Tool 07 · Interview Prep
Virtual Interview Setup Quality Check
Walk through a 12-point checklist of your camera frame, lighting, audio, and background. Print the scorecard or copy it into your calendar invite as a 5-minute pre-flight.
Score
0 / 12
Status
Not started
Action
Walk through each item below.
What this is good for
- Catching the basics: window behind you, ring light, mic echo
- A printable pre-flight you can stick to your monitor
What this cannot do
- Test your actual mic/camera latency — do a test call
- Fix a bad internet connection (move closer to router or use ethernet)
The 4 NYC-specific gotchas
- Window behind you — classic NYC apartment mistake. Shoot facing the window, never with it behind you.
- Squeaky chair / neighbor noise — interview in the morning when the building is quieter, or invest in a $25 acoustic foam panel behind the mic.
- Visible bed / unmade room — frame from chest up, angle the camera so the wall behind you is what shows.
- Pet / roommate walk-in — close the door, put a sign on it, lock if possible. Recruiters remember the cat.