What to do and NOT do for Virtual interviews
Research
Look into the company, the person, the position before the interview just as you would for an in-person conversation. LinkedIn is a great tool for seeing the professional backgrounds of your interviewers, and the company website as well. If you have an opportunity, learn one fun fact about the company to highlight in your interview. Get the person to light up, smile and feel important that you care.
Dress for Success (from the waist up)
From the waist up, deck yourself out with your personal and professional style. It still matters for a virtual interview. You want to look put together and in line with the company’s dress code and brand all the while wearing sweatpants and house shoes waist down. I do it all the time!
Light in your Eyes (not behind your head)
Lights, camera action! Always have the light in front of you. Whether it be a window or ring lights, you must see the light so the interviewer can see your lovely face. If the light is behind you, it will blow you own and you will look blurry.
Have a Professional Background
Make sure the background of the video call is presentable as well. Opt for a tidy section of your home or a blank wall to keep distractions to a minimum. Paint your home office wall a neutral color, buy a simple room divider or white/green screen (on Amazon). But don’t just use a green screen, that looks awkward. Oh and lights! Lots of ring lights!
Arms Length, Eye Level
Your computer should be about arms length in front of you and level with your eyes. Your face should be centered with about 10 inches of your chest/shoulders showing. Think of a box divided into 4 parts, you need to be in the center taking up most, but not all of the frame. Just like you would frame a traditional photo, your face needs to be framed correctly.
Test Your Tech Beforehand
Murphy’s law would have it that your technology would let you down at the time you need it most. Test all of your technology before the interview to make sure everything is running smoothly. Check your internet connection, the video platform, and any hardware you plan on using, like headphones. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so even if you’ve hosted dozens of virtual meetings, double-check that everything’s operating how it should be.
The Don’ts of a Virtual Interview
Don’t Move the Camera
Have your computer or webcam on a flat, secure surface. Don’t balance your laptop on your knees or a pillow, as the screen’s movement will distract your interviewer. Take the interview from a desk or kitchen table where you and the computer can be stationary the entire time.
Don’t Lose Your Personality (and don’t fidget)
It’s incredibly important to display your personality in a virtual setting because you are at a slight disadvantage since you’re not in person. Be friendly and warm, and keep it professional. Make eye contact and smile, and show your humor when it’s appropriate. Remain confident and authentic throughout the interview, and try to maintain good posture. Its’s ok to use your hands. But use them when you are making a point, don’t fling them all over the place, that is distracting.
Don’t Get Distracted
Your surroundings right now might be a little hectic, but—as much as you can—avoid any distractions during your interview. Silence your notifications on your laptop and phone, find a quiet space, and focus on the questions and the conversation you’re having. Your ability to engage and stay interested is even easier to judge because your face is on your interviewer’s screen. Dogs and kids are normal part of everyday lives, so if they do interrupt you, gently laugh it off and keep going, most people understand this.
Don’t Turn Off Your Camera
If your interviewer scheduled a virtual meeting, they want to see your face. A phone call obviously gives them the ability to talk through the same questions, but as we mentioned earlier, body language is important. Keep your camera on for the entirety of the interview, no matter how tempting it may be to switch it off.
Don’t Use Your Computer during the Interview
Just as you wouldn’t want to be caught reading from your notes in an in-person interview, don’t use your computer during the interview. It’s very easy to tell when someone drops eye contact in a virtual meeting, so make sure you’re keeping your gaze on the person you’re speaking with and not referencing your résumé or other notes on your screen. If you want to take notes or have prepared questions to ask, opt to have them on a notepad in front of you rather than on your computer. This makes it much more obvious to the interviewer that they aren’t losing your attention to something on the internet.
