Online interviews has become prevalent throughout the past five years since many people have been considering working from home or working remotely. This, in fact, puts some extra responsibility on the applicant who has to meet the challenge and pass this type of interview that would seem a little complicated.
That led us to wonder, what are the challenges included in the online interview , and most importantly, how can we be ready to ace a video interview and get the job. This article discusses online interview tips and some efficient ways to consider in order to virtually convincing your interviewer of your skills.
What is online interviews?
Online interviews are done through video conference platforms, of which the most common are Zoom, Microsoft team, Skype for business, Google meet, among others. The purpose of this meeting is to assess the viability of the applicant to the job vacancy.
It’s like any other interview done by the hiring manager or/and the direct manager of the job role concerned to assess the technical part.
Online interviews are done for many reasons, including:
- The candidate lives in another country.
- Considering this initial interview, followed by the second in person interview after the initial approval of the potential employee.
- Saving time and effort for both parties and making the selection process faster.
Types of online interviews
There are two types of virtual interviews including:
- Direct online interview , where the two parties meet and discuss.
- Recorded interviews, where the candidates would film themselves answering questions that have been emailed to them before.
Benefits of virtual interviews:
In fact, online interviews are making things easier for both parties. That’s why this has been preferable to the hiring manager and recruiters recently. Here are the reasons why:
- Easing and accelerating the recruitment and selection process.
- You will gain the skills of an online interview , which you might need to go through several times in the future.
- You won’t have to take a day off of work to go to your interview.
- Most platforms allow recording meetings, which hiring managers can highly benefit from during the selection process.
Tips for online interviews
Before the interview
Get ready
Imagine you are going to a traditional interview; how would you get prepared? It’s anticipated that you will start googling some interview tips that would help you successfully undergoing this experience. You may also pay some attention to how you will look and the best usage of your body language.
This is exactly what you need to consider before going through an interview online. You need to think of it like a regular interview as if you will meet the interviewer in person.
Get acquainted with common interview questions
It’s always a vital tip to give yourself some time to learn and know about the standard interview questions or questions you believe the interviewer will pay more attention to.
This helps you be more ready and prepared and gives you a chance to think of the ideal answers. In addition, it helps in keeping you calm and confident; hence, you will seem more professional.
Familiarize yourself with the company
In order to boost your confidence, it’s advisable to familiarize yourself with the company that runs the recruitment process before going through online interviews with the hiring manager. Here are some other reasons why you need this:
- You will seem more professional and knowledgeable to the interviewer while talking about their company.
- Collecting some data about the company will inspire you with some related questions that might be important to ask.
- Your prior knowledge of the company and its activity will attract the interviewer’s attention and thus can be easily persuaded of you.
You can get to know more about the company easily through their “About Us” page on their main website. Or you can look up their social media platforms to learn in-depth about their identity. It would also help if you visited the social media accounts of the interviewers, especially their LinkedIn account, to familiarize yourself with the person you are going to virtually meet.
Choose a neutral background
Choosing a crowded background for the online interviews will work as a distraction agent for the interviewer. That’s why you need to keep your background and surroundings neat, and the wall color needs to be neutral. This will also helps you to be more relaxed and comfortable.
In addition, you need to make sure your lighting is sufficient to not interfere with your camera’s image quality.
Run a technical test for your computer
The last thing you wish to happen is your interview gets interrupted because of glitches, internet instability, or a problem with your headphones. Therefore, running a test before your online interview is a must to avoid embarrassing situations that might hinder your acceptance.
It’s advisable also to wear earbuds or headphones instead of using the built-in microphone to make sure the interviewer hears you quite well.
Eliminate distractions
Distractions are one thing you need to get rid of during your online interviews, as it will possibly interfere with your concentration and makes you seem less professional. Moreover, it would not help the interviewer digest your answers and have a whole impression of you.
To acquire this you need to:
- Shut down all the surrounding windows that would be a source of the noise.
- Put your phone on silent mode.
- If you have kids, consider moving to a separate room during your video interview.
- Keep your pets away from home until you’re done.
- Block all the notifications that would pop up on your screen during your meeting.
- Make sure you don’t have any household appliances running before you start your online interview.
- Put your home phone on hold so that you make sure none is going to call you.
- Tell your family or housemates about the interview time, and ask them to stay quiet until you finish.
Check the time zone
If you and the interviewer are not in the same country, it’s essential to double-check the time difference and make sure that you show up perfectly on time.
Practice!
Whatever platform you will use for your online interviews , you need to practice using it beforehand, especially if it is your first time using it. You don’t need to be late for the meeting just because the tool is unfamiliar to you.
You can also practice answering the standard interview questions using this same platform, especially that it has an option to record the meeting, which you can use to check for your answers, body language, and everything related.
If you’re looking for a job vacancy, you can register now on Jobzella and expand your chances.
During the online interviews
Be on time
Ensure everything is under control beforehand to be ready to log in for the meeting 10 to 15 minutes early Make sure the computer is technically prepared, lighting is perfect, distractions are eliminated..etc.
Use your body language
Being online does not mean using body language during the interview is not vital. On the contrary, as long as you are seen to the interviewer it’s essential to consider using your body in your favor. Keep your posture upright, your arms opened, and your voice is clear.
Look at the camera, not the screen!
We know this can be a little tricky to implement, but it will ensure that you maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Looking at the screen will make you appear as you’re staring off into space to the other side.
Dress professionally
Even during online interviews , your appearance would say a lot about who you are. So, you need to make sure your look is neat. It’s recommended to put on a formal or semi-formal outfit. Avoid putting too many accessories or makeup for girls and ladies, and don’t forget to brush your hair and trim your nails.
Keep a notebook and a pen within reach
Perhaps you will need to write down some info that you do not want to forget, or you may also want to write some questions that you want to ask the interviewer regarding the job role or company policy.
Speak up clearly
You need to make sure the other side understands you well, so it’s advisable to ensure your voice is heard and the way you talk is clear enough.
Calm your nerves
Believe it or not, your biggest enemy during any interview is your nerves! Yes, you might be fully prepared, but because you are nervous, you lose the game! So, in order to keep yourself calm, consider the following:
- Get rid of all the sources that might cause you a distraction.
- Practice answering the most common interview questions. Practicing will ensure you will help you stay confident.
- Professional appearance will boost your confidence, hence, will help you do better during online interviews.
- Take a deep breath before logging in to the online interview , this will help you be more relaxed.
Listen carefully
During online interviews , you need to listen carefully to the interviewer and avoid interrupting. It is also recommended to give yourself a couple of seconds to think about questions before you answer. This will help you appear professional and help you choose the correct answers to the questions.
Following up online interviews
Express gratitude
Sending a thank you mail after your online interview will leave a further good impression on the hiring manager. It has to be straightforward though. You are going to thank the interviewer for trusting you and having this interview done.
Send a follow-up mail
You might not have known before about this, but it’s professional to send a follow-up mail where you ask about updates 2 to 7 days after the interview; that applies for regular and online interviews alike. However, don’t be nagging. One mail is pretty enough.