Being Prepared for Online Job Interviews
Have you ever considered online job interviews? Well, the coronavirus has kicked in a new way of doing things in many areas. We all have to adapt to a new reality.
“WFH” (or “work from home” to those not in the know) has become far more commonplace. We’re all having to adapt to extraordinary times.
That goes for job interviews as well.
One-on-one meetings with HR departments are on pause right now. But if the employment process is continuing, the alternative option could well be via videoconference. Online job interviews are likely to become far more popular than they already are.
Obviously, you’ve got to prepare the same way you would for any interview.
But if you’re not used to doing meetings or interviews on Skype, Zoom or other technologies, here are some tips based on personal experience.
Testing 1,2,3
I used to do lots of consulting calls via Skype and got into the routine of preparing the equipment for the call.
I would test the video and the microphone. I would make sure that the camera was at the right angle. In addition, I would have my headphones at the ready. Decent quality headphones but not too expensive worked just fine.
On top of that, I would charge my laptop in advance, keep the charger nearby, make sure I had my charged phone on silent next to me, and would have a couple of pens ready with some paper.
I can’t count the number of times something went wrong with the connection and I had to scramble to contact the client by phone. Or had to take down notes on paper rather than my usual Word document. Or I found myself scrambling around for a charger as the laptop died on me.
That was my basic routine. For your online job interviews it’s important you find what works for you.
Dress to Impress
There’s nothing wrong with wearing a pair of shorts to the interview if the interviewer can’t see them – and there’s no chance of you having to stand up.
That’s the key. You’ve got to be ready for all eventualities. If you need to stand up to turn on a light, be prepared. Your personal brand is at stake.
I once had a call in the middle of summer. It was one hell of a hot day. The moment I turned on the aircon, the sweat kicked in. And that was also the cue for my call. The problem was I had on a horribly light-colored shirt. The sort that showed all the worst sweat patches.
By the end of my call, I had to apologize to the client for my bedraggled appearance. From then on, I made sure the room was properly cooled and ensured that on warm days I only wore dark shirts.
How can you dress suitably for online job interviews?
Background Check
I used to have a framed Dangermouse picture on my wall. It was actually a favorite of mine. It was only when I caught the room on a pre-recorded video that I realized Dangermouse didn’t give off the most professional image.
No, it didn’t scream “Consultant”. I ended up swapping the picture for a landscape painting. Think about the room you use. Think about what image the posters, the clutter, the wet laundry and so project.
That also goes for background noise.
Avoid a room that is likely to face noise pollution from outside. And if you have kids that may disturb your interview, well, we all know what that may look like
Sort Your Lighting
I was doing consulting calls with individuals on different continents, which often meant awkward times of day for me. On occasions, I would find myself starting the call during late afternoon and ending it in early evening.
That would sometimes mean adapting to shifts in light – from natural daylight to having a lit room.
No big deal, you may think. Maybe.
But keep in mind you what to look your best for the interview. I ended up getting a cool table lamp at the ready to light me up at just the right angle. I didn’t look too shiny nor too scary. Simple things like that can make all the difference.
