With social distancing, companies have had to get creative with interviewing, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped altogether. Most businesses have taken interviews via video chatting. Video interviews provide a little more freedom to keep notes by your side while you interview. It should still be treated like a real in-person interview, even with extra freedoms. The only difference between an in-person interview and a video interview? The time to show up. For in-person, it’s typical to show up 15 minutes early. For a video chat platform, if you do that, you may interrupt another video call. It’s best to wait until 2-5 minutes before your call to enter the video chat call room.
Limiting Background Noise
Make sure the roommates don’t walk in and make an appearance in the background. You want to give them a professional impression. Have a neutral background and make sure it’s in a quiet room where no one can barge in, and definitely not a Starbucks or anywhere loud. You’ll want to be able to hear them and they want to hear you. Showcase your active listening skills, and your respect for their time, by arranging a quiet space for an hour and dedicating that time and attention to the interviewer.
Check Your Tech First
Do a mock interview, and practice setting up your call beforehand. Make sure your video and mic are working properly. Make sure the internet/wifi isn’t likely to cut out in that spot. You’ll want to look prepared and tech-savvy. It shows you’re organized and a problem solver. The goal is to make a good impression and anyone who fumbles around and can’t resolve tech issues doesn’t look too good. Be a rockstar and test your devices and the meeting room (by creating your own room account) while doing your interview prep with a friend to ensure you know how to enter the video chat room.
Make Eye Contact
If the little screen with your face in it in the corner is distracting, put a post-it note over it. It may be difficult not to look over and check your face and hair during the interview. We make a lot of silly expressions when we talk or worry that we look weird doing something that’s become a habit, but we can’t let those things get into our head during an interview. They should be addressed during the interview prep, or just ignored. You’ll want your eyes on the interviewer, not yourself. Also, make sure you place your notes in a place where you can look at them quickly, and look back at the interviewer.
Dress Professionally
Just like with an in-person, dress to impress. And, yes, that includes pants. Don’t think that because they, mostly, can’t see you that you can get away with not wearing pants. Many people have been embarrassed over video chat when they had to stand up and get something or move to pick up something and their pajama bottoms – or worse, no bottoms at all – have been seen. If you wouldn’t show up to an in-person interview without dress pants (which I hope is the case for most of you), then the same rule holds true for video interviews. Additionally, try the outfit on the night before to make sure it fits properly and you feel comfortable. If you’re uncomfortable in your own skin, the interviewer will pick up on that and question your confidence.
Don’t Fidget (or Touch Your Face!)
Keep your hands folded or hold them still in your lap. During a video interview, you’ll be tempted to fidget because you feel confident they can’t see everything going on. However, they can see that nervous energy. Moreover, no tapping your hands or pen. They can hear it and the sound may be increased by the computer mic. This is also where the practice recording with a friend could help. Your friend could identify and share with you any nervous habits you may do that you’ll need to be aware of and correct during the interview. These habits can be broken after three or four run-throughs with a friend via Skype or whichever meeting platform you’ll use for the interview.
Practice Good Posture
We all get in the habit of slouching when we’re at our computers. This is an interview, so practice not slouching during your interview prep. It’s going to take more than a few tries to break this bad habit. We all naturally slide into a slouch. While it’s important to stay comfortable during an interview, you also want to look professional. Practice an upright position to adjust your posture without awkwardness or discomfort. You could even get away with putting a small cushion at your back, supported by the chair. Make a killer first impression with well-polished, practiced posture.
Congratulations on getting the interview, especially during this health crisis! It’s a great sign the employer already feels you’re qualified. Show them you’re the candidate they’ve been searching for, from the comfort of your own home, and nail that video interview. For more tips on preparing for interviews, keep up with our news and job postings on pdxMindShare!
