Since the pandemic, remote interviews have become the standard. But “my network is bad” is no longer an acceptable excuse. We all live in Nigeria; we know the infrastructure is terrible. That means you must plan for it. If NEPA takes the light during a Zoom call, your UPS or charged battery should keep you going. If MTN starts acting up, switch to Airtel. Resourcefulness is a skill, and your virtual interview setup is the first test of that skill.
Virtual Interview Survival Guide
Have backup internet from at least two different network providers. Ensure your laptop is fully charged. Control your background—blur it or sit against a plain wall. Look at the camera lens, not the screen. Test your audio and video before every single interview. Learn platform-specific features for Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
The Setup: Your Interview Studio
You do not need a million-naira studio to look professional on a video call. But you do need to be intentional about your setup. Here is exactly what you need.
Lighting: This is the most important element of video quality. Do not sit with a window behind you—it turns you into a silhouette. Instead, face a window or place a lamp in front of you, slightly above eye level. The light should hit your face, not the back of your head. If you are on a budget, a simple desk lamp placed behind your laptop screen works wonders.
Camera position: Your camera should be at eye level. If you are using a laptop, prop it up on a stack of books so you are not looking down at the screen. Looking down at the camera creates an unflattering angle and makes you look less confident.
Background: A plain wall is best. If you do not have one, use the virtual background feature on Zoom or Google Meet—but test it first. Some virtual backgrounds glitch and make you look like you are broadcasting from a spaceship. A bookshelf or a neatly arranged corner of your room also works. Remove any clutter, dirty laundry, or religious artifacts that might distract the interviewer.
Audio: Use earphones or headphones with a built-in microphone. Laptop microphones pick up every sound in the room—the generator outside, your neighbor’s music, the fridge humming. A simple pair of earphones costs less than 2,000 naira and dramatically improves audio quality.
Internet Backup Strategy: The Nigerian Special
If you live in Nigeria, you know that relying on a single internet provider is a gamble. Here is how to ensure you stay connected.
Primary connection: Use your home Wi-Fi if you have it, or a wired connection if available. Wired connections are more stable than wireless.
Secondary connection: Have a smartphone with a different network provider ready as a hotspot. If your primary is MTN, have an Airtel or Glo line as backup. When the network drops, switch within seconds.
Tertiary connection: Keep a MiFi device fully charged with a third provider. Yes, maintaining three internet sources feels excessive. But when that interview is your shot at a life-changing role at Flutterwave or Shell, you will be glad you have the redundancy.
Data top-up: Before the interview, ensure all your data lines are loaded with enough credit. The worst feeling is running out of data mid-sentence while explaining why you are the perfect candidate for the role.
Power Backup: NEPA Is Not Your Enemy, But Unpreparedness Is
Nigeria’s power situation is what it is. Complaining about it during an interview will not land you the job. Planning for it will.
Charge everything. Fully charge your laptop, phone, MiFi, and power bank at least two hours before the interview. If NEPA takes the light at the exact moment your interview starts, you lose nothing.
Invest in a UPS or inverter. A small UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) costs between 15,000 and 30,000 naira and gives you 30 to 60 minutes of power after an outage. That is enough time to finish most interviews. If you can afford it, this is one of the best investments you can make for your career.
Know your local generator schedule. If your area runs generator from 6 PM to 10 PM, schedule your interview during those hours. If the generator noise is inevitable, place your setup as far from the generator as possible and close your windows.
Platform-Specific Etiquette
Not all video conferencing platforms work the same way. Know the differences.
Zoom: The most common platform for Nigerian interviews. Learn how to share your screen, use the chat feature, and mute/unmute yourself quickly. Practice switching between gallery view (seeing everyone on the panel) and speaker view (focusing on the person talking).
Google Meet: Increasingly popular among tech companies. Know that Google Meet allows participants to raise their hand virtually—useful if you need to interject without interrupting. It also has live captions, which can help if the interviewer’s audio is unclear.
Microsoft Teams: Common in corporate environments like banks and oil & gas companies. Teams has a “raise hand” feature and allows you to blur your background without a green screen. It also integrates with Outlook, so ensure your calendar invite has the correct link.
For all platforms: Test the link at least 30 minutes before the interview. Do not wait until the scheduled time to discover you need to download an update or install a plugin. Join the call two to three minutes early—not ten minutes early, which can be awkward if the previous interview is still running, and not late, which is simply disrespectful.
How to Behave on Camera
Virtual interviews have unique etiquette rules that are different from in-person meetings.
Look at the camera, not the screen. When you look at your screen, you appear to be looking down or away from the interviewer. To simulate eye contact, look directly into your laptop’s camera lens. It feels unnatural at first, so practice it beforehand.
Sit still but not rigid. Excessive movement is distracting on video. Minimize gestures, sit upright, and keep your hands visible on the desk. But do not sit so still that you look like a statue—nod occasionally to show you are listening.
Pause before speaking. Video calls have a slight delay. If you start speaking immediately after the interviewer finishes, you might talk over them. Wait one beat before responding. This small habit makes the conversation flow smoothly.
Mute when not speaking. If there is background noise—generator, traffic, neighbors—mute yourself when you are not talking. Unmute when you need to speak. Practice this action so it becomes second nature.
Have a glass of water nearby. Your throat gets dry when you are nervous. A sip of water gives you a natural pause to collect your thoughts. But use a plain glass, not a noisy bottle or a cup with a gaudy design.
Technical Glitches: How to Handle Them
Even with the best preparation, things go wrong. The network drops. The laptop freezes. The dog starts barking. Here is how to handle it professionally.
If your internet drops: Quickly switch to your backup connection. Rejoin the call and say, “Apologies, my connection dropped. Let me confirm you can hear me clearly now.” Do not offer a long explanation about NEPA or MTN. Just fix it and move on.
If your audio stops working: Type in the chat: “My audio seems to have dropped. Can you still hear me?” If the issue persists, switch to a phone call. Have the interviewer’s phone number saved in case you need to call them.
If there is background noise: Apologize once and mute yourself. “Sorry about the noise, I will mute when I am not speaking.” Do not apologize repeatedly—it draws more attention to the distraction.
If you freeze up: Pause, take a breath, and ask for a moment. “Let me take a second to gather my thoughts.” This is completely acceptable and shows composure under pressure.
The Pre-Interview Checklist
| Item | Done |
|---|---|
| Laptop fully charged (and charger nearby) | ☐ |
| Phone fully charged (backup hotspot ready) | ☐ |
| Power bank charged | ☐ |
| All internet lines loaded with data | ☐ |
| Camera and microphone tested | ☐ |
| Background clear and professional | ☐ |
| Glass of water on desk | ☐ |
| Interview link tested (30 min before) | ☐ |
| Earphones/headphones ready | ☐ |
| Distractions minimized (phone on silent, door closed) | ☐ |
Final Advice
Virtual interviews are now the norm for most Nigerian companies, from GTBank to Flutterwave to PwC. The interviewer is evaluating more than just your answers—they are evaluating how you handle the environment. If you show up prepared, with good lighting, clear audio, and a professional background, you have already proven that you are organized and resourceful.
On the other hand, if you show up with bad lighting, poor audio, and network issues, you signal that you cannot manage your own environment. And if you cannot manage that, how will they trust you to manage their projects?
Prepare the setup. Test everything. Have backups for your backups. Then focus on what really matters—delivering a great interview.