More companies are turning to online platforms such as Zoom and Google Hangouts for job interviews, which means applicants need to really focus on putting their best face forward to score an offer. While many of the secrets to success in video interviews are the same as for an in-person interview, there are a few key differences.
Beyond the obvious – practice ahead of time and wear pants – here are 10 top tips for succeeding in your next video job interview:
1. Be confident. You might feel more nervous than you would for an in-person interview – where you can get a better feel for the person or team interviewing you – or even a phone interview – where you can make funny faces and easily refer to your notes – but you need to let your confidence and personality show. Practice with a friend or family member ahead of time so you are comfortable with the technology, the company interviewing you and your potential answers.
2. Testing, 1, 2, 3. Beyond knowing how to mute and unmute your microphone, you should be very familiar with the technology you’re using for the interview – and have a back-up device ready, if needed. Chat with a friend or family member ahead of time to make sure you look and sound good and that there is no distracting background noise or clutter. Make sure you are the right distance from your laptop or phone – you don’t want to appear giant or miniscule in the interview. A neutral background is best.
3. Dress for success. Even if you’re sitting in your living room, you should look just as nice – and formal – as if you were going to an impressive office for the interview. Focus on your outfit from head to toe, which includes shoes, even if you don’t normally wear them inside. Make sure the clothes you select all look good on camera and that your outfit isn’t too busy. Finally, make sure you’re not wearing anything that creates distracting glare or reflections, such as a watch or glasses.
4. It’s all about the body language. Good eye contact is critical to garnering good reviews and developing rapport in any kind of job interview. Look closely at the interviewer’s face, nod your head and smile, trying to appear as natural as possible, even from a distance. Maintain good posture throughout the interview, rather than wiggling or slouching. Nonverbal communication says a lot.
5. Let the other person finish speaking before you start. If you jump in too early, it is particularly awkward on video calls, where you can actually mute someone’s mic as you take over the conversation. Make sure the interviewer has finished the question or comment before you begin to respond.
6. Slow down. If you tend to talk fast or ramble, this can make it hard to hear your answers during a video interview. Practice pauses within your answers ahead of time, and make sure you speak with the right volume – not too loud, not too soft.
7. Arrive early. When everyone is working from home, it’s easy to slide into a meeting with 10 seconds to spare. However, if you were interviewing in an office, you would show up at least five to 10 minutes early and you should do that here as well to show you are ready and that you are prompt.
8. Keep notes to a minimum. It can be helpful to have your resume, a few key bullets and responses nearby if you need them for reference, but this should be more of a free-flowing conversation, so do your best to avoid shuffling papers or looking down at notes. Again, the more you practice ahead of time, the less you will need to rely on notes.
9. Handle disruptions like a pro. If disruptions – your cat, the interviewer’s laptop – happen, don’t fret. While it is important to minimize them, when possible, by silencing your phone and closing the windows, just have a sense of humor and maintain your professionalism if something does arise.
10. Focus on your opening and closing comments. It’s nice to make a little small talk, which often happens naturally at the beginning and ending of an in-person interview, to show your interest and your personality. Make sure you have some questions ready for the interviewer as well. Do your best to be yourself and to show your best self off.
Video interviews offer a chance for people in different locations or time zones to connect and get to know more about each other, a particular company/position and a candidate’s fit for a given job. Next time you have a video job interview lined up, prepare, prepare, prepare ahead of time and then let yourself shine.