Despite many companies shifting from fully virtual working to hybrid or on-site, virtual interviews are here to stay. It is far more cost effective and reduces logistical challenges for everyone involved.
Here are some tips to ensure you are video-interview ready:
Familiarise yourself with the hiring team’s video-conferencing tool of preference: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or (my fave!) Amazon Chime.
Test your wi-fi connection. If you know its been pretty bad recently, consider investing in a wi-fi booster.
Have a charger plugged in - so you don’t need to stress about your laptop dying mid-call.
If your laptop DOES die mid-call, have your phone beside you and dial-in from there. I’m sure your interviewer will be understanding if you need to take a moment to reconnect using another device.
Find a quiet space where you are unlikely to be interrupted, however don’t stress if your partner, children, or pets make an apparition. Your interviewer should understand that despite best efforts, life can be unpredictable. If they aren’t, do you really want to work for someone like this anyway?
Position your laptop so that natural light is in-front of you, not behind you. If there isn’t a good light source in your room, you can invest in a ring light. There are some that you can attach to your laptop or place on your work desk.
Close all your desktop windows in case you may need to share your screen. The only exception is for any work you are considering to show your interviewer
Use a headset or headphones as these can be better to filter out other background noise.
Maintain eye-contact and engage with your interviewer. Don’t be distracted by other screens or interview notes.
Always go into these interviews prepared. Follow me as I share a number of recruitment and interview tips. You’ve got this!
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