how can I do well in video interviews?

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.

A reader writes:

I’m job-searching for the first time in nearly a decade and am realizing that a lot of interviews these days, especially in early rounds, are done over video. This is a change from the last time I was interviewing, so I’m wondering what the best practices are for video interviews.

I don’t have a ton of options for quiet, private places with reliable internet for video calls. Is it OK to do these calls from my desk in my bedroom? The backdrop doesn’t really show anything personal — bookshelves, plants, a neat sofa. Part of my bed would be visible, though of course I would make it neatly. Is a bedroom too personal or too unprofessional a location to take a video call?

Any other tips or tricks to do well in video interviews?

You can read my answer to this letter at New York Magazine today. Head over there to read it.