We’ve all been living in unprecedented times. The last few years have had us all living and working in a virtual world for the most part, and it’s become part of our daily routine.

When it comes to human interaction, however, with friends, family – and work colleagues – there can be something missing if you’re talking to each other on-screen. Meeting with and talking to people face to face is part of who we are as human beings. Connection is important. We’re social animals. How we relate to others is vital to the relationships we grow in life and our careers. 

When we’re in a virtual situation, it can be challenging to pick up on facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. But how do you prepare for an interview where meeting and talking on Zoom (or any other virtual platform) is the norm these days? What if you’ve just landed that all-important interview for a fantastic new job, and it’s going to be virtual?

Where do you start?  

Be prepared from the start.

Get familiar with the basics. Who is the interviewer? What research have you done, which questions do you want to ask, and what technology are your prospective employers using?

You must prepare as you would if you were meeting your interviewer(s) face to face, so don’t fall short when you’re online.  

– Do detailed research about the role you’re being interviewed for.

– Think about the questions you may be asked and prepare examples to demonstrate why you’re the right person for the job. 

– Prepare questions for your interviewee(s) and practice them.

Never work with animals and children – or technology that hasn’t been used before!

– Get familiar with the technology you’ll be using well in advance. Zoom is one of the most common platforms people use, so if this is the format, download it in advance and get familiar with how it works. Ensure you have the login link and passcode from your interviewer in advance, and if you don’t have it – ask for it. Other virtual meeting technology may be – Teams (Microsoft), Google Meet Up (Google) or Skype. Find out which one it is if it’s unclear to start with.

– Test your technology – your microphone and your webcam. Test that everything works, so you don’t have any last-minute problems before you’re on screen.

– Test the wifi and other online connections, checking that nothing will go into a freeze zone as soon as you start talking. That may well occur anyway, but don’t let it be your end interrupting the flow of conversation, let alone the start.

Be fully present

Make sure you’re sitting in a quiet, scrupulously tidy room and there are no distractions. Remove anything from the space that’s likely to distract you – especially household pets and children! We’ve all experienced how funny it has been having our cat, dog, or a wayward child taking part in virtual calls – but never during an interview that could secure your dream job. Also, ensure they’re not scratching at the door, begging to be let in. Including the children!

Eliminate all noise from the outside world, such as street or garden noise. And if all else fails, perhaps a friend can let you use a quiet, secluded room in their home (if easy to do and convenient) to let you get on with your interview in complete peace and quiet. Finally, ensure your screen is set up so you can see your interviewer clearly, so you’re not peering up or down at them.

Background

Don’t have posters or anything else all over the walls, and ensure your background is as clear as it can be – against a clean plain wall if possible. If that’s not possible, look at your virtual platform’s background options. With Zoom, you can use ready-made backgrounds but be wary of those too, as sometimes, when you move, you can vanish into the background. Try a blurred background option so the entire focus is on you and your interviewer.

Body language and eye contact – stay focussed on the camera ahead 

When practising, try to get used to looking directly into the camera lens on your webcam. When you do, you’ll be making direct eye contact with your interviewer – even though you won’t be looking directly at their face on the screen. It can be an odd sensation to begin with but give it a go.

Looking good – dress for success!

Your interviewer may not be aware of what’s going on with your attire from the waist down but make sure you’re fully dressed because you never know if you need to move from your desk for whatever reason! Get dressed as you would for a face-to-face situation – from head to toe. Dress smartly, and you’ll feel the part and look the part.

Be on time! And check the date and time zone.

Triple-check the date and time of your interview, especially if you know it will be hosted from a different time zone. Be ready on time, but not too early. Some Zoom users will have a waiting room; others will go directly on screen – so be prepared and ready for either outcome.

Speak slowly and clearly – tech can sometimes go on slow-mo

You know what it’s like when you go into buffer mode online. It halts any dialogue stone dead, and you’ll be chasing the conversation with a lot of overlap. There’s going to be nothing worse than trying to hold a conversation and build rapport with someone who keeps freezing on the screen – so remember to check, check and check your wifi and other online connections again.

Relax and just be yourself

The point of all this is to ensure you’ve checked everything is in working order – so you can concentrate on the interview on the day. As it all falls into place, remember this is all about you and your interviewer. Relax, get into the zone, and as the conversation flows, just be calm, confident and be you. That’s what an interviewer wants to feel and see from you – not just those incredible skills you have to offer, but who you are as a person. Of course, it’s perfectly okay to have a sheet to hand as a prompt or a guide for those odd blank moments, but don’t rely on them.

Practice for those moments. Ultimately, employers want someone who will fit their company culture, not just someone who knows how to do the job at hand and can demonstrate results. They also want someone to bring their whole fantastic personality to a role.

And finally …

Remember to stay alert even when you say goodbye – and keep smiling! As the conversation draws to a close, and you’ve asked all those questions you’ve prepared, you’re about to say goodbye. At this point, it’s important to remember to stay bright and alert, thank your interviewer for their time and keep that eye contact. Give them that extra sparkle that will want them to get you back for a second interview – or to offer you the role.

For some more interesting video tips about how to stand out in a virtual interview, watch here: https://bit.ly/3R5y388

How can we help you?

We’d love to hear about experiences you may have had with any interview situation, and if you have any other tips we can share with our readers, do get in touch. As an organisation that really cares about people – and how we can help you reach your full potential in any interview situation – we’re passionate about your development and growth throughout your career.

Come and visit us www.melburywood.com/ or contact us at Contact | Melbury Wood to find out more about how we can help you with interview techniques and other career development you’ll need throughout your working life.