How to Prepare for a Virtual Interview

While virtual interviews have already been taking place, especially in the case of jobs overseas, they are now probably the only way to conduct interviews. At least until the spread of the novel coronavirus is under control. Or maybe it’ll prove more efficient and productive that virtual interviews will be the only interviews.

For some interviews come easy. They have the confidence and ability to remain calm during a high-pressure situation. For most others, it is a stressful experience. Add to that the stress of a ‘virtual’ interview. The good thing is that you’ll be in the comfort of your home.

How to Prepare for a Virtual Interview?

Here are five ways to improve your virtual interview skills and get prepared for a virtual interview.

1) Tech check

You can’t have a virtual interview if the virtual part of that is flawed. So first things first, make sure you have a good internet connection and speed. Then test your technology. Figure out which platform works best, or which is the most popular that most companies are using. Or you could even check ahead with the recruitment person and download the one that particular company prefers. Also try and make sure you’re not running a heavy program or downloading a heavy file in the background while your interview is taking place so you can avoid slowing down your internet speed.

As a friend or family member to help you prepare for a virtual interview. Test the platform with them and make sure the technology is updated, your headphones and mic work well, your in-platform functions work well, and that you understand the platform thoroughly. You don’t want to be fumbling around during the interview since this will come off as unprofessional and you will also be wasting the time of your potential employer who has probably allotted a certain time slot for your interview.

2) Look the part

While it is in the comfort of your home, you still have to dress the part to take the interview. Make sure you’re dressed in something formal and worthy of an interview. Depending on the industry and position you are interviewing for, wear the appropriate attire, just like you would to a face-to-face interview. While you are not required to wear the whole outfit complete with accessories and makeup, it is important that you make yourself presentable and professional. This will give them their first impression of you and also help you mentally prepare for a virtual interview. While this is for the actual virtual interview, you also have to look the part on all your public profiles whether social or professional. All potential employers will check your public profiles to estimate whether you will be a good fit in their organization.

3) Set-up your space

With a virtual interview, you do have to worry about your surroundings, unlike a face-to-face one where typically you would go to the office of your potential employer. So it is very important to make sure the space around you that is visible to them is uncluttered and professional if possible. It is also very important that there is nothing inappropriate in the background or in the frame at all. If you live with other people, ask them not to walk up and down in the background or make disruptive noises. Take a little time to set up the frame your interviewer will see. While it doesn’t have to be a work desk, it does need to be a clean and neat space. Try and use a laptop for interviews, but if you’re using your phone ensure it is secure in one position without you having to hold it.

4) Prep

Just as you would in a face-to-face interview, prepare for a virtual interview beforehand. Make sure you’re not fidgeting or reading off lengthy prepared material. Instead use the virtual part of the interview to your advantage and prepare just a few brief questions or points on sticky notes on your computer. Although they can’t see beyond the frame you have created for them, they can still tell if you’re being insincere. In fact, during a virtual interview, you might need to express yourself just a little bit more since getting your personality across might be a little challenging. So make sure you are audible and keep a check on your body language. Which means sit up straight and don’t slouch or be distracted. You could also look at the camera rather than their face to give the illusion that you’re speaking with them face-to-face.

Be sure to go over the material about yourself that you have sent to them, because that is what got you the interview in the first place. So make sure you know your own material, be it your cover letter, resume, sample work, or mock project. You could also be efficient and prompt and send them proposals and projects to check while your interview is on through screen-sharing. Also, do your research about the company well to understand their stand on certain brands or topics to make sure you stay clear of them in your interview and your presentations to them. Or you could use your research to stress on the point you know they will appreciate.

5) Follow-up

A little while after the interview, no more than a day, send a thank you email to the interviewer and their team thanking them for their time. This is a good move even if it’s not a virtual interview. But now during a pandemic it’s even more important to follow-up since a virtual interview might require a little more effort to establish recall value and to make an impression. You could add points that you might have missed during the interview. But be sure to keep the email brief and concise.

Once you’ve got the job you need to be adept in virtual meetings. Read, If You Are Working from Home, Be a Virtual Meeting Pro. With these few basic points to consider, in time virtual interviews might just become the norm.

FAQs

Q. Why is it important that you dress the part for virtual interviews?

A. Dressing the part is very important because that is the first impression they have of you since there’s no face-to-face interview.

Q. What is an important step to take before the virtual interview?

A. It is important to prepare for a virtual interview beforehand. Whether work samples or otherwise, it’s important to keep all the required material on hand.