The world of work has changed over the past couple of years and so has the way companies recruit. Companies are currently holding most interviews virtually. Just like before when things were pre-pandemic you were invited to participate in an in-person (F2F) interview between you and a panel of hiring managers.
For virtual interviews, most companies either prefer Microsoft Teams or Zoom calls as their platform; don’t worry if you’re not familiar with it, we can happily support you to install and use the software.
Although they may still seem unfamiliar and daunting, virtual interviews offer many benefits over traditional face-to-face interviews
- Many people feel more confident and comfortable in a familiar environment. A virtual interview allows you to present yourself from a location of your choice
– whether that be at home or another suitable space - They can reduce stress by removing the need for travel and eliminates the pressure of commuting, as well as saving you travel-associated costs
- They give you the chance to present yourself in full. Positive body language and a confident demeanour can increase your chances of progressing to the next stage.
Here are few tips for your virtual interview with your prospective employer.
Arrange Your Setup:
- Ideally, use a desktop or laptop with quality audio and video capabilities (this is better than a smartphone)
- Test out your computer’s built-in speakers and webcam to make sure you don’t encounter any issues
- Choose a private and quiet location, as any external noise will be a distraction for both you and the panel. You might want to consider your backdrop and keep a light on to avoid natural shadows.
- Be sure that you have sufficient internet capacity and, preferably, a wired connection, as this will decrease the chances of dropout
- Close down programmes or downloads running in the background as this can slow down your connection and disrupt the interview.
Rehearse for the virtual environment: Practice talking into the camera instead of looking directly at the on-screen image of the interviewer - virtual eye contact is a difficult skill to master..
Do your research
- Make sure you conduct thorough research and be sure you understand the objectives, culture and values as well as being familiar with the specifics of the post and the team for which you are applying
- Prepare for any role-related questions you think you may be asked, and rehearse answers for general competency-based questions.
Prepare
- Make a checklist of everything you need to consider and have a glass of water to hand
- Test your equipment and connection and double-check your surroundings. Make sure you’ll encounter no unexpected disturbances
- Turn off all laptop and phone notifications as part of your virtual interview preparation
- Unplug any other devices such as landlines and doorbells, and place a polite notice on doors.
Plan your time effectively
- Be ready and waiting to join the call; perhaps consider clearing your schedule at least an hour beforehand to focus your mind on the task at hand
- Use the time to go over your research notes, reread the role profile and review your application and CV.
During the Interview – Watch your body language: When in your home environment you may find you need to make an extra effort to remember to maintain a good posture and to keep your body language professional.
Maintain Your Focus During the Interview:
- Avoid any temptation to browse or check your emails or phone
- Try not to get flustered if technology fails you. Stay calm and attempt to reconnect.
Let the Interviewer take the lead during the interview: Avoid the urge to fill gaps in the conversation and let the interviewer lead the process. They may be taking the time to jot down some notes, or there may simply be a delay in the transmission. Don’t forget to ask questions – treat it as you would a face-to-face interview and ask insightful questions that demonstrate your enthusiasm.
After the Interview – Follow up and ask for feedback
- Let the interviewing panel know if you’re open to providing further information should they want it
- If you’re new to virtual interviewing, you could even ask for feedback specific to the virtual element to see if there’s anything you could improve on. We’re pretty new to it too, so some feedback to us would really help.
Post the Interview; Review your performance
Take the time to assess what you think went well and what you could have improved on.