How to Prepare for a Video Interview With Poor Internet

If you're wondering how to prepare for a video interview with poor internet, the honest answer is that you can't control your network, but you can control your backups and your response when it fails. Interviewers usually understand that connections drop. What tends to leave a poor impression is panic, long silence or vanishing without explanation.

This guide covers three things: a backup data plan, a backup power plan, and a reconnect script you can practise until it's automatic. It's written with Nigerian applicants in mind, but the same steps work in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

Step 1: Build a backup data plan

One connection is a single point of failure. Aim for at least two independent routes to the internet before the day.

Use two different networks

• Primary: your best connection, whether home Wi-Fi, a MiFi or your main SIM.
• Backup: a SIM on a different network in a second phone or a dual-SIM handset. If one network is congested in your area, the other may not be.
• Emergency: a phone that can dial in by voice if the video platform offers a phone number, or that can simply receive a call from the interviewer.

Check signal strength for each network in the exact room where you'll sit. Signal can vary a lot between rooms, floors and even the side of the house facing the mast.

Buy more data than you think you need

Video calls use far more data than browsing. Rather than guessing, measure it: run a 30-minute test call on the same platform and check your phone's data usage meter before and after. Then make sure both your primary and backup connections have at least double that amount loaded, plus extra for any assessment tasks or screen sharing.

Buy the data a day early, not an hour before. Top-up delays and failed transactions do happen, and you don't want to be troubleshooting a bank app at 9:55 for a 10:00 interview.

Set up hotspotting in advance

If your backup is a phone hotspot, turn it on once beforehand, connect your laptop and save the password. When your main connection drops, switching should take seconds, not minutes of hunting through settings.

Step 2: Build a backup power plan

Power cuts can take down your router, your laptop and your light all at once. Plan for each.

• Laptop: charge it to full and keep the charger plugged in. If your battery is old, test how long it lasts on a video call.
• Router or MiFi: these often die first. A power bank that can run your MiFi or router for an hour is one of the most useful things you can own as a job seeker.
• Phone: fully charged, plus a charged power bank and cable within reach.
• Inverter or generator: if you rely on a generator, think about noise. Sit as far from it as possible, close windows on that side, and test how much your microphone picks up. If a neighbour's generator is the problem, a wired headset with a close microphone helps.
• Light: if power goes, your room may go dark. Have a rechargeable lamp ready so you remain visible.

If your area has a fairly predictable outage pattern, book or request a slot when power is more likely to be on. You don't need to explain why; simply pick the time that suits you from the options offered.

Step 3: Rehearse with a full test call

A test call with a friend, on the same platform, at the same time of day as your interview, will reveal most problems early.

During the rehearsal:

1. Join from your primary connection and talk for ten minutes.
2. Deliberately switch off Wi-Fi or the MiFi and time how long it takes you to rejoin on the backup.
3. Practise your reconnect script out loud (see below).
4. Ask your friend how your audio sounded. Audio quality usually matters more than video.
5. Note the data used and the battery drained.

If you're also practising answers, you can combine this with STAR practice. QuickApplyPilot's interview preparation tool can generate likely questions for a specific job ad, which gives your rehearsal something real to talk through.

Should you warn the interviewer in advance?

This part of how to prepare for a video interview with poor internet is optional, but it often helps. A short, calm note sets expectations and gets you a backup phone number before you need it. Keep it factual and don't over-apologise.

Dear [Name],

Thank you for the invitation. I'm looking forward to speaking on [date] at [time].

I've set up a backup connection, but in case of any brief interruption, could you share a phone number I can reach you on? Mine is [number, with country code]. If the call drops, I'll rejoin the same link straight away.

Kind regards, [Your name]

Always write your number with the country code (+234 for Nigeria) if the interviewer is abroad.

The reconnect script

When the call breaks, most people freeze or ramble. A script removes the guesswork. Write these lines on a sticky note beside your screen.

If the audio or video is breaking up

"Sorry, I think my connection is unstable. I'm going to turn off my video so the audio is clearer. Is that okay?"

Turning off video is often the fastest fix, because audio needs much less bandwidth. Turn it back on once things settle: "My connection looks better now, I'll switch my camera back on."

If you missed part of the question

"I'm sorry, the connection cut out for a few seconds. Could you repeat the last part of the question?"

Don't guess at a question you didn't hear. Asking once, politely, is normal.

If you drop out mid-answer

Rejoin immediately using your backup, then say:

"Apologies, I lost connection and I've switched to my backup. I was talking about [topic]. Shall I pick up from where I left off, or would you prefer I start that answer again?"

This shows you're organised and lets the interviewer choose. Then carry on without dwelling on it.

If you can't get back in within two or three minutes

Send a short message by email or text, whichever channel they gave you:

"Hello [Name], my connection has dropped and I'm working to rejoin. I can call you on [number] now, or rejoin the link within five minutes. Apologies for the interruption."

Then call if they offered a number. A voice call that continues the interview is far better than silence.

If the interview has to stop

After the call, or within the hour, send a calm follow-up:

Dear [Name],

Thank you for your time today, and apologies again for the connection problems. I'd be grateful for the chance to finish our conversation if that's possible, at any time that suits you. I remain very interested in the [role] position.

Kind regards, [Your name]

Whether they reschedule is their decision, and there's no guarantee they will. But a clear, polite message gives you the best chance and leaves a professional impression either way.

Lighten the load on your connection during the call

Small settings changes can make a weak connection more usable:

• Close every other app and browser tab, especially anything syncing (cloud backups, app updates, streaming).
• Disconnect other devices from your Wi-Fi or hotspot.
• Use the platform's desktop or mobile app rather than a browser if it performs better in your test.
• Turn off virtual backgrounds and video filters, which use extra processing power.
• Sit near the router or a window facing your network's signal.
• Use earphones to reduce echo, so you're not asked to repeat yourself.

Where advice differs by country

Nigeria: power cuts and network congestion are common concerns, so backup power and a second-network SIM matter most. Be cautious with interviews held only on WhatsApp or Telegram with no company email address, especially for remote roles. Our checklist on spotting fake remote job scams in Nigeria covers the warning signs.

UK, US, Canada and Australia: power is usually more reliable, but home broadband, shared housing and rural coverage can still cause problems. A mobile hotspot on your phone is the usual backup. If you have a disability or condition that affects video calls, you can ask the employer about adjustments; check the official guidance in your country, such as GOV.UK in the UK, rather than relying on this post.

International and remote interviews: confirm the time zone in writing ("10:00 London time, which is 10:00 or 11:00 Lagos time depending on daylight saving"). Peak-hour congestion in your area may fall at a different time from the interviewer's working day, so test at the actual interview time. If you're applying abroad from Nigeria, our guide to remote jobs for non-tech Nigerians covers what international employers tend to expect.

Day-of checklist

Copy this and tick it off an hour before:

• Laptop charged and plugged in
• Router or MiFi charged, power bank connected
• Phone charged, backup SIM data loaded
• Hotspot tested and password saved on laptop
• Interview link open, platform app updated
• Interviewer's phone number and email written down
• Reconnect script on a sticky note
• Rechargeable lamp nearby
• Other apps and devices disconnected
• Glass of water and notes within reach

A dropped connection is rarely the end of an interview. Having two routes to the internet, power that outlasts an outage, and calm words ready to go means that if something fails, you'll handle it in a way that shows the organisation and composure employers look for.