finances as the primary caregiver.
Task: I needed to keep us on budget, track expenses, and plan for future costs.
Action: I built spreadsheets, categorized spending, and created monthly and yearly forecasts.
Result: We reduced unnecessary costs by 15% while building an emergency fund—skills I can apply directly to financial planning and analysis.
Operations
Situation: Running a household with kids required constant coordination.
Task: I had to manage schedules, appointments, meal prep, and activities without missing a beat.
Action: I developed repeatable systems, optimized routines, and streamlined recurring tasks.
Result: Our routines became smoother and saved hours each week—just like an operations role focused on efficiency.
Marketing
Situation: I often supported school and community initiatives during my caregiving years.
Task: I needed to drive awareness and participation for events and fundraisers.
Action: I created flyers, wrote email updates, and promoted events on social media.
Result: Participation grew by 30% at the events I supported—proof I can craft messages and drive engagement.
Tech
Situation: Managing the household required adopting digital tools.
Task: I needed to research, test, and implement apps for scheduling, budgeting, and communication.
Action: I evaluated platforms, set them up, troubleshot issues, and trained others to use them.
Result: We cut scheduling conflicts and improved coordination—experience that maps directly to tech support and implementation roles.
How to Use it in Your Answer
When asked about your gap, or any experience, lead with the result and then walk backward through what you did.
Example:
“One of the things I’m proud of from my time away is how I created systems that made our household run more efficiently. It taught me a lot about process improvement and time management.”
You’re not just explaining what happened; you’re connecting it to what you can bring to the role.
Why it Works
STAR reframes your gap as growth. It turns a question mark into a confident, story-driven example of your value.
Time to Sprint: Practice One Answer
Why it Matters
You don’t always need hours of prep. Just one focused sprint can build interview confidence.
What to Do Right Now
Minutes 0-10: Pick one common question like, “Tell me about yourself.” Write out bullet points for your answer. Keep it short: 60–90 seconds.
Minutes 10-20: Practice your answer out loud, twice. Record yourself once and play it back. Listen for filler words, clarity, and pacing. Adjust as needed.
Bonus (next 5 minutes): Look into your webcam and deliver it once more, focusing on eye contact and body language.
Why it Works
Even if you don’t get that exact question, the confidence from practicing will carry into every other answer.
Your Move
What’s the most awkward interview you’ve ever had (virtual or otherwise)? Hit reply and let me know. I read every response.
The Last Laugh
Maybe don’t handle your virtual interview like Ice T 🤣
