Three Keys to Nailing Your Next Virtual Interview

Depending on the day of the week, or even the time of the day, it either feels like we’re at day 100 or 1000 of 2020. The ‘new normal’ has likely settled in or is starting to, and we’re really getting the hang of the home office and our virtual hangouts. What might be new though, is the virtual interview. With millions out of work or furloughed, getting that new job soon is increasingly important. One of the problems we see now though, is that with so many people out of work, the number of people applying for a similar position is higher than it has ever been before. Likely there are more people competing for your job because the industry you’re in or position you fill was hit hard. We know it wasn’t anything personal.

And so as we look to land that new job, consider these three steps to really stand out.

1. Do your homework

Many of the people you might be talking to on Zoom have been on countless calls already that day. Zoom fatigue is real and chatting too much and focusing on the small talk too heavily without doing your research can waste valuable time. Instead, find something you might have in common with the person you’re talking to or the company they work for. Perhaps early on in the conversation say something like ‘hey, I noticed you did ____’ or ‘I was looking through some recent news on (company) and noticed _____ happened. Congrats!’. By diving in and showing that you’re doing homework on the company and interviewer, you’re finding common ground early and still staying on point.

2. Have a good virtual set up

Ever been on a Zoom call and unable to focus on the person you’re talking to because you’re curious and distracted with what is going on in the background? How about when the person’s face is backlit and just a silhouette? Maybe the camera is too low and you get front row seats to the nose show? How about when there is so much noise in the background? Perhaps the worst is when someone is eating food on the other end of the line. Ugh. Consider these tips when setting up your call:

Have the camera eye-height
Look into the camera instead of at the monitor
Have some light on your face (ideally natural light) so you can clearly see yourself
Wired headphones/microphone are better and more clear than wireless
Remove distractions from behind you unless they help the meeting (degree, award, talking point)
Try and find somewhere quiet. If this isn’t possible, just state at the start of the call that there might be some noise and you’ll manage expectations more effectively

3. Have fun

Remember, at the end of the day we want to work with people that are going to make our day easier not just in terms of hard skills, but are fun to be around too. Be sure to smile lots, don’t be afraid to laugh, and truly try to connect. While the pressure of the interview may be very real, there is nothing that substitutes a fun conversation that doesn’t feel like work. Just be yourself!

The virtual interview may be a new concept, but it will be here to stay. The more we can get used to the feeling of being on camera, practicing with our new set up, and doing our homework, the easier it will be and the better the results will be.

Good luck!

Questions to ponder (in order):