An interview for a job at a well-known and established company can be nerve-wracking, exciting, and terrifying all at once. The most important part about getting a new job is your first interview as it is the one chance you are given to make a good impression and get the employers to consider you as a suitable candidate. Simply put, your performance during the interview will either kill your chances of getting hired or put you one step closer to getting your foot in the door. Thanks to the advancement of technology, interviews have also become possible even when the two parties are thousands of miles apart, with video conferencing technology. Chances are extremely high that at some point in your career you will have to participate in a video interview. When getting ready for a video conference interview it is important that you keep these important tips in mind.
Be Prepared
The worst thing you could do when it comes to video interviews is to go unprepared. Just like a physical interview, preparation is a necessity. Video conferencing programs are relatively easy to use and most of them function just as smoothly on a mobile device as they do on a conventional computer. However, even though they may be easy to use, going into video interview without any knowledge of how the program works can still be a recipe for disaster. According to The Huffington Post, it is advised that you take some time in the day to familiarize yourself with the program and equipment you will be using, before the time for your interview comes. If you think you will be required to send documents, you should also learn and practice to find and use those feature.
Some video conferencing providers, like Blue Jeans Video Sharing, offer a variety of methods to transfer or share documents, and other information. You should therefore decide on which alternative works best for you during the time that you have set aside to familiarize yourself with the program.
Your enunciation, and composure are also very critical aspects that you must take time to practice, no matter if the upcoming interview is your first, third or fifteenth. Appearing calm, collected, and in control is important. A bonus to interviewing through video conferencing is being able to monitor your performance. Most video conferencing programs provide a picture-in-picture section to allow you to be able to see yourself as how the people on the other end will be seeing you. According to Ask the Headhunter, having this playback of yourself is an excellent way to help in keeping your body language in tact. If you are unsure of yourself and your ability to maintain composure during your interview, you can always take a glimpse at the playback of yourself to help you with moderating your facial expressions, posture, and nervous tics.
It’s a Face-to-Face Interview
Not because the interview is being conducted through cameras and computer screens does it mean that it has any less impact than a regular face-to-face interview. Be sure that when you are scheduled for a video interview that you treat it as a physical interview. Karen Elizaga, an executive coach who works with everyone from first-time job hunters to fortune 500 executives told Reuters, “You want your brain to believe that you are functioning at your best. Dressing the part from head to toe, even though the interviewer will only see the top half of you, will help you get there.” It might be tempting to dress up your torso while just wearing underpants or a pair of sweatpants, but not being dressed 100% professionally could result to distractions during your interview. In all of your preparation and actions, it is imperative that you act as though it’s a traditional interview as this will help your brain to focus on the interview and the questions that are being asked by the interviewers.
Your Environment
When preparing for a video interview or conference from home, it can be easy to forget that you are in your bedroom with your stuff in the background. This can cause the interviewer to become unimpressed with being able to see your personal items in the background. Pictures, and knick-knacks are just a few of the items that you should consider removing before starting your interview. De-clustering your workplace will not only improve your background for the video conference, but it will also help you and your interviewers to focus on you and your statements. According to The Ladders, it is also important to set up the lighting and angle of your webcam before your interview. You should ensure that your image is centered and it is placed in a way that your face and eyes are being seen. While it’s technically impossible to make actual eye contact through video conferencing, looking right into the camera will at least give the impression you are looking at your interviewer. Placing the video window near the camera will allow you to watch both your interviewer and the camera.
