Tips for Online Job Interviews

A virtual interview takes place remotely, often using technology like video conferencing and video interviewing. Several tricks of virtual interviewing are similar to face-to-face interviews. However, virtual communication requires special consideration of body language, candidate knowledge, and facial expressions. Virtual interviews are convenient for both recruiters and candidates, and are sometimes necessary because of a candidate’s location barrier or social distancing concerns in this pandemic situation.

If you’ve never taken part in a virtual interview, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the medium. Here, we’ll discuss the best practices for virtual interviews, and we will also share how you can use them during your virtual interviewing experience. We’ll help you to ace the call and land your next dream job.

1. Prioritize the Camera, Not the Screen

This tip may sound counterintuitive, but the interviewer must see you clearly, not the other way around. You must be prioritizing the device with the best camera in your possession, not the best display. For example, a Dell laptop may have a beautiful 14-inch screen, but the built-in webcam is only a 1-megapixel camera. Meanwhile, your iPhone 11’s front-facing camera has a whopping 10 megapixels. The quality of your facial image during the interview must be clear, so always use a good-quality camera. If your system does not have a quality camera, you can buy an external webcam from the market. If you’re using a phone, use a stand or prop it up to minimize shaking. 

2. Position Yourself in a Well-Lit, Calm, and Clean Space

It’s essential to virtual interview success to choose a quiet, calm, and clean space to appear during your virtual interview. Vikram Seth, founder and CEO of Simpalm Staffing, noted that, “a clean background is one of the top ways candidates can stand out during a virtual interview”.  Try to get rid of any distractions such as background noise. Unlike interviewing in the office, virtual interviews provide an intimate glimpse into your personal space. Be sure to give a great first impression by keeping your area clean and limiting any interruptions from family members, pets, partners, and roommates.

Take stock of your space and choose a location that is far from potential noises and distractions, such as a ringing doorbell, a child’s room, or a TV that could be turned on. Consider putting a “DO NOT DISTURB” sign to hang on the door so that no one enters your room by mistake. You can also warn family members of your intent to take a virtual interview, so that they do not disturb you during the interview.

For the best visibility, we would also suggest avoiding sitting with a window behind you,  because it will cast a shadow image on your face that creates a fuzziness on the computer screen, so it will be a little challenging to see you during the interview. 

Be intentional with where you choose to have your virtual interview. It’s very important to choose the right location that is free of noise and distractions. When participating in a virtual interview, any interruptions can leave a negative impression on the recruiters. Recruiters may think that you are not serious about the interview, or worry that distractions in the home will affect your job performance.  Be sure to keep your virtual interview background unmemorable, so that recruiters remember what you have to offer instead.

3. Master your Lighting

Getting perfect lighting for online video can be a little tricky in a home, but ideally, you want to aim for the following:

• Get plenty of light overall, so it doesn’t look like you’re cowering in the dark, but not so much light that it creates a light image on any eyeglasses.
• Position two lights, if possible. If you do not have two lights, you can use the right and left sides of the table lamp. It will give a clear vision of your face to the recruiter.
• Use natural light where possible; if one of the overhead lights is a window, all the better. Please avoid fluorescent bulbs, tube lights, or other colorful lights.
• Eliminate direct backlighting (like a window or door behind you) and avoid light shining directly over your head. 

4. Test Your Gear

Sign up for an account on the interviewer’s online job interview link and watch an intro video of that software. You must know how that software works. If you can, install a backup copy of the software if the interviewer is using a .exe file type platform.  On a second device (for example, install on both your phone and laptop), just in case one device fails. Many virtual interviewing softwares allow you to log in with your phone as well. 

Test your earbuds or earphones and keep a backup pair within reach. On the day of your interview, test everything again. Rebooting can reset your default camera and microphone on many PCs, leaving your screen blank or your audio muted, potentially leaving you flustered, so make sure you’ve handled any PC or software updates before your interview. After you’ve checked your gear, ask a friend to help you through a test run on both devices to make sure the audio and video are working.

You should check and test your technology several times before the interview to ensure success. Be sure to double-check your Wi-Fi connection, camera, audio, and virtual interview invite link to confirm they are all working seamlessly. Being tech-savvy is a coveted skill that employers are looking for, and by not preparing the tech setup for the interview, you could give a negative impression to the hiring manager. Don’t let them think that you don’t have basic computer skills.

A day before your interview, perform a few tests of the software that you’ll be using. Take time to explore the software and familiarise yourself with how it works. (Be sure you have the most up-to-date version of the software, too!) If the software shows others an image of yourself instead of a video, make sure your profile image is up-to-date and appropriate.

5. Speak Clearly

The way you speak in an online interview would be a significant quality of any candidate, and if you think you’re speaking slowly, it’s probably around the right speed.  Try some voice exercises to help regulate your voice so that you’re speaking at a reasonable, apparent speed. Try answering a practice question while recording yourself, and play it back to see how clear your voice sounds. Everyone has an accent, whether or not we’re speaking a language that isn’t our first. Speaking clearly and being mindful of the speed of our words can help ensure clarity while interviewing.

5.5. Headphones or Earbuds

It’s great that the interviewer can see you clearly, but you’re sunk if the interviewer can’t hear you properly. Your interviewer may forgive bad-quality video, but bad audio will ruin your interview. If your interviewers can’t understand you, they can’t judge your interview.  Interviewers get better sound and a clearer voice if you use headphones instead of your laptop’s built-in speakers. Onboard computer audio is normally of low quality, which is a recipe for sound distortion and feedback.

In general, good earbuds will make you look less crazy than an oversized gaming headset. If you can, test your headset beforehand to see how the audio sounds. 

6. Eliminate Distractions

Do you know that barking dog who haunts every business meeting? He’ll bark during your interview, too. The same advice goes for your children. Park them in front of a screen in a faraway part of the house, and give them enough candy to last the length of the interview.

If you want to make your interview awesome, follow these points.

• Remove all the distractions from the room.
• Lock the door and windows in your room.
• Switch off the TV (It does not matter if you watch the last episode of Money Heist ) down the hall.
• Set the Silent mode on your cell phone.
• Make sure the only window open on your computer screen is the video platform you are using for the interview.
• Keep all pets, family members, or roommates away from your interview space

7. Dress Professionally

Just because it’s a virtual interview doesn’t mean you should wear a funky outfit or pajamas. Try to dress professionally. You’ll feel more confident when you dress for the part, and first impressions matter. Even though virtual interviews take place in the comfort of your own home, show interviewers that you care about the position, and yourself, by presenting yourself professionally.

Some tips: 

• Make sure your hair is styled- don’t show up looking like you just rolled out of bed. 
• Wear a dress shirt or blouse. 

8. Be on Time

The very first impression you give as a virtual interviewee is how timely you are- so always be on time to a virtual interview. If you have received an interview call from a company located in another country, you should double check the time zone for your online interview.

Speaking of timeliness, it’s a good idea to arrive 10 minutes early, even if you are sitting in the online “Waiting room” until the scheduled time. This will give you time to adjust if any technical issues arise. 

9. Be Authentic

Getting to the interview stage means the hiring team is already interested in you, so let your personality shine and leverage that confidence.  This is your opportunity to expound on the skills mentioned in your resume and show the team how much you know about the role. Know your strengths- and weaknesses- before coming into the interview, so you can put your best foot forward. This is the time to open up and provide insight into who you are as a person, such as your hobbies and interests. Interviewers are looking to you to help them gauge whether you are the right person for the role and an excellent cultural fit in their organization. Interpersonal skills, deep communication, and adaptability convey your confidence and personality. Don’t avoid asking the interviewer a few questions about themselves  – you might have something in common to build a connection.

10. Practice Good Body Language

Your body language shows your personality.  A happy face and confident body language will have a positive impact on hiring managers. So be sure to use proper posture and maintain eye contact throughout the virtual interview. If you are constantly looking at the other side instead of the computer screen, your interviewer may think you’re distracted or that you are not interested in the call. Remember to sit up straight, and try not to act like you are relaxing on the couch. 

11. Post Interview Tips 

Show your interest! As soon as possible after your interview, reach out to the interviewer by email to show how much you want the role and thank them for their time. If you interview with a team, be sure to send each one their personalized thank-you note. Don’t use a form letter for each note.

In addition to saying thank you to the interviewer, take the opportunity to reiterate why you would be perfect for the role, focusing on what you can do for them and the company, and telling them again how excited you are for the potential opportunity to join their team.

Final Thoughts

Acing a virtual interview is all about preparing well and having a confident attitude. Treating your virtual interview like a real conversation will help you build a strong connection and reputation with the interviewer, thus bringing you a step closer to the job you desire.

Don’t worry if you find yourself in an awkward situation despite being fully prepared. Remain calm and handle it graciously. Even the best laid plans may have hiccups, especially with technology. However, the more prep you do beforehand, the more calm you can be during your interview.