In recent years, virtual interviews have become more common – if you have interviewed for a job in the past two years, you’ve probably encountered a situation in which an online interview was conducted. There is no doubt that virtual recruitment will continue well after the end of the pandemic, according to Zippia’s career development platform. Over 60% of recruiters use video technology to interview remote candidates, and 81% predict the trend will be continued even after the pandemic.
It has been possible to conduct video interviews in a straightforward and accessible manner thanks to platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, HireVue, WebEx, and Hireflix. However, candidates who have been accustomed to performing in-person interviews can find it challenging to make the transition to an online stage. If you want to ensure that your virtual interview is a success, here are a few tips you may follow.
When preparing for an interview, click on the video chat link and realize that you have to download a new application in a minimal amount of time; there is nothing worse than figuring out how to do that.
If possible, take the time to test out the interview links a day before your interview to ensure they are working and will not cause any last-minute complications that could affect your consultation. You can do this by downloading any online applications, blocking any cookies, gaining access to any browsers you need to use the links, and upgrading any operating systems you need.
You should test your interview set-up as soon as your laptop can run video chat; check your webcam and microphone. Virtual backgrounds are available if you need them. If you are going to be sharing a document or presentation during your interview, do a few practices runs to ensure you are comfortable with how to access and use the screen-sharing feature.
Your interview should take place in an environment that is quiet and free from distractions. If you do this, you will be able to get the full attention of your interviewer, and your chances of performing well will be maximized.
It is essential to consider the noise levels in your home when you are taking your interview from your place of residence. It is also necessary to think about your wireless connection. If the signal is weak or patchy, it is advisable to book a private room in a public library or ask a friend who owns an office if they could let you borrow the space for a few hours. A job interview can be stressful enough as it is – factors like noise and internet connection shouldn’t add to your stress on the big day by adding your anxiety.
Lastly, ensure your picture has a neat and clean background. You should make sure your workspace is tidy, uncluttered, and professional without any items that reflect you as a person, such as posters of your favorite bands or collages of pictures from your college days. Other, more accessible alternatives exist as well; most video interview platforms offer the option to blur out the background of the video interview or to set one that resembles a neutral ground.
One oft-overlooked benefit of virtual interviewing is accessing your desktop from your computer. If you could memorize your interview answers from memory, sometimes that’s not the case. Using your desktop during your interview can save you a few awkward moments.
The day before your interview, you can prepare a few bullet points of topics you want to discuss during the consultation by pulling a screenshot of your resume, portfolio, the company’s website, mission statement, or even a few bullet points you want to discuss while you are speaking on your desktop. This will allow relevant documents without awkwardly shuffling papers off-screen or breaking eye contact with your interviewer as you flip through them.
While we recommend not reading directly from the documents that you are accessing during your interview, you are likely to appear robotic to your interviewer if you do so. However, having your information readily available will give you a false sense of security.
It is essential to anticipate screen-sharing scenarios. However – your interviewer may be confused and surprised to suddenly find themselves looking at your bulleted answers to the question ‘My most significant weakness.
Benefits of conducting an online interview? Including the possibility of connecting across continents, time zones, and even language barriers – but this can sometimes create confusion. To avoid possible miscommunication, it is always important to double-check the date and time of the interview, and always include the timezone (EST, PST, etc.) and the time in a.m. or p.m. to any discussion of time. In the end, it can be challenging to make up for not being able to show up for an interview if you have already missed the opportunity to make your own – first impressions are crucial, especially if you do not get the chance to make them.
Being punctual for online interviews is essential because you do not have the physical presence that constitutes the first impression in person. You can ensure you are on time by copying and pasting the interview links to a convenient place on your desktop that is easy to access (many computers have a sticky note feature that can be utilized for this purpose). This benefit is that you will not have to frantically search through your inbox five minutes before your appointment for the interview link, which is always a stressful experience.
Although many interviewers consider themselves experts in interpreting body language during an in-person interview, conducting a virtual consultation can be a whole different ball game. Indeed, an excellent posture can undoubtedly boost your self-confidence, but on the other hand, an interviewer who can only see your head may not be impressed by your posture.
During a virtual interview, you should keep your focus, make eye contact, and pace your speech to sound professional. Even the tiniest distraction can break your direction when you are talking in a digital setting – and interviewers can tell when your eyes are flitting to a text notification in the corner of your screen. To ensure that pesky messages don’t interfere with your ability to connect with your interviewer virtually, you may want to take steps, such as disabling laptop notifications. This will prevent pesky messages from interfering.
Ask a friend to conduct a virtual test interview with you and give you feedback on your online body language as another way to help you improve your online body language. As a part of this round, make sure you look into the camera as you speak and create a warm and engaging presence through the screen as you talk.
In addition to practicing your speaking pace, you should take advantage of this opportunity to practice your speaking too. This is because one of the pitfalls of virtual interviews is that there can be a time lag, which can throw the candidate’s confidence and make them chatter awkwardly to fill the time. Try to finish your answer calmly, clearly, and cleanly; do not be afraid of taking a moment or two as your interviewer processes or catches up with your statement as it comes part and parcel with the virtual interview experience.
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