With the rise of remote work and global connectivity (especially in the wake of Covid-19), virtual interviews have become a staple in the hiring process for many companies worldwide.
Preparing for a virtual interview requires a unique set of skills to ensure you shine brightly on screen. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the virtual interview scene, mastering the art of virtual communication is essential for securing your dream job.
In this article, we’re sharing five key tips to help you prepare for virtual interviews with confidence.
Let’s dive in!
1. Test your technology in advance
The last thing you want is to enter an interview and have connectivity issues or problems with your audio/visual capabilities. Test all possible points of technological failure in advance to avoid the frustrating, ‘Can you hear/see me now?’.
2. Choose a suitable location
No, sitting on your bed or travelling on the bus is not suitable locations. Do your best to set up in a space that looks professional like a home office. If that’s not possible, find a quiet, calm environment and use a virtual background (the ‘blur background’ filter is probably going to be your best bet).
3. Dress professionally
Make sure your hair is tidy, your face looks fresh, and you’re dressed professionally as though you’re heading into a face-to-face interview. Pants are an absolute must – there’s been enough viral video footage of people caught ‘pantsless’ having to stand up unexpectedly during interviews – you don’t want to take that risk.
4. Practice your responses
As with any job interview, think about the questions you may be asked and practice your responses. It’s okay to have some notes written down to quickly refer to but you don’t want to be overly reliant on them.
5. Engage and maintain eye contact
Again, this is a skill that carries over from face-to-face interviews. Being generally engaging, asking questions, and maintaining eye contact (another reason not to become too reliant on notes) are crucial to making a good impression.
There you have it! Hopefully these tips will help you feel less nervous and more prepared for your upcoming virtual interview. If you feel like you need a little extra assistance in your job search, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly team.