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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Abbie Whitlock" data-source="post: 225087" data-attributes="member: 42112">Hey!I totally get what you mean - it's really common to feel "robotic" in video interviews, particularly once you've practised your answers a lot! A few things that you could try that usually helped me sound a bit more natural:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Stop memorising full answers: I found it really helped me to switch to bullet-point prompts rather than practising whole sentences, as it allowed me to still add bits as I went along. For example, you might follow a structure of: key point, example, outcome - and practice with those bullet-points. This forces you to speak in your own words each time, which will help you sound more natural</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Recording yourself answering with different wording each time: for example, you could set a rule such as "I can't repeat the same phrasing twice". Therefore, when you are practicing, it helps you stay flexible and stops your brain from reciting a script</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Use conversational markers: it was really useful for me to use phrases that make it sound like you are thinking out loud, rather than reading from a mental script. This could be small things such as "so", "what I found was..." or "the reason I chose that example is..."</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Practice under realistic pressure: I'd do mock recordings with a timer and no notes (or just the bullet-points from above). The more you get used to speaking "off-the-cuff", the less stiff it'll feel in the real thing</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Focus on clarity rather than perfection: a natural answer will have tiny imperfections - things such as a slight pause, a correction, a filler word here and there. What matters is that you respond to these by not letting it throw you off for the rest of the answer - these will make you sound human, not necessarily unprepared!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Smile slightly while you talk: this sounds really silly, but it does change your tone and makes your delivery warmer and more engaging. I think it's always important to remember that you sometimes act more "robotic" in a VI than you normally would in a usual interview, so it can help to try and let your personality shine through</li> </ul>You are already doing the right thing by being aware of it. With a bit of adjustment, you'll find a good balance between being well-prepared and sound like yourself. Best of luck!! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

Verification: Our company is called, "The Corporate ___ Academy". What is the missing word here?

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