What You Need to Know: Connecting Clearly
Don't look at your own picture or the interviewer's face on the screen. Look straight into the camera lens. This acts like looking someone in the eye to build trust. When you talk to the lens, you send a direct, human message that gets past the computer screen and into the interviewer's mind.
Being real comes from inside. Before the call, take a moment to remember clearly why you want the job. If you feel your purpose, your body will naturally show that energy. You can't pretend to feel something; you must feel the excitement first so you can share it.
A forced, constant smile makes people suspicious because it looks like you are acting. Let your face move naturally. Real warmth shows in your eyes and forehead, not a practiced "professional" grin. If your smile doesn't look real in your eyes, don't use it.
Don't rush to fill quiet moments with answers you memorized. Smart people use pauses on purpose to let their energy sink in and their points be understood. When you control the speed, you act like an equal, not just someone answering questions. You should guide how the interviewer feels, not just answer what they ask.
Mistakes People Make in Their Careers
The biggest and costliest error today is treating a video camera like a stage. Most people still fall into traps where they try to "act" the part of the perfect worker by showing too much excitement and wearing a fake smile. This old way of thinking treats your value like something you sell with a memorized speech, instead of something you genuinely project. When you act like an overly excited job seeker, you don't connect; you actually push people away.
We are now completely past the Time of the Script. In a world full of fake and overly polished online content, being "perfect" now makes people suspicious.
We are entering the Time of the Signal. Since more work happens through screens, that "perfectly polished" look is now a problem. Employers want to hire people who show a real sense of purpose that a computer can't fake. Real energy is the most valuable thing you have in the modern workplace. It’s the biological way to connect, allowing you to speak directly to the interviewer in a way that cannot be ignored.
What is Emotional Contagion?
Emotional contagion is your brain's automatic tendency to copy and sync with another person's facial expressions, voice, posture, and movements, causing you to feel the same emotion they're experiencing.
According to research published in Frontiers in Psychology (2025), emotional contagion operates through a two-step process: first, you recognize behavioral changes in the other person, then you imitate those behaviors while experiencing the same emotional response. This isn't just mimicry. The research shows that true emotional contagion requires both behavioral imitation and genuine emotional change. When you show authentic enthusiasm in a video interview, the interviewer's mirror neurons activate, making them literally feel your excitement as if it were their own.
The Big Change: Moving from Acting to Being Present
This means changing from trying to act* like the perfect candidate (Acting) to *being your best self on camera to connect with the person watching (Being Present).
Main Goal: Playing a Role: Treating the camera like a stage where you "perform" as the ideal candidate.
How You Act: Corporate Masking: Forcing smiles and practiced movements to look "perfect."
Main Tool: The Script: Relying on memorized answers that sound perfect but feel stiff.
The Result: Small Feelings of Doubt: Creating a strange feeling where your effort makes the interviewer uneasy.
Main Goal: Building a Connection: Using the camera to send real energy and create a true human link.
How You Act: Sending Purpose: Letting your natural warmth show without a "corporate" filter.
Main Tool: The Signal: Sending a strong "human message" that computers can't copy.
The Result: Feeling the Energy: Making the interviewer physically "catch" your good feelings.
The High-Fidelity Presence Plan
To change from "acting" to sending a "human signal," you need a system to project real energy. This three-part plan replaces "Corporate Masking" with a planned way to show your true energy, making sure you are not just seen, but felt by the person watching.
Part 1
What it is: A way to find a personal, real reason for your excitement before the camera turns on. Why it matters: You can’t instantly create real excitement without looking fake. By focusing your mind on a real curiosity or goal, your face and body naturally match your words. This makes your "human signal" consistent and trustworthy.
Part 2
What it is: Using small, planned body movements to keep the flat screen from looking boring. Why it matters: Staying too still on video can make you look lifeless or low-energy. Small, clear movements—like leaning in to stress a point or using open hands—copy the way people move in real life, making your energy feel real and active.
Part 3
What it is: Changing your voice speed and pitch on purpose to highlight things you care about. Why it matters: If your voice stays at the same high energy level, it turns into background noise. By changing your "rhythm"—slowing down for important parts and speeding up for stories—you keep the interviewer focused. This makes your excitement sound like a real conversation, not a memorized speech.
First, create your Starting Point* before you start talking. Next, use **Energy Movement** (small gestures) to stay present in 3D. Finally, control your *Voice Rhythm to make your energy exciting and natural, not something you are just pretending.
Cruit Tools for Connecting Clearly
Plan Starting Point
Journaling ToolPowers The Starting Point by helping you record real successes so you can use them for energy.
Plan Energy Movement
Interview Prep ToolHelps you practice telling stories so you can master The Voice Rhythm and speak naturally.
Plan Clarity
Career Advice ToolHelps you set clear goals in a simple way to enable The Energy Movement.
Quick Answers About Being On Camera
How can I show enthusiasm if I'm shy?
You don't need to be loud to be convincing. Real connection happens in "Micro-Matches"—those small moments when your face shows what you are saying.
Instead of forcing a big personality, focus on being curious. When you ask thoughtful questions, your eyes naturally get brighter. Interviewers are more impressed by real interest than by someone acting overly excited. For more on this, see our guide on showing enthusiasm and interest without overdoing it.
What if I feel tired and can't fake being enthusiastic?
Do not try to "fake" high energy; the human brain spots that mismatch right away as a problem signal.
Instead, find one specific part of the job that actually interests you. When you talk about something you care about, your body stops feeling tired and gets into a state of "flow." This makes your energy feel solid and real, not effortful.
How can I look more engaged on camera quickly?
Move your body just before the call starts. Spend two minutes standing up or walking around to get your heart rate up slightly before you click "Join."
This physical warm-up naturally increases your "human signal" and makes your voice sound better right away. Because you aren't starting from a completely rested state, you will naturally project warmth and alertness from the first second.
Does body language matter in video interviews?
Yes, it matters even more than in-person. On video, your upper body, face, and gestures are magnified in the frame. Leaning slightly forward shows engagement. Open hand gestures convey openness and confidence.
The key is to keep your movements natural and matched to what you're saying. Forced or stiff gestures look robotic on camera. Let your body respond to your actual feelings about the conversation.
How do I avoid looking fake or desperate?
The line between authentic enthusiasm and desperation is simple: enthusiasm comes from genuine interest in the work itself, while desperation comes from needing the job for external reasons (money, status, escape from current situation).
Before the interview, connect with why the specific role excites you. If you can't find a genuine reason, your energy will feel forced. Real enthusiasm emerges when you focus on what you'll contribute and learn, not just what you'll get. After landing the role, consider keeping your network warm by staying authentically connected with people in your field.
Should I look at the camera or the screen?
Look at the camera lens when you're speaking, especially during key moments like your opening introduction or when making an important point. This creates the impression of direct eye contact for the interviewer.
When the interviewer is speaking, you can look at their image on the screen to show you're actively listening. Alternate between the lens and the screen naturally, just as you would shift eye contact in person.
The Main Message
- » You are no longer just a candidate trying to win a job; you are someone who sends a unique human signal.
- » As we move from the Time of the Script to the Time of the Signal, your real power is in being genuine.
- » Stop acting and start connecting. When you bring real energy, you don't just get the job—you change the feeling in the room.
Use your camera to build a bridge, not a wall.
Start Connecting
