Covid-19 has played a significant role in changing hiring practices. If you are used to preparing for in-person interviews, don’t let the idea of a video interview psych you out. Keep in mind that video interviews are not much different than in-person ones. With a few minor differences, your preparation should look pretty similar.
Before the interview
Check you have the right technology
There are so many different programs used for video interviews, such as Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, and the list goes on. Always double-check that you have the right programs and browsers downloaded, so you aren’t in a rush the day of. You will need a computer with a working webcam and an external microphone such as one attached to headphones for a video interview. Check early enough as this will give you time to make any necessary arrangements if you don’t already have the equipment in working condition.
Practice ahead of time
Practice. Practice. Practice. It never hurts to have a friend or family member do a mock interview. This way, you can get feedback from an objective person to tell you how you look from the other side of the screen. Whoever you choose to practice with, ask them to give you tips on how your clothes look, if you need to change any lighting and so on. Have this person ask you a few interview questions as well to practice your answers. Overall, it’s a bright idea to get comfortable talking through a screen and help you look more natural for the actual interview.
Now let’s focus on the interview day
Dress accordingly
Even though you are at home, it is still important to dress in business wear from top to bottom. As tempting as it might be to only dress from the top up, you don’t want to find yourself in a situation of standing up and the interviewer seeing your pyjama pants. Wear solid colours that are easy on the eyes. Test your outfit on camera first to be sure nothing will look odd to the interviewer.
Be early
Even though your commute might only be a few steps from one room to another, you should be set up by your computer at least 10-15 minutes prior. These few minutes give you time to sign on and mentally prep yourself before your interview starts. Being early will let you enter the interview with a clear and collected mindset. Typically, video interview software will allow you to view yourself before the interview begins giving you one last chance to check your surroundings.
Have some materials on hand
It is perfectly okay to have your resume or some notes with you but don’t use them as a crutch. Make sure to practice using any of these materials to ensure they won’t be a distraction and hinder your interview. Bringing a notebook and pen can be helpful if you want to jot down any ideas or questions you have. Let your interviewer know when you are taking notes to avoid looking distracted if you choose to do this.
Have a backup plan
As we all know, the internet isn’t perfect. Glitches happen. At the beginning of the interview, ask the hiring manager if there is another way to contact them to continue on the off chance that the call fails. If you happen to be in an environment where there might be possible disruptions, don’t be afraid to apologize in advance. This lets your interviewer know you are mindful of the situation and have a plan to remedy the situation. It is more professional to address the interruption than try to ignore it and continue on.
Using your voice
Project your voice so that it will sound clear to the interview. Due to brief delays in sound, allow for a slight pause after your interviewer speaks to make sure they finish their question. After completing your answer, you should also give a signal that you have finished answering the question. You can do this either in the form of a nod or asking a question to the interviewer. These pauses will help avoid talking over or mishearing one another and also give you a chance to think over the question.
With video interviews becoming more common, it’s always a good idea to brush up on your interview skills and learn how to adjust to this rise in technology.
About Live Assets
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We are a small, but productive team that works closely together and has had a 96% success rate for the past number of years!
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