How To Ace Video Conference Interview

Lifesize Conference Room Systems

When recruiting top talent, its critical you present your business in the best light possible. Lifesizes industry-leading video conferencing equipment is engineered to give you an amazing meeting experience with stunning video and audio quality. Setup is plug and play, controls are intuitive and the user experience is unmatched.

Warn Your Roommates/family Members

Everyone has things going on – be sure to pencil in your interview to the schedule of the entire household. It may not eliminate distractions, but a fair warning can help minimize background noise in your space.

If you forget to do this in advance, try putting a sign on your door or sending a text to let everyone know your interview is about to start.

Start Off With A Digital Handshake

When you interview in person, theres a period where the interview has started, but it hasnt started. You and your interviewer are physically meeting, shaking hands, walking into the room, and sitting down. Even if youre not making small talk, theres still some time to settle in. For a video interview, this isnt always the case, so you need to focus on making an initial connection even more than usual, Eonnet says.

Try a digital handshake, she says. After you say hello, look right into the camera to forge a connection, do a small head nod as if to say yes!, and add a smile, which translates warmth and openness.

Also Check: How To Get Podcast Interviews

Dont Sit Too Far Or Too Close

Just like you wouldnt sit three inches or eight feet from your interviewer in a conference room, you dont want to sit an uncomfortable distance from your computer. When youre setting up your chair, youll want to make sure you dont end up looking too tiny or too huge. To be well proportioned, make sure theres a bit of empty space on the screen above your head and check that your shoulders and upper chest are visible.

Tips For Conducting A Video Interview

Youre interviewing a candidate with the intent of making a hiring decision. The candidate is interviewing you with the intent of making an employment decision. The video conference call will be the first impression a potential candidate makes of your company. Preparing before the interview will ensure the call runs smoothly and the job seeker is left with a positive view of your company.

Don’t Miss: How To Write A Thank You Note For An Interview

Use Good Headphones With A Mic If Possible

“Thisll make sure that theres no feedback and they can hear you well,” says Lucht. “Extra credit if theyre comfy to wear.” Oh, and dear god, make sure you don’t accidentally hit “mute” before you launch into your elevator pitch on why you’d be an amazing asset to the team. Apple Airpods Pro is an unrivaled choice for the remote business world.

Designate A Space For A Video Conference Interview

With most people staying at home these days, its easy for there to be distractions and background noise dogs barking, children playing, a significant other working from home. Find a separate room or space in your home that is as distant from those distractions as possible, preferably a spare bedroom or office.

Once youve found a quiet space, assess the lighting. Does the room have a lot of windows that natural light comes in? If so, position yourself so that youre directly facing those windows. This will help brighten up your face on camera and not create a distracting, blinding light that makes it hard for the interviewer to see you. And if the room tends to look dark, make sure you have plenty of lights on to compensate.

Recommended Reading: How To Do A Zoom Interview

Do You Need To Have Advanced Computer Skills To Take Part In A Skype Interview

One of the benefits of using software such as Skype is its ease of use.

Skype has been around for a long time. It has lasted because it is simple enough for individuals to use while still having an array of attractive features for business use.

Although it is easy to use, you must practice before your interview.

You also need to download the latest update onto your laptop or tablet in advance of the interview.

There is nothing more unprofessional than missing your interview time because your device is scheduling last-minute updates.

Similarly, you need to make sure you know your login details. You do not want to be flustered by the time you log in to your interview.

You may also want to test your microphone and volume control.

You may wish to invest in an external microphone or a new webcam to maximize the clarity of the conversation.

The noise cancellation feature in Skype is also worth using as it minimizes any background noises and provides a more professional experience.

Undeniable Tips To Help You Ace Your Next Video Conference Interview

Nandita Loomba 7 months ago

With the unprecedented increase of remote working globally, remote jobs are now a common phenomenon. Due to this, video conferencing has become the go-to technology for job interviews all across the globe.

Despite what many people might think, video interviews can be a lot harder than normal ones. This is because, unlike the latter, video interviews require candidates to communicate a lot more via their body language to express their opinion effectively and make a lasting impression on the panel.

So if you want to ace your next video conference interview, follow the simple tips below.

Lets begin!

• 8. Be Yourself. You Got This!

Don’t Miss: How Hard Are Google Interviews

Avoid Excess Body Movement

During the interview, avoid fidgeting with your pen, hair, smart devices or anything else that conveys nervousness and anxiety. Try to keep your body movements calm and relaxed. When speaking you can use your hands to gesture, but avoid being overly animated. When the other person is speaking, sit still and listen attentively with an occasional head nod to show youre paying attention.

Silence Your Phone And Mute Notifications

Give candidates your full attention and turn off the rest of the world when conducting video interviews. Your devices built-in speakers can pick up and magnify notification noises, which makes for a very unpleasant interruption. On top of that, its rude and disrespectful of your interviewees time. Remember, this is a time to both assess a candidates fit for the role and sell your company as a potential employer, so treat them with the same respect you expect from them.

You May Like: How To Do A Mock Interview

Heres How To Ace Your Next Video Interview

The more you practice for a video interview, the more comfortable you’ll feel.

Getty

Statistics show that video technology is being used by at least 60% of hiring managers and recruiters. A survey of 506 companies revealed that 47% use video interviewing to shorten the hiring timeframe, and 22% would consider it for interviewing candidates that arent local. Given that today most of us are hunkered down at home, that percentage is likely to be much higher. So, if youre in the midst of a job search, its more important than ever to ace your next video interview. These tips will help you prepare in a way that will put you head and shoulders above your competition.

Video Conference Interviews: How To Prepare For A Productive Video Interview

With advancements in technology and telecommunications, hiring has become global with more employees working remotely and video interviews commonplace. Hiring managers and job seekers can quickly have a first-round interview, saving time and travel costs, to learn more about what the other person has to offer and see if the fit is right for both parties. The key to a successful video conference interview is to be prepared and feel confident with the process. Here are a few tips to help you ace your next face-to-face video interview.

Don’t Miss: What Are Some Good Responses To Interview Questions

Additional Video Interview Tips

What if you dont have a web cam? Consider using your tablet or smartphone. If you dont have regular access to any of these, ask a family member or friend to borrow equipment . If your librarys still open, they might rent you equipment.

What if you dont have a quiet space to take the call/record your responses? If you can, ask everyone with whom you live to be considerate for the allotted interview time. If thats impossible, consider going outside. Some libraries have personal rooms you can reserve, too, if theyre open.

What if the video or audio stops working midway through the interview? Dont panic! A little advance preparation is all you need to get through any technical issues. Before the interview, email the interviewer to ask for a phone number you can call if anything goes wrong. If your video or sound cuts out, just call them up.

What if your interview gets interrupted? If its noisy, apologize and mute your microphone until its quiet again. If someone walks in or your dog jumps on your lap, apologize and ask to pause the interview while you re-secure the room. Then, mute the microphone and take care of the situation as quickly as possible.

How do you end a video interview? Like any other interview! Express your appreciation and follow up with a thank-you note. If you conducted a pre-recorded interview and dont have any contacts at the company, you can write a thank you to HR, or just end your last recorded response by expressing your appreciation.

Your Guide To Acing Video Interviews

Video interviews for jobs are becoming very common, especially in today’s tech-centric world. Video interviews are convenient for both hiring managers and candidates and are sometimes even necessary due to a candidate’s location or social distancing concerns. If you’ve never taken part in a video interview, it’s important to get familiar with this type of interview. Here we explore a few important video interview tips you can use during your next digital interviewing experience and the differences between live and pre-recorded video interviews.

Recommended Reading: How To Interview An Expert

Make Eye Contact With The Camera

If it helps, consider putting some googly eyes next to your webcam to remind you to look directly at it throughout the call. This gives the appearance of making eye contact, not distractedly staring at your screen! Making eye contact, even if through a laptop, helps foster a sense of genuine connection and attentiveness it can make all the difference when trying to hit it off with your interviewer.

Career And Job Search Help Blog

Image Credit: Hiremelive.com

In one of my previous posts, I wrote about interview tips for job seekers. In this post, I would like to expand on that and speak specifically about video conferencing interviews. As we all know, job interviews are probably one of the most nerve racking events in our lives. When you factor in the time, effort, preparation, cost and stress that goes into an interview, then you see how it impacts the entire process.

In a survey of more than 500 hiring managers at companies with more than 20 employees, OfficeTeam found that 63 percent said their company often uses videoconferencing for job interviews. As we rapidly move forward in an ever growing high tech world, many companies are electing to use video conference to interview candidates from all over the globe.

In an infographic study, it was found that “the ways communication is conveyed in these interviews is 55% via human face, 38% tone of voice, and only 7% from the words that are said. Only seven percent of communication on video is the actual words? This is shocking, and certainly underscores why the development of digital interview skills is such a critical need.”

Here are a few things that you can do to improve your chances of nailing that online interview.

• If using Skype set-up an account if you do not have one.
• For a professional username, Skype for example advises that your Skype ID comprise of your first initial and surname.

Image Credit: nemehill.blogspot.ca

Appearance/Netiquette

You May Like: What Questions To Ask In A Sales Interview

Ways To Ace The Video Conference Interview

The nuances of the video conference interview are not to be ignored. Here’s how to prepare for success.

In today’s job searching climate, technology has ironically made it both easier and more difficult to land your dream job. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of job search boards and due to more sophisticated communication technology, job seekers can now interview for a job halfway across the country, or the world, from the comfort of their own home.

But all this convenience is not without its drawbacks. If you’ve ever participated in a video interview, the first word that comes to mind is probably awkward. Delays, lost signals, weird uncomfortable eye contact and talking over one another are the rules and not the exceptions. Despite this, the cost savings and convenience will ensure that video interviewing is here to stay. Here are five video interview tips to help avoid the awkwardness and make yourself stand out during your video interview.

Taking Part In A Zoom Interview

Zoom offers a clean, easy-to-use interface. The home tab shows an overview of upcoming meetings. From this tab, users can start, schedule or join a meeting.

They can also share their computer or mobile device screen with an existing Zoom Room.

Zoom has a host of useful features:

• Screen sharing
• Record function
• Customizable backgrounds

It is possible to switch off the video function however, recruiters will likely want to see you during a Zoom job interview.

The Zoom app is the most popular way to use Zoom. You can access it from a computer or mobile device. Both Apple and Android are available. You can also use an extension for Firefox and Chrome browsers.

Perform an update to your computer system and ensure you are using the latest version of Zoom. This will avoid having to restart your device in the middle of the interview.

Read Also: What Are Good Interview Skills

Put Together A Setting That Will Highlight Your Interests Or Personality

In any remote meeting, lighting and background can help you get your face shown so youre able to maintain eye-to-eye contacteven if just through the camera. Some general rules to stick to are:

• Avoid glare if youre wearing glasses by testing how youll come off on camera before
• Dont sit too close or too far from the laptop
• Have your camera placed at eye-level
• Make sure your PJ pants arent visible if youll only dress up your top

The most important part remains your background.

If youre particularly picky about the work culture youre getting yourself into, youll want to highlight bits of your personality in the background. Add in books, posters, figurines, pictures, collectible items, and anything else that says a lot about you without needing further explanation.

Do a quick sense check: What will the interviewer see in your background? A huge part of any interview is getting to know you in and outside of work so give them a sneak peek into who you are. In fact, Id strongly advise against using features that blur your background. This is a great opportunity to create talking points by having your favorite books on display, or any certificates and achievements youd like to highlight.

Make Sure You’re Truly Shining

“Face a window or have another form of lighting,” says Lucht. “Better lighting makes you seem more competent and confident. Perfect for a job interview.”

If you have a dungeon-like amount of lighting in your home, no worries. A Video Conference Lighting Kit is an evergreen investment for the WFH life. And think of it this way: you’re already saving money on interview clothes.

Don’t Miss: How To Get A Job Interview

Dress For The Interview

A video interview is every bit as much an interview as an in person one, so make sure you are properly attired. Proper job interview etiquette is to always dress appropriately for the job in which you are applying, not necessarily a day on the job. Even if you know the company has a casual dress code, most interviewers will be taken aback if you show up in jeans and a t-shirt. The same holds true for the video conference. You can change back into your pajamas and robe as soon as it’s done.

Tips For A Successful Video Job Interview

Do you have a video interview on your schedule? As hiring becomes global and more employees work remotely, video interviews have become commonplace.

For hiring managers and recruiters, they’re a way to quickly conduct first-round interviews, save on transportation costs, and get the interview process started much faster than scheduling in-person interviews.

For some positions, the entire process may be handled virtually, while others may have a combination of video and in-person interviews.

Read Also: How To Crack Business Analyst Interview

Show A Clear Image Of Your Face

Set your webcam up for a test run. Hows the lighting? Your face needs to be well lit, but if you have light skin a direct light could leave you looking ghostly. You may need to bring in a couple of lamps and light yourself from several angles. Keep experimenting until the webcam image is impeccable.

Oily skin can develop a shine on camera, so wash your face before the interview. If you wear makeup, keep it light and simple.

How To Ace Your Videoconference Interview

These days, you might find yourself in a job interview in the comfort of your own home. Interviewing over Skype or a similar service isnt all that different from interviewing in person, but there are some things you need to keep in mind. Heres some good advice on the topic:

Bonus fun fact: when the Time reporter says were not going to do that into her webcam, she is referencing Charlie Rose by Samuel Beckett, which is genius.

Also Check: How To Prepare For Programming Interview