7 Tips to Nail Your Video Interview
Let's face it – over the past few months, our social and professional lives have slowly merged into a monotonous Venn diagram with one common denominator – being online. And all the time.
This unavoidable shift to a virtual way of life has fundamentally changed the way we present ourselves to others. Not just when e-entertaining our friends on a Friday night, or small-talk with our colleagues while the last straggler tries to join another 'essential' group video call – but to our potential employers and employees as well.
For the majority of Hiring Managers and Jobseekers, the thought of video interviewing is both a foreign and daunting concept. Between unwanted distractions, connection hiccups and digital faux pas, it can be easy to assume that an online interview will spoil your chances of nailing that first impression. But that's where you're wrong.
Take a look below at our top 7 tips to help you stand out from the crowd in your next video interview… yes, even on 'gallery view'!
1. Location, Location, Location
Make sure you set up a quiet interview environment away from potentially disruptive noises such as televisions, traffic, outside construction work and other members of your household. Pick a spot in your room that has consistent, bright lighting and avoid sitting in front of a window that will cast shadows onto your screen and make it hard to see your interviewer or interviewee.
Most importantly, ensure that the background of your video frame will be free of clutter such as an unmade bed or a chaotic kitchen sink, with no distractions from other images or screens on the wall behind you. This will eliminate interruptions, foster a professional environment and allow you to focus solely on the interview itself.
2. Proper Preparation
Use the extra time at home to thoroughly research the business or candidate you are meeting with and flag any questions you want to ask during the interview. If you are a candidate, grasp a solid understanding of the employer's core values and mission statement and get up to speed with their team structure and company culture to assess how you would fit into the fabric of the business.
If you are a Hiring Manager, be sure to conduct your due diligence by reading through the candidate's resume and credentials and vetting their social media profiles. If possible, provide the interviewee with a detailed job description of the role prior to your meeting and encourage them to bring along any questions or feedback they may have – remember, they are interviewing you too!
3. Keep a Cheat Sheet
One of the biggest tricks that will help you bring your A-game to any virtual interview – keeping a 'cheat sheet'. Write out some key words or questions on a post it note and place it at the top of your computer screen (right next to your webcam) so that you can maintain eye contact at all times during your video call.
Remember, these should be prompts only. Do not rely on verbatim answers or long-winded questions written out on a conspicuously-placed piece of paper beside you. Use post it notes to jot down in a few words any key behavioural examples, perks, facts or figures about yourself or your business that are critical to inject into the interview. The rest will come with preparation and practice.
4. Check Your Tech
An obvious, but notoriously problematic step. Know your beast (whether it be Zoom, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, Skype or Google Hangouts) and download the necessary video application or extension for your desktop/browser WELL in advance of your interview.
Play around with the software and do a quick walkthrough, test your video quality, internet speed and audio clarity by conducting a mock call with a friend. Confirm that there are no restrictions on your call minutes (such as Zoom's unpaid 40-minute meetings). Close down any distracting apps or windows and turn off sound notifications on your computer and phone.
If you are the meeting organiser, send through a calendar invite containing any link or passcode the attendee will need to join the call and double check that your invite is set to the correct time zone. Lastly, make sure you agree on a back-up plan in case (…when) technical difficulties occur by exchanging mobile numbers or emails. If all else fails, at least you are on the same wavelength!
5. Dress (and Address) for Success
Treat a video interview like you would any other face to face meeting. Look the part by dressing in professional attire (yes, that includes the bottom half!), maintain tidy grooming and avoid any distracting prints or jewellery that will steal your thunder. Make sure your surroundings also look the part by keeping a tidy and unobtrusive background to form a polished impression from the outset.
When it comes to virtual meetings – it's all in the eyes. Force yourself to look directly INTO the webcam rather than at the video frame of your interviewer or interviewee to establish an instant connection. You will have far more power behind your words if you mimic face to face eye contact.
Use plenty of hand gestures and positive facial expressions when answering questions or talking about yourself or your business to accentuate your interest and fill the void of in-person body language. Try to avoid fidgeting in your chair, tapping your pen or pausing for too long between responses – keep your answers concise, insightful and show that you've done your homework.
6. Pitch Your Perks
Without a physical office environment to visit, it can be difficult to get across your company culture to a potential employee over video interview. Put your best foot forward by emphasising your values, brand and the 'vibe' of your team to give your interviewee a clear idea of what it would be like to work for you.
Outline your departmental and management team structures, career development schemes and office set up to paint a picture of your business from the inside out. Encourage candidates to visit your website, social profiles or read your Google Reviews and Testimonials to gauge what you stand for and what sets you apart from your competitors.
On the flipside, if you are a candidate – don't be afraid to say what you want. Whether it be work-life balance, flexible hours, no weekend work or the option to work from home occasionally, be upfront with your interviewer about what perks are most important to YOU. Think about what you could bring to the table not in terms of craft, but culture and show them exactly why you would be a perfect fit.
7. Follow Up and Follow Back
As your video interview winds up, don't become complacent about next steps. As a potential employer, you need to be upfront with the candidate about where you are at in the hiring process, the urgency of the role and a projected start date (whether that be in person or working remotely).
If your office is experiencing temporary shutdowns due to government restrictions, be transparent about how this will affect the duties of the role, changes to the onboarding process and what the candidate can expect from their first week in the job.
In a time where trust outweighs results – follow up has never been more critical. Be sure to call or email every applicant for your position to advise them if the role has been put on hold, or even if they are unsuccessful. If a candidate knows where they stand, they will be more likely to recommend your business or apply to future openings.
From a candidate perspective, you also need to be honest about your current employment situation, how soon you can start, your salary expectations and your commitment to the role. Send a well-thought-out thank you email after your interview to keep you at the top of the Hiring Manager's mind and be sure to follow the company's social media accounts to show that you are actively interested and invested in both the role and the business. A little effort often goes a long way.
We're Here to Help
The P3 team are here to help our clients and candidates adjust in these changing times. We can offer video interview walkthroughs and best practice guidelines on everything from scheduling your first meeting to hosting a group call.
We are here to get you connected so that you can focus on the connection that matters most.
Image Credit: SEEK