Alexander Mae

Prepare Like You Would for an In-Person Interview

First impressions count….
Just because your interview is happening via a video call, it doesn’t mean it’s not a real interview!  The great news is there are no travel plans or the worry of finding the office or getting there on time…  But you still need to prepare the same way as you would if you were going into the office. That means researching the company, re-reading the job spec and speaking with your consultant who will give you a great company overview. The interviewer is still looking for someone they can see themselves working with and who is passionate and knowledgeable about the role they’re applying for, so be ready to show them why that’s you!
And remember log on a few minutes early, you wouldn’t walk into the building at 1pm for a 1pm interview!

Dress to Impress
When you get dressed for a video interview, you want to be just as smart as you would be for an in-person interview at the same company. (And yes, that means from head to toe.) The urge to be less formal because you’re in your own home is understandable… Make sure your outfit looks good on camera, try it on in front of the video platform you’ll be using for the interview. Sometimes outfits that are appropriate face to face may not be in a video frame.

Test Your Tech
Cut down on technical difficulties by testing out your setup ahead of time using the same platform, internet connection, and hardware you’ll be using for your interview. Have a friend video chat with you to make sure you can hear and be heard and see and be seen. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the program and make sure you know the basics.

Setting yourself up for success
When you go into an office, the company and your interviewer are in charge of the physical setting, but for a video interview, you are. Make sure you create a good impression with your physical shot.

Choose a quiet area and set up in front of the most neutral background you can—either a blank wall or a room without a lot of distracting clutter or decoration. Make sure you’re well lit (natural light is best) with your light source behind your computer or phone, not behind you. (And if you have to use a phone, prop it up rather than holding it in your hand.) If it’s hard for you to find a space with good natural lighting in your home, you might consider investing in a selfie ring light that sits around the camera on your laptop or phone.

Furry friends…  Since lockdown the number of households with pets has increased quite substantially and although you may think your pet will be well behaved and won’t encroach on your interview, you just never know what they might do!  So, ensure they are safe in another room during your interview or being looked after elsewhere 😊

Before you’ve finalised your outfit and location, see if anything in your shot is reflecting or giving off a glare that might be distracting to your interviewer. The main culprits are usually watches, jewellery, and glasses, and solving the issue might be as easy as removing one accessory.

Of course, not everyone can take off their glasses for an interview. Try a few of these tricks to reduce the glare as much as you can:

• Move your lamp or point it at a wall behind your computer instead of at yourself
• Experiment with adjusting your lampshade or removing it entirely
• Turn yourself and your computer
• Raise and lower your laptop screen or adjust how your phone is propped up

Hint: You should do this around the same time of day as your interview will be held (or right before) especially if you’re using natural light.

End on a high!

Last impressions also count….
This is key for any interview, but it’s especially important to treat your video interview like a conversation because that’s the only way you’ll be able to make a connection. You don’t have the time before and after the interview to make small talk, so it’s important to make sure you build rapport during your interview. Be more personable. Be yourself. You want to talk like you’re talking to someone you know while still remaining professional.

Make sure the interview is not just question, answer, question, answer. When your interviewer responds to your answers, feel free to comment on their responses if you have more to say. And sprinkle your own questions throughout your conversation whenever they’re appropriate rather than waiting for the end. You want your interviewer to see you as someone they could talk to every day, not just someone they read a list of questions to.

As an interviewee, you have the same goal in a virtual interview as an in-person interview: to show that you’re the right person for the job. Ultimately, you want to spend as little time as possible during the interview focused on the video part. “What counts is the connection you can make with an interviewer.”

So finally thank your interviewer and tell them how much you enjoyed meeting with them. This is the time to ask any questions about the role or company and to find out what the next steps are in the process.

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