With the recent rise in not only remote roles in a variety of industries, but also virtual interviewing, the professional landscape for interviewing is rapidly shifting. Whether you’re a seasoned professional in your field, or freshly on the job market, mastering the art of virtual interviewing is a critical skill, and can help ensure that you make the right first impression on potential employers.
Prepare in Advance
As with any interview, it’s important to begin prepping well in advance for your virtual interview. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of your resume and have personal anecdotes that you can draw from to describe your various professional accomplishments. If you’re working with a search firm, make sure that you have inquired about your interviewer’s company/business – an interviewer likes to see that you’ve done your research on the organization and position showing you have a basic understanding of the role.
Dress to Impress
While virtual interviewing can sometimes feel more casual than doing so in person, it’s important to maintain a polished appearance with your prospective employer. Business professional attire and a well-groomed appearance show your interviewer that you respect the job opportunity before you and are committed to professionalism.
Creating A Professional Setting
First impressions matter, particularly during a job interview. Even though you may be interviewing from home, it’s important to create a professional and sophisticated setting to project a polished image to prospective employers. Choosing a clean, well-lit, and quiet environment for your virtual interview can be massively beneficial. The fewer distractions that are in your area, the more focused both you, and your interviewer, will be.
Non-Verbal Communication
While an employer will be listening carefully to your question responses, they will also be paying attention to your body language. Maintaining eye contact with the camera and staying consistently responsive to what the interviewer is saying can go great lengths in showing an employer your ability to stay focused and engaged. Bored facial expressions or wandering eyes can quickly ruin your professional image during a virtual interview.
Interview Space
One of the great benefits of virtual interviewing is that you can create an interview space with all the keys to success you might need. Having your resume, cover letter, and notes on hand can be useful if you ever feel you need to refer to an example or previous role to support your interview responses. Additionally, you can take notes based on the interview itself, such as documenting role responsibilities, workplace culture, or salary requirements.
Technology
While technology has become commonplace in the workplace, it can also be finicky at times. Logging on well in advance, testing all your video and audio equipment, and ensuring that your Wi-Fi connection is strong can minimize the risk of technology issues disrupting your virtual interview.
While virtual interviewing can feel daunting at first, following these simple tips for success can go great lengths in ensuring you make a positive and authentic first impression for your interviewer. Preparing yourself and your space well in advance reflects confidence and preparedness to any prospective employer and helps ensure you score the job of your dreams!