Given today's realities of COVID-19-related changes, such as
travel restrictions, work from home requirements and physical distancing, the
job interview process often has to be conducted remotely via video.
So as a job seeker, you have to deal with regular pressure
of a job interview plus the additional consideration of remote/virtual technology. Here are 12 tips to get you prepared:
1. Bandwidth
matters
Video conferencing uses a lot of internet bandwidth. If
possible, ensure that during your interview, no one else in the house is using
internet-hungry applications like gaming or video streaming.
On your own computer, turn off memory hungry applications
such as your browser, email, Office programs, etc.
A bonus would be if you could connect to the internet via an
ethernet cable directly, i.e. "hard wire" to the internet. This should give you a more stable consistent
connection than relying on the Wi-Fi in your house.
2. Audio
matters
Make sure your microphone and speakers work well. Your mic should convey your voice clearly and
crisply. If your computer mic is not
adequate, get an external microphone that connects to your computer.
Also beware of background noise that your mic may pick
up. Set up your interview space as a
“quiet zone” during the interview. Turn
off any notifications from devices in the room such as phones, home communication
devices like Alexa, alarm clocks, etc.
If you’re not able to close the door to the interview space,
at least cordon it off and let the other members of the household know that you
need quiet in that zone.
3. Background
matters
It's ok if your backdrop is your bookshelf, a wall or door,
etc., as long as it is professional and not distracting. If you don't have a good background, you
could put up a clean, unwrinkled, solid color sheet behind you like a screen.
(And if you decide to try using Zoom's virtual background
option, test it out first to see how it looks, especially if you don’t have a
green screen.)
4. Lighting
matters
Your room light may or may not be enough to light you for
video. You should be well lit with
minimal shadow. Position a diffused
light behind the camera – move the light around until you get the best
location.
5. Video matters
Your laptop or computer camera may be good enough to convey
high quality video. Otherwise, invest in an external USB camera. Place the camera at eye level or slightly
above (if need be, place your laptop on a pile of books to get it at the right height).
6. Test
everything
Test the bandwidth, audio, video, lighting and all
technology well in advance of your interview so there are no surprises. Figure out how to mute/unmute your audio,
turn your camera on and off, use the specific platform whether it's Zoom,
WebEx, etc. If possible, test at the same time of day as your interview so you
get a more realistic test of internet traffic and lighting. And never rely on
your computer’s battery to carry you through the interview; always plug in.
7. Practice
In addition to testing everything, you also need to practice
as you would for an in-person interview.
If you know the job description and a little about the industry, you can
predict at least 80% of the questions you will be asked so practice your responses
to those questions.
Practice answering those questions out loud, ideally via
video connection - have a friend set up a video connection and pretend to
interview you. Why practice out loud? Because thinking about the answers in
your head is not the same as saying them out loud.
The good news with a video interview is that you can use
notes. Place them strategically around
your monitor so you don't have to keep looking down and make sure you have them
ready during your practice session.
(And if you plan to take notes during the interview,
simulate that during your practice session also, so you don’t end up looking
down at your notes all the time).
8. Practice
good interview etiquette
As you would for an in-person interview, make sure you are
well groomed: take a shower, comb your hair, dress appropriately especially
from the waist up! Not only does this
show respect to the interviewer but it also helps to get you into
"professional interview mode."
Show up early for the interview so you’re not rushed and can
deal with any log-in issues.
Find out who will be interviewing you so you can look them
up ahead of time so you know something about them, just like you would in
person.
9. Facial
expressions matter
Be aware of what message your face is communicating,
especially when you are listening to questions -- do you look bored, angry,
distracted? You should look engaged, relaxed and interested. Practice this on
video.
Also make eye contact with the interviewer(s). To do so, look into the camera, not at your
own picture -- if need be, position the video application window on your screen
close to your video camera so it is easier to look into the camera.
10. Find out if
you will be recorded
While it is not usual to record job interviews, since the
video technology has that function, it is a possibility. And it’s best for you
to know ahead of time if the interviewer plans to record rather than being
surprised if the red “record” button suddenly lights up at the start of the
interview.
11. Be prepared
for the unexpected
Have a Plan B or C.
What will you do if for whatever reason, the connection breaks down, or
the video or audio are not clear? Make
sure you have exchanged cell phone numbers with the interviewer so you can
connect if the video interview falls apart
12. Stay calm,
positive and relaxed
A job interview can be stressful in itself. You need to stay focused on connecting with
your interviewer and sharing your relevant experience and qualifications for
the job.
If something goes wrong with the technology or the interview
is interrupted for whatever reason, stay calm, keep a good sense of humor,
address the issue and keep moving forward. Not only will you save the
interview, but you will also be demonstrating an important job skill – staying
calm under pressure!
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© Gilda Bonanno
LLC -- Gilda Bonanno serves as a trusted advisor to executives and
entrepreneurs to transform their communication and leadership skills. She has worked with companies on 4
continents, from Chicago to Shanghai and Rio to Rome. The instructional videos on her YouTube
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