How to Shine in Remote Interviews
Today, most interviews occur on the phone or through video meetings. While such talks lack some of the warmth of an in-person meeting, they are the most practical way for employers and candidates to connect. Prepare for the new reality and follow a couple of key guidelines to stand out in your video interview.
Don’t let tech tank you. Test out your technology in advance. The last thing you want is a jittery connection interrupting the flow of conversation. Consider where in you home you should hold the interview. Avoid WiFi dead spots.
Consider how your setting appears to the interviewer. Avoid taking the interview in cluttered, disorganized areas of your home. Ask others who share your space to keep the noise down during your interview times. Check out the lighting in the area you’ll conduct your interview. You don’t want distracting shadows that make you look like you’re in the witness protection program. Daylight creates an appealing look. If you’d like, you can invest in an inexpensive ring light that many YouTube vloggers use when recording videos.
A phone or video interview offers a unique opportunity to keep notes nearby. You wouldn’t typically bring notes to an in-person interview. If there are things you want to ensure you cover to link your background to the position under discussion, it’s fair game to jot a few notes to keep on hand during the interview. Remember not to allow your gaze to linger on your notes too long, or your interviewer will feel disconnected.
Be mindful of body language. When you are framed in a webcam, sometimes it’s hard to include your body beyond your head and torso. Hands, however, are very expressive. So try to include your hands in the frame when making a point or expressing an opinion. Smile! Also, if you are using your laptop’s camera, you’ll often have an angle that looks up to you, which isn’t always flattering. Here’s a tip - raise your laptop by putting it on something (an empty box, etc.) to provide a more eye-level shot.
All the other interview tips apply in a virtual interview setting. Research your interviewer and the company using the usual sources: the company website, LinkedIn, Google news articles, Glassdoor, Vault, etc. Be prepared to ask thoughtful questions -- insightful questions instead of mundane questions you could answer through a Google search. Ask about the employer’s time frame for filling the role. Doing so will often reveal a bit about the company’s interest in you. Most importantly, If you are genuinely interested in the role, don’t be shy about expressing your interest. Meaning, ask for the order! Don’t forget to follow up the conversation with a thank you email. You’d be surprised by how well-received they are.
I offer individualized career coaching and advising (remote and in-person) along with text, email, and phone support to help job seekers succeed. I've hired more than 100 people and interviewed over 500 candidates. I've worked at large global companies like Morgan Stanley and a company that is now part of Bank of America Private Bank and founded/worked at six startups. I welcome you to contact me and join my mailing list and receive my free guide, "Top 5 Young Adult Job Search Myths."