Five Tips To Help You Prepare For A Virtual Interview
Posted on March 2020
By Syntech Recruitment
Looking at the advances in technology and the given the current climate, it’s no surprise that virtual interviewing is increasing in popularity. If you have never had one before, you may feel daunted by the idea but there’s no need to worry. We have some top tips to help you prepare for your virtual interview.
Check Your Technology – First things first! Ensure you have internet connectivity and that your camera and microphone are working. If the picture quality is grainy or you can hear an echo, you may need to buy a mini webcam with a built-in microphone.
This can’t be done a few minutes before your interview starts so it’s important to check these almost immediately after you have accepted the interview. The last thing the interviewer wants to see when they log in is you looking flustered trying to fix the microphone!
Test these early and then make sure you’re set up with plenty of time for the actual interview. As with any interview, face to face or virtual, it is not acceptable to be late.
Set The Scene – Check your surroundings. What do you see? A pile of laundry? An unmade bed? A glass of wine from last night? Try to make sure the visible surroundings in the webcam look tidy and professional.
A blank wall would be ideal but if that’s not possible, just make sure that it looks neat and tidy with minimal clutter. Our personal recommendation would be to sit up straight at a dining table or desk with a plain or minimal background.
Also, look to eliminate any noises that may be distracting. For example, turn your phone to silent mode, close the window and turn the TV or radio off.
Preparation is Key – As is always recommended, research the company prior to the interview, make some notes for reference and consider some questions you might like to ask the interviewer. It is definitely not advisable to start looking up answers to their questions on the internet mid-interview!
Not only can they see exactly what you are doing, they can also hear you and the noises that come from tapping and clicking can be very off-putting.
Dress The Part – Just because you are in your home environment does not mean that it is acceptable to join the virtual interview looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed! It is just as important to dress appropriately as it would be for a traditional face-to-face interview.
We would always recommend erring on the side of caution and dressing “business smart” – suit and tie for men and suit jacket for the ladies. Make sure you look as neat and presentable as you possibly can.
Be Yourself – One of the challenges with a virtual interview is the physical disconnect. It is a good idea to answer any questions honestly, to the best of your ability and with expression.
We’re not talking about amateur dramatics but if you can be positive and enthusiastic with your approach, the interviewer will be able to pick up on this and it could set you apart from someone who hasn’t read this blog!
