Essential Tips For A Zoom Interview
1. Become familiar with the Zoom platform and technology
- Make sure you camera and microphone are working properly and that you know the various functions available on the Zoom platform. Make sure you have good connectivity in the room where you intend to conduct your interview. Find out more about using Zoom functions to improve your interview experience.
- Check closely on the time and date of your Zoom interview and take note of any timezone differences.
- Make sure you have the correct meeting link and access codes from the employer. Keep these easily accessible in case you lose connectivity during your interview and need to join the meeting again.
- Make sure your Zoom profile name is professional – the best option is to use your full name as your profile name.
- Test everything again on the day of your interview and ensure your device is fully charged.
2. Do your preparation
- Understand what is a zoom interview and prepare properly for it. Prepare as you would for an in-person interview. Conduct background research on the company and industry. Familiarize yourself with the job opportunity and what exactly the employer is looking for in a candidate.
- Consider your answers to common job interview questions. Prepare for job-specific interview questions.
- Prepare a list of smart and insightful questions to ask the interviewer.
- You may be asked some behavioral interview questions. This is how to prepare good behavioral interview answers.
4. Do a practice run and record it
Follow Up After The Zoom Interview
Once the Zoom interview is over, its time to follow up with the interviewer. Send a thank-you email within a day of the interview. In the email, be sure to mention something that you discussed during the Zoom job interview call. This will prove that you were paying attention and are interested in the position.
If you havent heard back from the interviewer after a week, its okay to follow up again. You can send another email or give them a call. Just be sure not to be too pushy.
Describe Your Ideal Work Environment
This is a common question asked to determine whether your ideal work environment matches what the employer can offer. Having in mind the culture of the company including the kind of space its employees work in, explain your ideal environment and align it like what the company offers to its employees.
Sample Answer
I love the flexibility of working remotely while also having the chance to work with my coworkers in proximity. I realized that you give your employees the option to work from home twice a week. This is one thing that attracted me to this job. As someone who can be both an introvert and an extrovert, this kind of work environment would be the perfect balance for me.
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Tips For A Successful Zoom Interview
Lets first address the list of tips for Zoom interviews and how to have proper Zoom interview etiquette before diving into each:
Now that weve detailed tips for Zoom interviews at a high level, lets jump into each and discuss them in a bit more length.
Speak Slowly And Clearly
Before your interview, practice talking slowly and clearly. Even if you have a great internet connection, the Zoom call might cut out for a fraction of a second here and there, and youll be much easier to understand if youre talking slowly and not rushing through your responses.
This will also make you seem more relaxed and confident, which the hiring manager will love.
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Make Sure Youre Lit Correctly
Proper lighting is a key component to making a good impression during a Zoom interview the last thing anyone wants is to be swathed in shadow on the screen like some anonymous source in a mafia documentary. According Vicki Salemi, a career expert for Monster, a ring light is your best option, as it casts a uniform glow over your face that eliminates awkward shadows. In any case, Salemi says the light should face you directly so that youre looking into the laptop or webcam and the lamp is behind the camera. Whatever you do, dont sit in front of a window. People often make the mistake of sitting in front of a window, she says. It may seem like a nice backdrop, but all it does is cast shadows and hide your face.
Prep For Optimal Eye Contact
Have you ever had a conversation with someone where they seemed to be looking over your shoulder or away from you entirely? Did you feel like you connected with that person? Probably not. So while actual eye contact isnt possible in a video interview, youll want to get as close as possible. Looking at someones face is usually enough to show that youre listening and engaged with what theyre saying.
To that end, make sure youve found a comfortable distance that allows you to look straight ahead rather than down at the camera. And place the window where your interviewer will appear on the same monitor as your camera and move it as close to the camera as possiblecentered is best. That way, when you look at them, as you naturally will during your conversation, youre also looking at the camera.
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Do Some Research On The Firm
The first step in any interview preparation is to do some research about the firm.
This is something you should have done before applying for the job. If you didn’t, set aside some time before the call to examine the company’s website to learn more about its products/services, beliefs, and culture.
It’s critical to do your homework about the firm you’re interviewing with to verify that you’re a good fit. It also aids in the development of interview questions.
Turn Off Notifications On Your Computer
It’s a good idea to turn off notifications on your computer during the interview. Close any social media or messaging apps, open Zoom, and set the meeting to full screen so the interviewer is all you can see.
If you’re using notes for talking points, feel free to keep Zoom in a window but make sure to not rely on them too much.
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Research The Company And Your Interviewers
When it comes to interviewing, research is vital. By learning about the company and your interviewers, youll be able to ask informed questions that will impress them.
First, visit the companys website and social media accounts. This will give you a good overview of their business and help you understand their mission and values. Then, try to find out as much as possible about your interviewers. A simple Google search is enough to find information on their background and experience.
Finally, come up with a few thoughtful Zoom interview questions for your potential employers that show youve done your homework. For example, you might ask about the companys plans for expansion or how theyre adapting to the current market conditions. Or, if youre interviewing with someone from HR, you could ask about the companys employee assistance program.
Make Use Of The Mute Button
Zoom features a function that allows you to silence your audio. This is a useful tool to have on hand when your interviewer is speaking for extended periods of time. They won’t be able to hear anything from you if you use the mute button. When there are loud sounds in your home, such as dogs barking or children playing, this is beneficial. Keeping your phone on silent while they talk might assist your interviewer concentrate on what they’re trying to say.
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Write Out A Few Notesbut Refer To Them As Little As Possible
Because your interviewer wont be able to see everything you have on your desk , it might be tempting to have a lot of information in front of you for a video interview. But be careful. Turner recommends having only a few quick notes in front of you and glancing at them sparingly. Write down key figures and other small snippets, not whole answers. You dont want to sound like youre just reading, she says.
Meanwhile, Eonnet discourages keeping any notes in front of you at all. The best interviews are conversations and notes can become a crutch, Eonnet says. A huge reason someone decides to hire you is because they feel like you made a connection during the interview, which can be hard to do if youre distracted.
If youd like to have a few sparse notes for your interview, make sure you also have them out during your practice. Not only will this show you whether you can use them without it disrupting the flow of the conversation, the more you read them over, the less youll end up having to refer to them.
Using These Habits To Distract The Interviewer
The biggest Zoom interview error you can do is to show your disinterest in what the interviewer is saying by your conduct and gestures. Regrettably, this is much easy than you may imagine.
Little acts of kindness may have a tremendous impact. Fidgeting with your hair or clothes, checking your phone , or gazing at yourself rather than engaging with the interviewer can all give the impression that you’re disconnected or preoccupied.
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Pay Attention To How You Sound Too
People are usually concerned with how they look in a video interview and often forget to think about how they sound, Turner says. During your practice, take note of how fast you speak, how you pause, and the tone and pitch of your voiceand ask the person youre practicing with if any of these things makes it harder to hear or understand you.
For the sake of any interviewer with a bad connection, be sure to speak clearly and at a reasonable pace, but keep it natural. Just because your interview is being conducted over a computer doesnt mean you can sound like one! Since theres less body languagebased communication in a video interview, you also want the way you speak to help get across how you feel about what youre saying. Make sure you sound excited when discussing the things youre passionate about, for example.
Use A Laptop Or Computer
Although Zoom has a mobile app, it’s better to use it on a desktop computer or laptop. Having your computer on a table creates a more stationary view of yourself while holding your phone in your hand could cause the camera to shake. Your computer camera also gives the interviewer a better view of yourself and tends to come in clearer.
Read more:Tips From a Recruiter: Mastering the Virtual Interview
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Prepare Your Space And Minimize Distractions
As far as tips for interviewing on Zoom go, this is one of the most important because it leaves an impression. Before your interview, identify where you will take the Zoom call.
The ideal location is one that is quiet, has good natural lighting free of shadows, and has a clean space that you can use for your background without clutter.
It’s also a good idea to let your roommates or family know that you’ll be doing a video interview and share the time. That way, they can help by being quiet or even being out of the house if that’s easier.
Prior to getting on video, do some last-minute tidying of the area that will be within the video frame. When in doubt, a blank wall can work well as a professional background.
You may consider using a virtual background if you want to conceal areas of the room youre in. If you choose to do so, make sure that you are using a professional background and have tested it out beforehand.
Shut Down All Other Tabs On Your Computer
In case they ask you to share your screen during your interview, it’s a good idea to shut down all other internet browser tabs or programs in use on your computer or laptop. This will ensure that an accidental audio or video clip doesn’t suddenly start playing in the middle of your interview. And freeing up resources on your computer can improve the quality of your video call.
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Practice Your Video Interview Skills Ahead Of Time
If youre not used to video chat, you might find carrying on a conversation to be a bit awkward at firstespecially if you can see yourself as well. Setting up a mock video interview with a friend or career coach can help you zero in on anything you need to watch out for, Turner says. Maybe you have a tendency to look away from the camera or maybe your natural hand gestures are too low to be seen. Turner also recommends recording your practice. When you play it back youll notice if youre making eye contact, fiddling with papers, your posture is bad, she says. Then you can make adjustments accordingly.
Muse career coach Eloise Eonnet, who specializes in public speaking, presentation, and communication skills, stresses answering questions in practice the same way you would in a real interview, especially when it comes to talking about key pieces of your background. Dont say the names and numbers you need to say out loud for the first time in the interview, Eonnet saysyou dont want to get nervous and stumble over them or say something incorrect.
Zoom Interview Tips For Before The Interview
There is a lot of work that goes into preparing for an interview – way more than just adding it to your calendar. When you are interviewing virtually, there will be a few more steps added to this preparation.
But if you follow these best practices for Zoom interviews, you’ll be ahead of the game.
To ensure that everything goes smoothly, you will need to prepare your tech, interview space, and attire in addition to practicing questions.
Here’s a list of what you should do before the interview.
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Find A Brightly Lit Room
Your interviewer needs to be able to see your body language and facial expressions during your Zoom interview. Choose a room with good lighting, so they can easily see you. Setting your interview space facing a window that lets in a lot of natural lighting is a great way to make yourself more visible. Setting up with a window behind you can cast shadows on your face and make you appear to look like a silhouette.
Zoom Interview Tips: The Bottom Line
Virtual interviews are here to stay, meaning its essential for job seekers to be familiar and comfortable with Zoom technology.
Yet even as interview mediums change, the core ways to succeed in an interview remain the same: Do your research, show your interviewer why youre right for the role, and ask insightful questions.
Looking for more interview tips? Check out Forages Comcast Unspoken Interview Fundamentals Virtual Experience Program.
Image credit: NewAfrica / Depositphotos.com
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What To Wear For A Zoom Interview And How To Prepare
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed’s data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
Related: Video Interview Tips: What to Wear, How to Prepare, and Example Questions
Indeed Live discusses advice, resources and community conversations to address the impact of COVID-19 in the world of work.
Today, more hiring managers than ever are relying on technology to pre-screen applicants and conduct video interviews. If you’re being interviewed via Zoom or another video-based platform, it’s important to dress appropriately and prepare as if you were being interviewed in person.
In this article, we discuss what to wear for a Zoom interview and how to set up your backdrop and prepare for the interview.
Use Appropriate Body Language
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In this video, Jenn, a career coach, discusses a common interviewing mistake, and how body language can be a powerful way to influence your interviewer.
One benefit of using video chat rather than a phone call is that you get to see each other’s body language and facial expressions. During your interview, sit up tall with your hands in your lap and your feet on the floor. While you speak, you may use your hands as well if that’s natural for you. As your interviewer speaks, use nonverbal cues such as nodding and smiling to show that you’re listening.
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Choose Your Interview Outfit
As mentioned earlier, you should dress professionally the same way that you would for an in-person interview.
I recommend picking out an outfit ahead of time, too. Make sure its wrinkle-free and looks clean and new. By doing this ahead of time, youll have one less thing to worry about or stress over on the day of your interview.
Ace Your Video Interview
Whether its your first remote interview or one of many, taking video interview tips into consideration can help you adjust to the intricacies of the remote hiring process. By knowing what to expect ahead of time, you can help ensure that you’re fully prepared and able to make the best impression possible.
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