Mastering Your Next Interview: The Virtual Interview

If you’re in the job market right now, the chances are good that you’re also doing interviews remotely. While COVID-19 made virtual interviews a necessary practice, its popularity among employers has stuck post-pandemic.

Virtual interviewing is convenient for employers as it allows for a more efficient interview process, eases scheduling conflicts and broadens the candidate pool. Virtual meetings and interviews have become a key part of our lives today, with more employees working from home, more meetings being conducted online, and more candidates interviewing by means of various virtual platforms such as MS Teams and Zoom.

It's likely that your next interview will be a virtual interview. We want to help you to get in front of the camera with confidence, knowing that you can succeed without any hiccups. In this article, we look at some of the best ways to be successful during your next virtual interview.

(1) Testing, Testing

It’s important to double check that you have the latest, updated software available to open the meeting link with ease before your interview. You want to avoid the additional stress of having to download a software update minutes before your interview starts. Don’t just assume that the link will work automatically – check your accessibility to the program prior to the interview.

It’s also important to find an area where you can connect to the internet efficiently. This sets the tone for the interview, and there is nothing more distracting than a freeze frame of your face during the interview at the moment when you are trying to convince your interviewers that you are a capable individual.

However, even if you follow all these steps, sometimes things might still go wrong and it’s important to have a Plan B in place. Have the Zoom or Microsoft Teams App installed on your phone, so that you can use it as an alternative way to connect with the interviewers if your laptop suddenly stops working. How you respond to emergency situations show interviewers how you would likely adapt to challenges in the workplace.​

Here are some additional tips to help you in your preparations:

• Make sure that your username is professional.
• Consider doing a test run with a friend or family member to check your camera, headphones, microphones and internet connection, so that you have ample time to adjust if any of your equipment or software is malfunctioning.
• If possible, use your laptop, as this allows you to easily take notes and have a stable image. However, still keep you phone on hand as a backup, should your laptop stop working.
• Make sure your devices are fully charged on the day of the interview.

(2) Dress To Impress

Dress as you would for an in-person interview, from head to toe. In most cases, working from home has allowed people to dress more casually for a typical day of work, but for an interview, companies are still expecting candidates to make an effort and, additionally, you will feel more confident when you are all dressed up for the occasion.

If you are unsure of the dress code expectations, it’s better to overdress than to underdress!

Avoid wearing bright, flashy colours and choose something that looks neatly pressed while you are sitting down.

Wear your video interview outfit during your trial run so that your friend or family member can give you feedback about how you look on screen.

(3) Set The Stage

Try to choose a location that is free from the distractions of family members and housemates. Respectfully let them know in advance that you will have an interview at the set time, so that the household can keep noise distractions to a minimum. This will mitigate the risk of someone interrupting your interview.

If you are having your interview at home, make sure that your background is free from clutter and distracting décor. You do not want anything to distract the hiring manager from the content of what you are saying, so the safest approach is to simply have a neutral-coloured wall in the background.

Try to set up lighting that is bright, but not glaring, illuminating your face from the front. Natural light is best. 

(4) Be The Early Bird

Be sure to set yourself reminders. On the day of the interview, login 15 minutes early so that you can be calm and collected when the virtual interview begins. This time also gives you a last chance to double check that everything is working on your end, and that you are happy with the lighting.

Have a copy of your resume on hand, along with the job description and any speaking points that you want to refer to, or notes that you have taken about the position or the company while you were preparing for the interview.

(5) Remember To Smile

Interviewing virtually limits the ability to communicate with body language, but that doesn’t mean that body language now becomes unimportant. You won’t be able to shake hands with your potential employer at the beginning and end of the discussion, but there are other ways to build rapport and exude enthusiasm, like smiling, giving a confident wave with eye contact and using hand gestures.

Again, make sure that your camera is in a well-lit room and focused on your face, so that the hiring manager can see you clearly. Maintain good posture and try not to move around excessively, so that the manager can get the best possible impression of you.

And remember, it is easier for your eyes to wander when the person you are talking to is not physically present in the room. Maintain good “eye contact” by looking into the camera when answering questions, instead of at your own video on the screen.

(6) Speak, Pause And Listen

Check your volume controls and speak clearly so that the microphone picks up your voice and the interviewer does not have to strain to hear you.

Remember that digital connections can sometimes be delayed. To avoid talking over the interviewer or having your first few words cut out, let the interviewer finish the question and then pause for a moment before giving your answer.

You can also use the chat function to ask questions and share resources if needed and make a copy of the chat transcript.

(7) Close The Interview By Sharing Your Appreciation

Just as you would with any interview, thank the interviewer for the opportunity. Briefly reinforce why you are interested in the job and why you would be a great match for the role and company. Think about adding something that you and the employer discussed while getting to know each other that will make the thank-you message more personal. Remember not to forget the basics of interviewing.

 

At SA3, we know that the process of finding a new role can be daunting and we really want to help you. We want you to remember us for making your life easier. We know that good recruitment is more than just submitting a strong resume, and we also provide interview preparation services. Give us a call and put us to the test.