The interview's on Zoom. Here's how to actually stand out. Career strategist has a new book offering tips to ace virtual interviews Kerry Hannon · Senior Columnist Sat, December 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM EST 6 min read Virtual meetings and job interviews are no longer the exception, but we're not all spiff and polished when presenting ourselves online. This requires a skill set not naturally in many people's wheelhouse. Nancy Ancowitz, a career strategist and author of the new book "Zoom to Success," has some coaching tips.
The interview's on Zoom. Here's how to actually stand out. Career strategist has a new book offering tips to ace virtual interviews
Kerry Hannon · Senior Columnist Sat, December 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM EST 6 min read
Virtual meetings and job interviews are no longer the exception, but we're not all spiff and polished when presenting ourselves online.
This requires a skill set not naturally in many people's wheelhouse.
Nancy Ancowitz, a career strategist and author of the new book "Zoom to Success," has some coaching tips.
Here are edited excerpts of our recent conversation:
Kerry Hannon: Why did you write this book right now?
Ancowitz: This is the book I wish I had to help me navigate the virtual world. There is so much that goes into all of this before we even open our mouths — the lighting (two light sources from the front or sides for balanced, flattering light), the hair, the makeup, the camera, your background, what you are wearing, the tech checks. I show people ways to make it simpler and more accessible to bring your best face forward online.
What are the biggest challenges of virtual presentations?
Speaking to somebody 12 inches from their face, and where their face and your face are so big and filling up the whole space, is really tough for many people. And if you are presenting, looking at 20 or more of those faces in little boxes is truly abnormal.
Another big one is that you can't make real eye contact with anyone since you're looking into your tiny camera. Nobody knows where to look when they are speaking. Maybe you look at yourself. You get distracted by your hair out of place. Also, not everybody's blessed with a great voice, and your voice matters even more on Zoom and other virtual platforms because there's not as much of you to see and to experience. Finally, one of the hardest things, of course, is that you have to be your own tech person and when things go wrong, be calm and cool.
You need to carve out an hour ahead of time to get mentally grounded and ready.
A virtual presentation can create more jitters than in-person for many folks. What are some of the good techniques you can do?
My favorite technique is self-talk, or speaking to yourself in the second or third person. Instead of saying, 'I've got this,' say 'you've got this.' Reframe nerves as excitement. Think 'I feel most alive when I'm tackling things that are a little bit challenging.'
I remind myself to slow down and breathe deeply, which sharpens my focus and clears my head when things get bumpy. Start with a two-minute reset: Inhale for four counts, hold for four, and exhale for eight.
It's a mindset matter. Remember that you're not there to impress people. You're there to share something, to share information, to inspire, to educate, to persuade. But you're not there for their judgment. That's a super important way to manage jitters.
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Then there are physical things like even tongue twisters to get your mouth and your voice a little warmed up. You might also try stretching and power poses ahead of time. Try things and figure out what works for you.
Are there ways to practice virtual presentations and get AI feedback before it's showtime?
They're still somewhat nascent. One I go to right now is Yoodli. Another is VirtualSpeech. These AI platforms are phenomenal at getting you to see yourself in a different way. How does your voice come across? How does your body language come across? It helps you step away a little bit. You can achieve the same thing by video recording yourself and watching it critically, especially with a mentor or a friend that you can trust.
Think of your presentation as a conversation with a friend or on a topic you are genuinely passionate about.
Author Nancy Ancowitz digs into the nitty-gritty of you and Zoom (photo courtesy of Nancy Ancowitz)
How can improvisation techniques help you become better at virtual presentations, even interviews?
It's the art of listening actively and thoughtfully to other people, then building on what they say. Practicing filler sentences, like the "yes, and" concept in improv, buys you a little time so that you can trust that you'll say something fine.
You might say, "wonderful point," "nobody's ever asked me that before," or "my first thought is X, and I want to get back to you with even more information once I check out some research." It's building on other people's comments, trusting yourself, and finding that little extra time to think when needed and not rush to answer.
How can you ace your virtual job interview?
You have to get comfortable talking into a black hole and selling yourself where, in some cases, you don't even see a human at the other end. And you may have to be quick with your response. Sometimes you have only a minute to get your head around the question and come up with a great answer.
It's back to prep. You need to be able to say your elevator pitch and your answers to your greatest weakness question, and so forth. They need to be succinct and ready to go to work in a virtual environment. Practicing some of the basic questions in advance and recording yourself on Zoom, for example, is a must. Of course, the practical moves come into play. Check that you have a good mic and are annunciating when you speak, starting by not mumbling your name.
Keep looking at the camera on your computer. People are terrible about this. Don't look up, down, or sideways. I take a false eyelash, slap it over the top of the video cam or the laptop camera, and look at it.
Use sticky notes on your screen to remind you of your main talking points or any statistics you may want to use, but be sure to use a Sharpie so you can read it easily.
Pay attention to your posture and how you hold yourself, how you dress. Show up looking your best, from makeup (yes, even men can use a little to reduce shiny skin) to hair and clothes. People remember that.
Have a question about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career-related? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon a note.
You specialize in working with people who are introverts. Any special advice here?
I'm deeply an introvert. Learning to trust your ability to think on the spot is a muscle to develop. It can be taking improv classes, but every opportunity you can get to present, whether it's to facilitate webinars, to speak at your virtual book club. It's just practice, practice, practice.
Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including "Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future," "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work," and "Never Too Old to Get Rich." Follow her on Bluesky and X.
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Published: December 20, 2025 at 04:19PM on Source: RED MAG
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