How can you ace a virtual job interview?

Please follow the instructions provided by the recruiter to ensure a successful virtual interview. Some employers utilize alternative virtual interviewing platforms (not Zoom/Teams) & they are familiar with the unique features. It's important to follow the instructions to make a positive first impression. Avoid using 'Computer Audio' for virtual interviews. Call into the system on your cellphone/landline, or have the system call you; this will help prevent video freezing since it separates the video/audio streams. Even if your video has glitches, the recruiter can still hear you clearly. Have a backup set of earbuds or headset. Secure your pets. Smile! Ask strong questions at the end proving you have done your research on the company.

Make sure the light is in front of you and not behind you. You do not want to be a silhouette! Dress for success, just like you would for an in-person interview, and SMILE! Show you are likable and relatable. If you have Airpods and they die, make sure you know how to access Zoom audio by phone, or have a backup set of headphones. Tell them you will be taking notes. This will show how interested you are. PRO TIP - Get a big index card or post-it note, cut a hole in the middle for your camera, and secure it to your device. Around the perimeter, write bullet points of your STAR (situation -task - action - result) stories so you don't forget anything you want to say and you can still maintain eye contact! Good luck!

You can also “Create a Clip” on Zoom, to practice your answers to questions, double check your sound and microphone, as well as camera angle. I also always jump on the meeting a bit early to ensure everything is working well. Preparation is key to confidence!

The key to a video interview is practice. Most of us are not comfortable interviewing on line or with AI. Practice focusing on the screen as you speak and tape yourself to see how you are coming across. Make sure you understand how zoom works as that is part of your interview, how you function meeting with someone on line and how you understand using technology is all part of the interview process. Practice until you are not distracted and can focus on the interview like you are in person.

The technical preparation is essential for acing a virtual interview. This includes having a reliable internet connection, a good webcam, and a clear microphone. It is also important to choose the right platform and dress professionally. Here are some additional tips that I recommend: ➡️ Make eye contact with the camera. ➡️ Smile and nod your head occasionally. ➡️ Speak clearly and slowly. ➡️ Avoid distractions. ➡️ Be positive and enthusiastic. Finally, be yourself and let your personality shine through. ✨

We are human. Sometimes, even with the most thorough planning, unexpected things happen. Dogs bark. Kids cry. Phones ring. When the unexpected occurs, the best thing you can do is to simply apologise and explain the situation to the panel. Then quickly resolve the issue (put the dog out, silence the phone). When you've done that, take a breath, regroup and refocus. Remind yourself hirers know these things happen - in fact, it's probably happened to them.

Do not use a virtual background, instead use a background which show that you are a real person. It could be a picture or a painting or something else. In addition be prepared to talk into this item.

Don't make this mistake! I once started a call at 5pm and by the time it was over at 7pm, the sun had set, my room was dark and my face was in shadows! I was presenting during the call so I couldn't duck away and turn on my ring light or my overhead light. I had been relying completely on natural light from my windows. Be mindful of the time of day of your interview and ensure you have appropriate lighting to manage any changes that may happen while you are interviewing.

In order to look your best, make sure your light source (whether it's a lamp, a ring light, or a window) is in front of you, and not behind you. Use books or boxes to prop up your camera so it is eye level. Be sure to let everyone in your home know that you are going to be interviewing, so they don't interrupt you or make loud noises. If you are able to, put your dogs and other animals in another room or outside so they don't distract you.

To ace a virtual job interview, start with technology check, choose a quiet, well-lit space, dress professionally, maintain eye contact, research the company, prepare answers, showcase skills, ask questions, practice, arrive early, minimize distractions, manage nerves, and follow up promptly.

Avoid busy patterns or stripes as these can be problematic on camera. Solid colours work well. Don't forget to check you don't blend into your backdrop. Watch out for noisy jewellery e.g. earrings that may bang against your earphones.

Even though it's a virtual interview, dress in a way that makes you feel comfortable and confident. If you are unsure what the dress code is, err on the side of more "business" than "casual" - usually a simple blouse or collared shirt will work. No matter how casual the company culture appears to be, avoid things like pajamas, tank tops, dirty or stained clothing.

Dress just as you would for an in-person interview. It not only shows respect for the process but also boosts your confidence.

Although we are all very comfortable with work from home fashion choices by now, be careful when it comes to an interview. I don't recommend the "business on the top, casual on the bottom" approach. If there is a chance you need to stand up and walk away from the camera (for example, to turn on a light, put a dog outside or quiet a noisy child), make sure you are fully dressed in business-appropriate attire!

You want to prepare. Make sure the lighting is bright, dress professionally. Make sure you test out your equipment, try a dry run with a friend. Make sure you have good sound quality if you are using mic. Don’t use destination backgrounds.

Part of practice is to literally ask a friend to run a virtual mock interview with you. Here, apart from evaluating your preparedness from a content perspective, you'd be checking for technical stuff such as audio quality, network connectivity, familiarity with the use of the video platform among other issues. Doing this ahead of time will both boost confidence and unearth potential areas for fixing.

To ace a virtual interview, it is important to do your research and practice your answers. You should also prepare some questions to ask the interviewer and dress professionally, even though you will not be seen in person. If you wanna experience a mock interview. Feel free to reach out to me.

Everything in this article & contributions are spot on. I’d like to add some perspective in the area of “Research & practice.” Initiative: Hirers want people with a genuine interest in their company. Do your research by really checking out their business & anything you can about the actual role you’re applying for. Be prepared to answer the question “Why have you applied for this role, & why do you want to work for us?” A way to quickly show some of your initiative is by showing you’ve gone to maximum effort to understand the PD & research the company. Searching for any recent news articles about the company & quickly relaying this in the interview also shows that your research is “real-time.”

You are not going to ace your first virtual interview to the full, therefore it is great to have a good friend to listen in physically during the interview, so he or she can give you feedback and prepare you for the next interview.

Researching the company and the role not only helps you answer questions effectively but also allows you to demonstrate a genuine interest in the position. It shows that you've taken the time to understand their needs and values, which can make a strong impression. Practicing your responses and recording yourself can highlight aspects like body language and tone of voice, which play a crucial role in virtual interviews.

Understand the etiquette of virtual interviews, including muting yourself when not speaking, avoiding distractions, and not interrupting the interviewer. Also, practice nodding and showing engagement through your webcam.

Ensure to paraphrase the question before you answer it. Sometimes there is connectivity/technical glitch during the interview and we hear a part of the question or get the whole question wrong thus ending up with an incorrect answer. It is important that the interviewee understands the question, takes time to analyse it and then answer. Because once the arrow is out it is difficult to retrieve it.

Listen attentively and nod to show you're engaged. Don't interrupt, and wait for the interviewer to finish speaking before responding.

Just like an in-person interview, send a thank-you email or message after the virtual interview. Express your gratitude for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the position.

Send a follow-up or thank you email or card to each individual on the interview panel. Avoid copying and pasting the same message to everyone. Tailor a message specific to information each person provided or a question they asked. This allows you to connect with each interviewer on the panel.

Questions: Some of the questions (apart from the obvious) you can ask to differentiate yourself from other candidates are - Can I meet the team I’ll be working with as part of the interview process? How do your teams operate? What does success look like in the role? These are just a few but you can rest assured very few of your competitors will ask them. And asking questions like these will reinforce perception of your initiative.

Be punctual by joining the virtual interview a few minutes early to account for any technical issues. Also, have the interviewer's contact information handy in case you encounter problems. Virtual and technological challenges can sometimes arise at the most inconvenient moments.

I had a client whose house burned down. She had to leave graduate school and get a job. She would tell her story, and she was not getting jobs. One interviewer even told my client she had too much emotional baggage. I advised her not to mention this, look upbeat and positive. She got a job in 6 weeks! It’s sad to say but keeping your personal and financial issues out of the picture works most of the time.