You've spotted the perfect seasonal job in Greece. The pay's decent, you'd be working steps from the beach, and the role actually sounds fun. You hit apply, and boom β within 24 hours, you get an email asking for a video interview. Your stomach drops a bit. Sitting in front of a camera, selling yourself to someone you can't properly read through a screen? Yeah, it's not exactly everyone's idea of a good time. π
But here's the thing: video interviews aren't going anywhere. They've become the standard first step for most seasonal work abroad, especially for roles in hospitality, tourism, and entertainment. Employers want to see who you are before they invest in flying you out or arranging accommodation. Makes sense, right? So instead of dreading it, let's get you properly prepared.
This isn't about becoming some polished corporate robot. It's about showing up as your best self, feeling confident, and actually enjoying the conversation. Because when you're relaxed and prepared, that's when your personality shines through β and that's exactly what employers want to see.
Why video interviews matter for seasonal work
Look, seasonal employers are taking a bit of a gamble. They're hiring people they've never met, often from different countries, to work in fast-paced environments where personality matters as much as skills. A kids entertainer at a beach resort needs energy and warmth. A waiter on the Dutch islands needs to handle stress with a smile. Your CV can't show that stuff.
That's where the video interview comes in. It's your chance to prove you're not just qualified on paper β you're actually someone they'd want on their team. And honestly? It's also your chance to suss them out. A good video interview should feel like a two-way conversation, not an interrogation.
Step 1: Nail your technical setup
Nothing tanks a video interview faster than terrible tech. You could be the perfect candidate, but if you're a pixelated mess with audio that cuts in and out, you're already fighting an uphill battle.
Start with your camera. Your laptop's built-in camera is fine β you don't need anything fancy. But position it at eye level. Stack some books under your laptop if you need to. Nobody wants to look up your nose for 30 minutes. Test your angle beforehand. Can they see your whole face and shoulders? Good. That's the sweet spot.
Lighting matters more than you think. Face a window if you can, but not with a bright window behind you (unless you're going for the witness protection look). Natural light from the front is your best friend. If you're doing an evening interview, a simple desk lamp pointed at the wall behind your screen bounces light back on your face nicely. You're not filming a movie here β just make sure they can actually see you clearly.
Audio is non-negotiable. Test your microphone. If your laptop mic picks up every keyboard click from your housemate's room, invest in a cheap headset with a mic. Twenty quid can make the difference between sounding professional and sounding like you're calling from inside a tin can. And for the love of all that's holy, use a wired internet connection if you can. WiFi's great until it isn't.
Your background should be clean and boring. A plain wall works. A tidy bookshelf works. Your unmade bed with yesterday's laundry? Not so much. And check what's actually in frame. I once did an interview where a motivational poster saying "Hang in there!" with a cat was visible behind me. Not my finest moment.
Step 2: Prepare your content (without sounding scripted)
You know those classic interview questions everyone dreads? "Tell me about yourself." "What are your strengths?" "Why do you want this job?" Yeah, those are coming. But here's the good news: for seasonal work, employers care less about your ten-year plan and more about whether you're reliable, enthusiastic, and won't create drama in shared accommodation.
Prepare a 2-minute intro about yourself. Not your life story β just the relevant bits. Where you're from, what you're currently doing, why you're interested in seasonal work, and what makes you a good fit for this specific role. Practice it out loud until it feels natural, not rehearsed. You want to sound like you're telling a mate about yourself, not reciting a Wikipedia entry.
Think about why you actually want this job. And be honest. "I want to work abroad and earn money while experiencing a new culture" is a perfectly valid answer. You don't need to pretend you've dreamt since childhood of serving cocktails in Cyprus. Authenticity beats corporate speak every time.
Prepare examples. They'll probably ask about handling difficult situations, working in teams, or dealing with stress. Think of real stories from previous jobs, volunteering, or even university projects. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is genuinely useful here, but don't make it sound like you're reading from a textbook.
Have questions ready for them. This is huge. Ask about the team you'd be working with, what a typical day looks like, or what makes someone successful in this role. It shows you're actually interested, not just applying to everything on Yseasonal and hoping something sticks.
Step 3: Master your on-camera presence
Being yourself on camera feels weird at first. We're not used to staring at ourselves while talking, and that little box with your own face? Super distracting. Here's a trick: minimize your self-view once the interview starts. Look at the camera (or at their face on screen), not at yourself. You'll feel way more natural.
Body language still matters, even through a screen. Sit up straight, but not like you've swallowed a ruler. Lean slightly forward β it shows engagement. Use your hands when you talk if that's natural for you, but keep gestures in frame. Going off on hand movements that disappear below the screen just looks odd.
Eye contact is tricky in video calls. When you look at their face on your screen, it looks like you're looking down to them. So periodically look directly at your camera lens, especially when making important points. It feels unnatural, but it reads as eye contact on their end.
Smile. Sounds obvious, but nervous people forget. A genuine smile at the start sets the tone for the whole conversation. And it's okay to smile during the interview too β you're applying for seasonal work, not a funeral director position. Show some personality. That's literally what they're trying to assess.
Energy levels need to be slightly higher on video than in person. The screen flattens things out a bit, so what feels like normal enthusiasm to you might come across as slightly flat. Think "excited to be here" rather than "vaguely interested." But don't go full kids' TV presenter unless you're actually applying to be a kids' entertainer.
Step 4: Practice (but don't over-rehearse)
Record yourself answering common questions. I know, watching yourself back is excruciating. Do it anyway. You'll spot weird habits you didn't know you had. Maybe you say "um" after every sentence. Maybe you avoid eye contact. Maybe you have resting bored face when you're actually just concentrating. You can't fix what you don't know about.
Do a full mock interview with a friend. Ask them to be slightly awkward with their questions β throw in a curveball or an unexpected silence. Real interviews rarely go perfectly smooth, and practicing handling the weird moments builds confidence. Plus, they can give you feedback on things you can't see yourself, like whether you're talking too fast or fidgeting too much.
Test your whole setup the day before. Join a Zoom call or Teams meeting alone and make sure everything works. Check your audio, video, and internet connection. Have a backup plan. What if your WiFi dies? Can you hotspot from your phone? What if your laptop crashes? Do you have a backup device? Paranoid? Maybe. But better paranoid than scrambling five minutes before your interview.
Time yourself. Most video interviews for seasonal work run 20-45 minutes. Your answers to individual questions should be 1-2 minutes max. Any longer and you're rambling. Practice keeping your responses concise and relevant. It's harder than it sounds.
Step 5: Handle the day like a pro
On interview day, get ready like it's in-person. Shower. Dress properly β and I mean top to bottom, not just a nice shirt with pyjama bottoms. You'll feel more professional, and on the off chance you need to stand up or adjust something, you won't flash your penguin boxers to your potential employer. True story, that's happened.
Log in five minutes early, but don't join the call more than two minutes early. Earlier than that and you might catch them wrapping up the previous interview or having a quick break. Awkward for everyone. Two minutes early is the sweet spot β shows punctuality without being pushy.
Have water nearby, but not right in frame. A quick sip during a pause is fine. Sloshing water all over yourself mid-answer is less fine. Also, keep your phone on silent and far away. The temptation to check notifications is real, but nothing says "I'm not that interested" like glancing at your phone during an interview.
If something goes wrong β and something might β stay calm. WiFi cuts out? Rejoin with a quick apology and move on. Dog barks in the background? Acknowledge it with a smile and continue. These things happen. How you handle them matters more than the hiccup itself. Employers want to see you can roll with unexpected situations, especially for seasonal work abroad where flexibility is key.
At the end, thank them for their time and ask about next steps. When will they make a decision? Should you follow up? Get clarity so you're not left wondering. Then, send a quick follow-up email within 24 hours. Keep it short β thank them again, reiterate your interest, mention one specific thing from the conversation that excited you. It keeps you top of mind.
You've got this
Video interviews might feel intimidating at first, but they're actually a gift. You get to interview from your own space, you can have notes nearby (out of camera view), and you don't have to stress about travel or what to do with your hands under a desk. It's just a conversation about whether you'd be a good fit for each other.
The employers interviewing you? They're usually pretty sound. They're looking for real people, not robots. They want someone who'll show up, work hard, get along with the team, and maybe even enjoy themselves along the way. That's not a high bar β and if you've prepared properly, you'll clear it easily.
So fix your lighting, practice your answers, and show up as yourself. The right seasonal job is out there, and nailing that video interview is your ticket to an adventure you'll remember for years. Now go browse those seasonal opportunities and get applying. Your summer in the sun is waiting. βοΈ