Despite the pandemic restrictions slowly falling by the wayside, virtual interviews over platforms like Zoom are still more popular than ever, with 82% of employers using them throughout the pandemic and 93% of them planning to continue using them moving forward according to a Forbes survey. Preparing for your Virtual interview can ensure you have one less thing to worry about so you can focus on giving your best STAR answers and get that job.
- Prepare your background.
It goes without saying that you will want to choose a quiet and organised room to conduct your interview in. If you have family members home, make sure they’re occupied in another space, and you can close the door to avoid noises from the street and other rooms in the house. Got pets? Don’t forget to crate them or distract them with treats or quiet toys to ensure they’re well-behaved during your interview. If this isn’t an option, have a friend, family member, or professional take your pup for a walk or invest in a day of doggy day-care so you have peace throughout the entirety of your interview.
Beyond noises and people, you will also want to make sure the background is free from clutter and anything embarrassing or offensive. Take a moment to look at your space through the lens of your camera. What do you see? That is what your potential future employer will be looking at so make sure it accurately represents the impression you’re trying to make. If possible, select a room with neutral and light colours. This will be less distracting.
- Prepare your space.
Now that you’ve selected your room, cleaned it, and made sure the house will be quiet for a few hours, it’s time to set up your space with everything you need. Consider having a pen, notepad, glass of water, a copy of your resume, and anything else you feel you may need at arm’s reach throughout the interview available next to your laptop or computer.
- Prepare your lighting.
If at all possible, sit near natural light or with a light in front of you so that the interviewer can see you clearly. You don’t want to be obscured in shadows! You’ve spent a lot of time preparing for this moment and you want your confidence to shine through.
- Prepare your outfit.
Like an in-person interview, you want to dress to impress! Take time to prepare yourself the same way you would if you were going to meet the interviewer in person and behave similarly by maintaining eye contact, smiling, and being alert.
- Prepare your tech.
This is one of the most important steps, especially if you’re using your laptop. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and if possible, use a LAN connection to ensure your interview is not interrupted by glitches or freezing. Also, make sure your device is fully charged and that you can access whichever virtual platform the interview is taking place on. Additionally, test your camera! You don’t want to find out there is something wrong with your camera the day of and be left scrambling. Finally, if possible, use a headset device to improve the quality of sound and further eliminate any background noise.
- Prepare yourself!
Now that you’ve got everything set up, it’s time to go over your interview techniques so all your hard preparation work pays off. Contact our Career Consultant today to set up a mock interview or check out our informative blog on how to prepare for an interview. A little bit of preparation goes a long way! Your next opportunity is right around the corner with Resumes Done Right.