How to Prepare for a Video Interview With an International Employer

This guide covers interviews with companies in the UK, US, Europe and elsewhere. It explains how to convert the interview time without mistakes and how much bandwidth and data Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet use, based on their own published figures. It also gives you a backup plan for NEPA and network wahala, shows how to make yourself easy to understand to a foreign interviewer, and explains how to tell a real interview from a scam. It ends with a day-by-day checklist you can copy.

Quick answer

To prepare for a video interview with an international employer, confirm the date and time in Lagos time (WAT, UTC+1) in writing. Then install and test the exact platform the employer uses, run it on a full battery with backup power and a second internet connection, and ask the recruiter for a phone number in case the call drops. Prepare short, structured answers about your experience, your working hours and your home setup, and join early.

What is different about interviewing with a company abroad

A live video interview with a foreign company is mostly a normal interview, but a few extra things can go wrong, and most of them happen before you say a word.

The interviewer is also checking whether you can do the job remotely. They watch how you handle the call itself. Joining on time, sounding clear and dealing calmly with a glitch all count as evidence that you can work from Nigeria without hand-holding.

Confirm the time, time zone and platform in writing

Reply to the invitation and write the time back in both zones. For example: "Confirming Tuesday 4 November at 10:00am EST, which is 4:00pm in Lagos (WAT)." If you got it wrong, the recruiter will correct you before it matters.

How to convert the interview time to Lagos time

Nigeria stays on West Africa Time (UTC+1) all year, with no daylight saving. The other side moves its clocks, so the gap changes during the year. As of October 2026:

Late October and early November is the riskiest time of year. UK and European clocks went back on 25 October 2026, but US clocks don't change until 1 November 2026. For that one week, a New York interviewer is 5 hours behind you, and the week after, 6. If an invite for next week was sent before the change, or your calendar app is set to the wrong zone, you can be an hour out.

Example (hypothetical): A US recruiter in Boston books a call for 10:00am Eastern on Wednesday 5 November. That date falls after the US change, so it's 10:00am EST, which is 4:00pm in Lagos. If you still use the summer gap, you'll turn up at 3:00pm and wait an hour, or, worse, work it out the other way and join at 5:00pm.

Some practical habits help:

• Set your laptop and phone calendars to Africa/Lagos, and accept the calendar invite rather than typing the time in by hand.
• Check the time zone abbreviation in the invite. "ET" can mean either EST or EDT depending on the date.
• If you're offered a choice of slots, choose one inside your best hours. A 4pm Lagos slot with a US East Coast company is easier than an 8am Pacific slot, which is 4pm or 5pm in Lagos, after a long day.

How you answer the interviewer's questions about time zones is a separate topic, covered in how to answer questions about working across time zones.

Find out which platform they use, and get it working early

Most international employers use Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet. Some use the video tool built into their hiring software. The link in the invitation tells you which. If it doesn't, ask.

• Zoom: install the desktop app and use Zoom's test meeting page to check your camera, microphone and connection before the day.
• Microsoft Teams: you can usually join from the browser as a guest, but the desktop app is more stable. Join any test meeting with a friend to check your audio.
• Google Meet: it runs in the browser. Google recommends the current version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari, and says you can dial in by phone if the organiser provides a number and PIN (Google Meet requirements).

Check that your laptop is up to it. Zoom lists a dual-core 2GHz processor and 4GB of RAM as the minimum for its desktop app (Zoom system requirements). Google's minimum for Meet is a dual-core processor and 2GB of memory, though it recommends a more modern processor for good-quality video. On an older laptop, close every other app and browser tab before the call.

Learn the controls before the day: mute, camera on and off, screen share, and the chat box. The UK National Careers Service makes the same point in its video interview advice. If you're asked to share your screen for a portfolio or a test, you don't want to be searching for the button while three people watch.

Build a power and internet plan for the call

This part matters most for Nigerian candidates, and generic interview guides skip it.

How much bandwidth and data a video interview uses

The platforms publish their own bandwidth figures. As of October 2026:

Panel interviews with several people need more. Zoom lists 2.6Mbps up and 1.8Mbps down for 720p group calls. Microsoft says Teams prioritises audio when bandwidth is short (Microsoft Teams network guidance). So when your network weakens, the picture usually goes blurry before the sound cuts out. Keep talking.

Estimate (our own calculation, not a platform figure): a 720p Zoom call at 1.2Mbps each way uses roughly 540MB in each direction per hour, so about 1.1GB an hour in total. A 45-minute interview would use around 800MB. Actual use varies with video quality and the number of people on the call, so keep at least 2GB of data on whichever line you'll use, plus some on the backup.

A backup plan for power

Charge your laptop and phone fully the night before, even if you have light. Then plan for the outage that will come during your best answer:

• Run the laptop on battery during the call, with an inverter, solar unit or generator able to keep the router or MiFi running.
• If you rely on a generator, start it before the call and check that the noise doesn't reach your microphone. If it does, move rooms or use a headset.
• Keep a power bank for your phone, because your phone is your backup internet and your backup audio.

A backup plan for internet

Use two separate connections from two different providers: for example, a fixed or Starlink connection plus a MiFi or phone hotspot on another network. Test both from the room where you'll sit, at the same time of day as the interview, because network congestion varies through the day.

Two settings help:

• Turn off your VPN. Microsoft notes that VPNs are generally not designed for real-time media and can add latency. Unless the employer requires it, disconnect it.
• Sit close to the router, or use a cable. If your router has a 5GHz band, use it. Microsoft's guidance says it is better suited to real-time media than 2.4GHz, though the range is shorter.

For a full comparison of providers, see the best internet options for working remotely in Nigeria.

What to do if the call drops

Ask the recruiter for a phone number or email address for the day, and write it on paper. The National Careers Service advises knowing how to contact the interviewer in case of technical issues, and, if the tech fails during a live interview, to stop and restart if you need to.

If you get cut off:

1. Rejoin from the same link straight away on your backup connection.
2. If you can't rejoin within two minutes, send a short email or message: "I lost my connection and am rejoining now. If it fails again, I can continue by phone on +234..."
3. When you're back, don't over-apologise. Say "Sorry about that, I was answering the question about onboarding," and carry on.

A single drop rarely costs anyone the job. Panicking or disappearing for 20 minutes can.

Set up your room, camera and sound

Keep this simple. A quiet room, light facing you rather than behind you, the camera at eye level and a plain background cover most of it. The National Careers Service recommends a laptop over a phone or tablet, headphones for better sound, and looking at the camera rather than the screen. Wear what you'd wear to an in-person interview with the same company.

Two Nigeria-specific points: tell the household the time of your call (and ask for no blender or pounding during it), and if you live near a mosque, church or busy road, test the room at the same time of day. A headset with a close microphone filters out more background noise than a laptop's built-in mic.

For detailed setup, read how to set up your camera and microphone for an interview, and for clothing, see what to wear for a remote job video interview.

Prepare answers that work for an interviewer abroad

Check the role's location rules before you prepare anything else

Reread the job ad. Some roles say "Remote, EMEA" or "Remote, worldwide"; others only accept people who already have the right to work in a particular country. If the ad is unclear, ask the recruiter politely before the interview: "Can you confirm the role is open to candidates based in Nigeria, and whether it's a contractor or employee arrangement?" It saves both of you an hour. Our guide on checking whether a remote job accepts Nigerian residents explains how to read these restrictions.

Structure your answers so they are easy to follow

Most UK and US interviewers expect specific examples rather than general claims. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a simple way to structure them, and the National Careers Service recommends it in its interview advice. Prepare five or six STAR stories from your CV that you can adapt: a problem you solved, a mistake you fixed, a time you worked with someone difficult, a result you can put a number on.

Keep each answer to about one to two minutes. Shorter answers suit a video call, because interviewers can't use body language to tell you to wrap up, and a slight audio delay makes long answers hard to interrupt.

Questions Nigerian candidates are often asked

Beyond questions about the role itself, foreign employers interviewing someone in Nigeria commonly want to know:

• Your working hours. "Our team is in New York. Can you work until 10pm your time?" Know your honest answer before the call.
• Your setup. "What happens if your power goes out?" Describe the actual backup you have, plainly. This question is an opportunity, not a trap.
• Why remote. See how to answer "Why do you want to work remotely?".
• The arrangement. Many foreign companies hire Nigerians as contractors or through an employer of record. Read up on contractor versus employee arrangements so you can talk about it sensibly.
• Pay expectations. Have a figure in dollars (or the currency in the ad) ready, based on your research. Don't quote a naira amount to a US recruiter and expect them to convert it.

You'll find role-specific question banks in our interview question guides by role.

Speak so you are understood across accents

You don't need to change your accent. Your job is to be easy to follow on a compressed audio line, which is a different skill.

• Slow down slightly and pause after each question before answering. The pause also stops you talking over the interviewer on a delayed line, a point the National Careers Service makes too.
• Explain local terms the first time. Say "my national youth service year (NYSC)" or "Paystack, a Nigerian payments company now owned by Stripe" instead of assuming they know.
• Avoid local expressions that may confuse, such as "I'm coming" meaning "wait", or "on seat".
• If you miss a question, say so: "Sorry, the audio cut out. Could you repeat the last part?" Asking is better than answering the wrong question.
• Give currencies, numbers and dates in the interviewer's format. Say "$40,000 a year" and "4 November", not "40k" and "4/11", which an American reads as 11 April.

Recording a mock answer on your phone and playing it back is the fastest way to hear whether you rush. More on this in demonstrating communication skills in a remote interview.

A day-by-day preparation checklist

Two or three days before:

1. Confirm the time in both zones by email and save the recruiter's contact details offline.
2. Install the platform, run a test call, and practise screen sharing.
3. Research the company, the team and your interviewers (their public LinkedIn profiles), and write three questions to ask them.
4. Prepare your STAR stories and practise them aloud on video.

The day before:

1. Run a full test from the interview room, at the interview time, on both internet connections.
2. Buy data for both lines and charge every device.
3. Prepare notes: the job ad, your CV, your questions, the recruiter's number.
4. Lay out what you'll wear, and tell the household.

On the day:

1. Start power backup and connect to internet about an hour before.
2. Restart the laptop, close other apps, and turn off the VPN and automatic updates.
3. Log in to check everything about half an hour before. The National Careers Service suggests giving yourself at least that much time.
4. Join the meeting a few minutes early, with your phone on silent but within reach as backup.

Why employers may ask you to keep your camera on or show ID

Expect some foreign employers to insist on camera-on interviews and to check your identity later in the process. One reason is fraud. In June 2022, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center warned that it had received more complaints about people using deepfakes and stolen identities to apply for remote jobs. Most of those cases involved information technology, programming, database and software roles (FBI IC3 public service announcement). Leave your camera on and take an identity check calmly. Asking for one is normal.

The fraud runs in both directions, though. Real employers do the interview on a video platform with named staff from the company. Fake ones often "interview" by text message on Telegram or WhatsApp, offer the job on the spot, then ask for money for equipment or training. The US Federal Trade Commission says honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job, and that being sent a cheque to deposit and then pass part of it on is a scam (FTC job scams guidance). Before the interview, check that the recruiter's email address uses the company's real domain. Don't send copies of your passport or bank details just to get an interview.

Read how to spot remote job scams in Nigeria for the wider warning signs, and how to recognise fake remote job interviews for interview-specific tricks.

After the interview

Send a short thank-you email within 24 hours, to the recruiter or each interviewer. Mention one specific thing you discussed and restate your interest in a line or two. Keep it short: three or four sentences is plenty.

Then write down two or three things that went well and two or three to improve, as the National Careers Service suggests. If the recruiter gave a decision date and it passes, follow up once, politely. Timing and wording are covered in how to follow up after applying for a remote job.

If the invite is for a recorded interview rather than a live call, where you answer questions on screen with nobody there, the preparation is different: see how to prepare for a one-way video interview.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I join a video interview with a foreign company?

Join the meeting link a few minutes early, but check your setup about half an hour before. The UK National Careers Service suggests logging in with at least half an hour to spare to make sure everything works. Joining the actual meeting room 30 minutes early is unnecessary and can be awkward if the interviewer is in another meeting.

How much data does a Zoom interview use in Nigeria?

By our estimate from Zoom's published figure of 1.2Mbps each way for 720p one-to-one video, about 1.1GB an hour, or roughly 800MB for 45 minutes. Group calls and higher video quality use more. Keep at least 2GB on your main line and some data on a backup line.

What should I do if there is a power outage during the interview?

If your laptop is charged and your internet stays on, carry on. That's why you run on battery and keep the router on backup power. If your connection goes, rejoin on your phone hotspot, and if that fails, message the recruiter with a phone number so you can continue by phone.

Can I do an international video interview on my phone?

You can, but a laptop is better. The National Careers Service recommends a computer or laptop over a phone or tablet, and many interviews include screen sharing or a short test that is hard to do on a phone. If you must use a phone, mount it at eye level, turned sideways, and turn on Do Not Disturb.

Should I tell the interviewer I'm in Nigeria?

Yes, if the role is open to Nigeria-based candidates, be clear about it from the start. Hiding your location wastes everyone's time and causes problems at the contract and payment stage. Check the job ad's location rules before the interview, and ask the recruiter if they're unclear.

Is it a red flag if the "interview" is only by text chat?

Usually, yes. Real employers interview on a video or phone call with named staff from the company, and they don't offer a job after a text conversation and then ask for payment. The FTC says honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job.

Do I need to change my accent for a UK or US interview?

No. You need to be clear, not to sound British or American. Speak a little more slowly, pause before answering, explain Nigerian terms the first time you use them, and ask the interviewer to repeat anything you missed because of the audio.

What time zone should I use when scheduling with a US company?

Write every time in both US time and Lagos time (WAT, UTC+1), and check whether the date falls before or after the US clock change. As of October 2026, US Eastern is 5 hours behind Lagos until 1 November 2026 and 6 hours behind from that date until March.

Key takeaways

• Most international video interviews go wrong on logistics (wrong time, wrong platform, power or network failure), so sort those out first.
• Confirm the time in both zones in writing, and watch the late October to early November period, when the UK and US change clocks a week apart.
• Run the call on battery, with backup power for your router and a second internet connection from a different provider. Budget about 1GB of data an hour.
• Get a phone number or email for the recruiter, so a dropped call becomes a two-minute pause rather than a lost interview.
• Prepare short STAR answers, plus honest answers about your hours, your backup setup and the contract arrangement.
• Leave your camera on and expect identity checks. Treat text-only interviews and requests for money as scams.

Next steps

Prepare for the specific role you've been invited for using our role-by-role interview guides, and keep applying while you wait to hear back: the remote job listings on WorkRemote.ng show where applicants may live for each role. After searching, you can use "Get email updates" for a free daily digest of new matching jobs. If you'd like one-on-one interview practice with someone from our team, it's part of WorkRemote Premium (₦29,999 a month), along with a CV rewrite and applications made on your behalf. Premium also includes an interview invitation within your first week, which is an interview invite, not a job offer.

Sources

• Zoom system requirements: Windows, macOS, Linux, Zoom Support
• Zoom test meeting, Zoom
• Google Meet hardware and browser requirements, Google Meet Help
• Prepare your organization's network for Teams, Microsoft Learn
• Deepfakes and stolen PII utilized to apply for remote work positions, FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 28 June 2022
• Job scams, US Federal Trade Commission
• Interview advice, National Careers Service (UK)
• How to do well in video interviews, National Careers Service (UK)