I remember my very first job interview pretty well: getting stressed out over the minutest distractions; not having a proper sleep; dressing in my finest suit; and barely making it in on time because I had missed the bus. Now, with the pandemic having taken over our lives, a lot of people are now working remotely
from home and they love it. One could skip all the above and jump right to the interview itself. Or could they not?
Video conferencing services seem to have taken over our lives, both professional and private, changing the ways we communicate and behave accordingly. Trying to stay connected while being apart is a tall order, however. But if you find a quiet place with a neutral background, it will be much easier for you to concentrate, follow the conversation and present yourself as a professional in the best possible way. Job interviews are always stressful, and with additional distractions, they can be a real challenge. Always be ready for technical questions. For example, if you’re applying for a virtual personal assistant position, you should know everything about communication, and be a guru.
Even more daunting it seems for those seeking a job – in the final analysis, even if you do get hired, what are the chances you will see any of your co-workers in the near future? It is, therefore, up to us, hiring managers, to do our utmost to ensure everyone feels like home in this new virtual working environment.
Undoubtedly, the standard rules of a face-to-face job interview still apply to virtual communication. There are, however, quite a few aspects that need taking care of. Here’s what I have learned from the last two years of trying to ‘break the Zoom wall’.
Physical Environment
Before the pandemic, I would host job interviews at my office, with relatively soundproof walls, biscuits and coffee to be offered to job applicants, and a comfortable leather armchair to sit in. Enter the pandemic, and I can rely on my flat and a laptop. Biscuits, coffee, and a comfortable armchair are all here, too, although I cannot share them with interviewees.
It does not mean, however, that a hands-off approach will suffice for video conferencing. For starters, be sure there is as little noise in your room as possible, and nothing would suddenly barge in as you interview someone. Hence, better leave the windows and door closed. Do not forget to test the lighting and how it looks on screen—you shouldn’t give off the impression of being in a cave!
Technical Issues
Now that I mentioned screens, take some time to check how your equipment is working. Preferably, you have to ensure a stable internet connection throughout the interview. (Sometimes I would use mobile internet because the wi-fi could break up at any moment.) Sound equipment is as important: a pair of separate headphones would do a better job than the built-in ones.Set your camera at eye level so that your image is in the middle of the frame horizontally. The background behind the back is better one-color. It is better to remove the mess behind your back out of sight.
And, remember that camera quality trumps screen quality. That is, if your handset shoots a better picture than your laptop, choose the former—although the interviewee wouldn’t look big on its screen. Want to check your image on camera? Make a trial recording or use a Skype or Zoom test call.
Getting Prepared
I usually get ready for a job interview shortly before it begins so that all the info about the candidate is fresh in my head. The same rule is applicable to an online interview as well; the trick, however, is that the camera doesn’t capture everything around me, which is why I keep my notes with questions for the applicant somewhere near me just in case.
Another rule to be adhered to: Appearance is important, even online. I am not at liberty to wear whatever I use at home—formal or at least semi-formal clothes is a must. For those who are new to video conferencing, wearing shoes might help as well— it’ll bring the interview a tiny step closer to face-to-face communication.
Try to speak in a friendly tone, clearly and not too quietly. Pause periodically and ask if you can hear well. Or just let the interviewer react during the pause. Pay attention, the image of the interlocutor does not “hang up”. There are unpleasant situations – when it seems that the interlocutor has been silent for a long time, because he is delighted with your eloquence, but in fact, you have been talking into the void for several minutes, because the connection has disappeared. Try to keep a smile on your face. Even if your recruiter does not see you, a smile is always felt in your voice. And this is one of the easiest ways to win over the interviewer.
Establishing Contact
Video conferencing etiquette is slightly different from the rules of courtesy in interpersonal communication. Instead of saying, “How are you?” now I borrow Professor Lockhart’s “Can everyone hear me? Can everyone see me?“ Funny though it might be, a job interview would come to a naught if either the recruiter or the interviewee fails to hear or see the other.
Also, I begin the interview by agreeing with the candidate on what we do should the equipment fail us. Say, if audio or video suddenly breaks up in the middle of a conversation, we wait for ten seconds and then text each other as to what might have happened. If the problem cannot be dealt with at hand, I suggest rescheduling the interview—the least preferred option that is sometimes unavoidable to ensure every job applicant has a go at it.
Everyone has felt the toll the Zoom reality has taken on us. But it is also up to us to do the best we can so that the difference is as little as possible — and recruiting is no exception. Your self-presentation should not last more than 10 minutes. If the employer is ready to listen to you longer, you need to think about what information can be left “in reserve”.
Questions about your position
Read the information about the company in which you are going for an interview in advance. Connect all possible channels: go to the company’s website on the Internet, use business directories, the press, or other sources. Explore the business lines and history of the company. Do not forget to prepare a сhecklist with questions to ask the company at the interview itself. Questions such as: Why did the previous person leave?Will I be able to move up the career ladder or will I just stay in this position? Will I be the only one on the team? Will I have a mentor to help me? Probation? For what period? What results are expected from me during the probationary period? What is the mode of work in the company? Work schedule and can it be moved? Is it possible to work remotely, for example, in case of illness. How to report on your work? Time logging? Time tracking? All these questions will help you understand if the position is right for you and if you can feel comfortable in the workplace.
Author’s bio: Leila Styles is a content manager at Jooble.org, a job search engine that helps millions of people to find their dream job.