Virtual interviews and video resumes are quickly gaining popularity in the workforce.
Now more than ever, companies are conducting virtual meetings to continue reaching organizational goals, including hiring top talent. Here are five ways you can nail your next virtual interview.
1. Eliminate distractions.
Make sure you find a quiet place, free of distracting noises or inappropriate backgrounds. You don’t want a hiring manager to pay more attention to your background than they are to what you’re saying in response to questions. Stay close to the mic so your responses can be heard.
2. Look directly into the camera and smile.
If you’re not used to being on a camera, you will find yourself naturally looking at your own face on the screen vs. looking directly into the camera as though you’re talking to the person on the other end. To help, imagine the camera lenses are the eyes of the interviewer. This will help you to stay focused and not pay attention to how you look more than you’re focusing on having substantive answers for the questions you’re being asked. Always make extra effort to smile during the interview. I call this the “likability factor”. Many hiring decisions are based on likability, whether hiring managers want to admit it or not. You can have everything wonderfully presented on your resume, but without making that personal connection you’ve lost an opportunity. Before you push the start button, put on your smile.
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3. Body Language/Confidence.
Just as though you are in person, you want to make sure you sit straight up, shoulders back, and appear that you are confident in your responses. Confidence is relayed through body language, especially during a video interview. Have a copy of your resume in-hand before you sign on. You can use it as a reference if you feel stuck on a question or you want to remind the hiring manager of your capabilities.
4. Arrive early.
Check your connectivity to make sure you don’t have any network interruptions. I suggest video calling someone else, to see how the connection is before your interview. Give yourself enough time to set your background, position yourself, and make sure your lighting is good so they can see your expression and body language. Your ability to be tech-savvy is being evaluated during this process, so arriving to the meeting at least 5 to 7 minutes before the session will help you work through any technical issues.
5. Practice makes perfect!
If you are nervous about being on video, try recording yourself over and over again to see how many times you say “um” “because” “well”….etc. Send it to a trusted friend and ask for feedback. You can’t predict the future but you can prepare yourself for some hiccups on your special day. Don’t panic if there is an unexpected issue, instead have a plan. Ask for a phone number to call in case there are any connection issues before or during the interview. This way, you’ll have an additional way to contact the hiring manager should the connection fail.
*This article was originally published in Legacy South Florida Magazine in the Sun-Sentinel and Legacy Miami Magazine in the Miami Herald issue May 6, 2020
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