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How To Prepare For Virtual Interview

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Dont Perform A Monologue Spark Conversations

How to Prepare for a Virtual Interview

Zoom calls are more monotonous than their in-person alternatives. Your main challenge during the interview itself will be keeping the conversation lively.

Be interested: Eighty-nine percent of the successful candidates in our study conversed with their recruiters in a natural, candid way. How? They showed genuine interest in their interviewer by asking questions. Our research found some of the most engaging questions were: How does the team communicate right now? What tools do you use to collaborate? How do you monitor remote work? Does the office have a virtual Friday happy hour where I could meet new colleagues? Some of the least engaging questions were questions that one can easily find answers to online, such as, Where is the company based? or What awards have you recently won?

Find common interests: Do some pre-work to see if you and your interviewer share any interests. Most companies will tell you who you are meeting with ahead of time. This means you can, and probably should, Google them. Explore what kind of articles they post or share on LinkedIn, what groups theyre a part of, what conferences they spoke at, or what kind of voluntary work they do. When the conversation starts to dry up, ask them about these things. Eighty-one percent of the unsuccessful candidates we observed had trouble filling dead air, missed social cues, and gave monologue-style answers to questions without engaging the other person at all, which ultimately bored their interviewers.

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.

How To Make A Good Impression In A Virtual Job Interview

Follow this guide to prep and perfect your video interview skills.

Theres no question that for many job-seekers, interviewing is the most intimidating part of the process. But what if you could do it from the comfort of home? For many employers, virtual interviewing is the futurewhether you live far away or need to interview remotely for another reason, video conferencing is an easy fix that many companies utilize when meeting candidates face to face.

While video interviewing doesnt allow for some tried-and-true methods for making a good impression, like giving a firm handshake, there are many ways to wow your potential boss from behind a screen. Simply follow this guide to prep and perfect your video interview skills.

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Tips For Acing Your Next Virtual Interview

As technology continues to evolve, the workplace has been quick to follow suit adopting new innovations that save time and increase efficiency. In fact, fifty percent of employers surveyed by the Society for Human Resource Management said they use virtual interviews as a way to narrow their applicant pool. Video conferencing software, such as Zoom, Skype, and Google Hangouts, has helped recruiters reach a more diverse, global group of candidates, and offers a cost-effective way to screen prospective hires.

Due to current events like the Coronavirus pandemic and the sudden need to bring many positions online, virtual interviews have also become a necessity when traditional interviews cannot take place face-to-face. Many professionals are now working from home or pursuing new positions remotely, and the hiring process has become increasingly virtual as a result.

Mastering the virtual interview is often one of the first steps toward a follow-up interview and subsequent employment. Heres how you can increase the likelihood that an employer asks you to come in for round two of an interview.

Why Are Virtual Interviews Different

How to Prepare for a Virtual Interview

Technology changes the interview experience in several ways.

Because the interview happens online, its easier to schedule the event. There are also fewer logistical challenges for hiring managers. No one has to set up an interview room or ensure theres enough space when interviewing a large number of candidates.

Another change is who can be involved. Virtual interviews dont just enable anytime-interviews with candidates located anywhere in the world. You can also involve more hiring managers or recruiters on the video call, which can streamline the hiring process.

One downside of not being in-person is that while you can see facial expressions and some body language in a virtual interview, you dont get the full picture. This can make it more difficult for hiring managers to gauge someones interpersonal skills. It can also make it harder for interviewees to interpret reactions.

Also, if youre interviewing at home, there could be unique distractions you wouldnt normally deal with in an office, like a pet barging in for attention or family talking in the background.

Lets look at what steps you can take to ensure the interview is a success, despite being entirely virtual.

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Prepare For These Online Interview Questions Related To The Pandemic

You are likely to be asked some online interview questions related to the COVID pandemic. The world of work has changed and this will be referred to in your interview. Here are some pandemic-related interview questions that you can prepare for ahead of your online interview:

How have you adapted to working from home?

What have you found to be your greatest challenge during the pandemic?

How have you handled stress associated with the pandemic?

What have you learned about yourself ?

What To Do After A Remote Interview

The best thing to do after an interview â a remote interview included â is sending your interviewer a thank-you note for their time and help. You can send a thank you via email and should hit send within 24 hours of the interview.

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.

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Why Do Recruiters Use Virtual Interviews

Both recruiters and jobseekers alike can benefit from virtual interviews. For recruiters, it allows them to access the best talent from all over the world, without requiring companies to spend time and money on travel.

For jobseekers, there are similar gains, as they can apply for a job in another location without having to travel until they know theyve been hired .

How Common Are Virtual Interviews

How to prepare for a Virtual Interview

Meeting with candidates virtually has always been a useful way to interview prospective employees who dont live locally. During the pandemic, virtual interviewing skyrocketed. An April 2020 poll conducted by Gartner revealed that 86 percent of organizations are incorporating new virtual technology to interview candidates because of the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Even after the risks of COVID have passed, virtual interviews are likely to become the norm. A 2021 study commissioned by HireVue found that 41 percent of over 1,100 hiring leaders plan on using a combination of in-person and virtual hiring practices.

There are a few potential reasons for this.

One, organizations are adopting new technology. So, they have the tools to conduct productive interviews.

Another factor is the increase in remote work in general. With more people working remotely, at least part-time, including hiring managers, all types of meetings are being held online. These meetings include interviews, training, onboarding, and employee reviews.

And the third reason is practicality. Moving the interview online is less expensive and more convenient for everyone. You get the same face-to-face conversation without the costs of travel.

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Tips To Nail A Virtual Job Interview

Remote hiring is here to stay. The benefits of having access, speed, and ease are unrivalled, but you need to do your bit to ace this relatively new process. Based on research by the authors, here are ways to set yourself apart during virtual interviews.

  • Set up your space. Have a clean, uncluttered background and check your lighting so its falling on you, not behind you. Make sure to do a speed test so technical lags dont break the flow of your conversation.
  • Prepare for the unexpected. Master the platform youll be using for your interview and keep notes handy, lest you forget to call out an important accomplishment.
  • Rehearse before you go live. Monitor your pace so its easy for everyone to follow and use hand gestures and keep an open posture.
  • Spark conversations. Go beyond the usual small talk and ask questions about the team, the culture, or undertake pre-work to find common interests with your recruiter.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here.

If youre job hunting right now, chances are youre also interviewing remotely.

There are some serious upsides to this. You can avoid tardiness , reference notes without being too obvious, and if youre located in a rural area, you now have access to the same opportunities as city dwellers, saving you $$$.

Through our latest research on remote hiring, we wanted to know, given these pros and cons, how can job candidates really stand out during the virtual interview process?

Benefits Of Holding Virtual Interviews Over In

The primary benefit of holding a virtual interview during this time is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to keep yourself, your employees and potential candidates safe. However, there are other benefits that come with conducting interviews virtually. Virtual interviews are a convenient interview method because they require much less preparation for both the interviewee and the interviewer. Holding virtual interviews can help candidates feel more comfortable, allowing them to offer more natural answers. Virtual interviewing allows you to accommodate a variety of schedules. For example, if a candidate currently has a full-time job, they may be unable to travel to your workplace for an interview during normal working hours. Virtual interviews can allow you to speak with candidates all over the world. This is especially important if you are looking to hire for remote positions or a position that is not in your home office.

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Remember To Stay Responsive After You Wave Goodbye

After you end your call, be sure not to ghost your interviewer. Download the Handshake app to ensure that you respond to recruiter messages promptly, and check your email at least twice per day to stay abreast of any outreach or next steps that might land in your inbox!

With these tips in your back pocket, youll have all the keys to succeed in your video interview. Now all you have to do is find the right opportunity! Check out this helpful advice for finding a job or internship online, and discover ways to make the most of a remote internship once youve got an offer.

Ensure You Have A Fast Reliable Internet Connection

Get Hired! 5 Ways To Successfully Prepare For A Virtual ...

If a tree falls in the woods, does anyone hear it? If a new scientific breakthrough is shared on a crummy connection, is it still brilliant?

A poor connection means you risk unclear audio on the call, which is a real deal breaker. No matter what excellent preparation you do for the call, if your interviewers canât hear you or if your video freezes, youâre cooked.

In case youâre curious about your internet speed, sites like Speedtest are great for measuring your bandwidth. Itâs also a good idea to close out of any other programs that might be slowing down your computer or hogging data before your interview starts.

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How A Virtual Interview Is The Same

The typical interview process usually entails multiple steps. First, there is an initial screening, which usually lasts only thirty minutes. It’s purpose is to make sure that you are a real candidate and fit the basic requirements and actually want the job.

In the second round interview, the candidate is assessed for their technical skills. Finally, sometimes combined with the second round or sometimes as a different step, the candidate is assessed for their fit with the firm.

Now this process, hasn’t changed with the introduction of the virtual interview. This format may be for basic screening purposes or for final selection. Depending on the format, focus your preparation on the same core areas. Identify critical topics based on the job description. If you can, gather insider information so you can ace the interview. And also, use the tools of persuasion to prepare more effective interview answers.

Extra Tips For A Virtual Interview

  • Practice by recording yourself on video and play it back to check audio and video quality.

  • Be yourself, don’t let technology prohibit you from letting your personality show.

  • Don’t say anything you wouldn’t want to be repeated during the interview as it may be recorded and shared with others.

  • Use the mute button as you see fit, particularly if random noises occur during your interview when the other person is speaking.

  • Set the name on your profile to your full name, include your pronouns and double-check that your profile is up-to-date with location and other information.

  • Consider wearing earbuds during the interview so you can be heard clearly and so you can hear them clearly.

Virtual interviews give you an opportunity to practice your interview technique without having to travel. Being open to participating in them may open more doors for your future. For more help with interviews, you can contact the Office of Career Services at GGU.

Join a strong community of military veterans and their family members by connecting with other students at GGU.

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Positioning Yourself In The Webcam

  • Place the webcam at eye level so that your head and upper torso are visible.

  • Dress as you would for an in-person interview.

  • When the interviewer is talking you can look at the screen. When you are talking look at the webcam to simulate direct eye contact.

  • Make sure that the background is neat and appropriate since the employer will see that on the screen.

  • Test your lighting to ensure your face is well-lit and there is no bright light behind you. Experiment to find the most flattering lighting and seating position.

  • Ensure that there is no background noise, like a barking dog, or other interruptions.

Overcoming Potential Challenges During Your Virtual Interview

How to prepare for your virtual interview at PwC
  • Before the interview, ask the interviewer for a phone number where you can reach them if you experience technical difficulties. If the video cuts out, call them at that number. Ask if you can continue the interview by phone or if you can reschedule.
  • If noises interrupt your video interview, apologize for the interruption and ask for a few moments until the noise has subsided. You may want to mute the microphone if the noise is severe.
  • If family members, housemates, or pets enter the room while you’re interviewing, apologize to the interviewer, ask for a few moments, mute your microphone and turn off your camera, and then step away to deal with the interruption. Make sure the room is secure before beginning the interview again.
  • As with any job interview, you should conclude by thanking the interviewer for their time. Send a follow-up thank you email later that day . This message may help build a stronger connection with your potential employer and help you progress to the next step.

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Home / Blog / Today Interviews Are Virtual Are You Prepared

Unfortunately, the global COVID-19 pandemic is here, and it seems that it will be for some time. The new normal is a remote working environment and physically meeting people as little as possible. Companies have had to change how interviews are held under these new conditions and physical distancing guidelines. One way they are continuing business as usual is using video conferencing tools like Zoom and Skype in lieu of in-person interviews.

In-person interviews were challenging enough, but today you not only need to prepare for the interview itself, but also ensure you have set yourself up for success and are putting your best face forward.

Here are some tips on how to prepare for a virtual interview:

Explain Any Long Pauses

Because of the various limitations of video calls, it might not always be clear to your interviewer what youre doing if no one is speaking. Tell them if youre pausing to write down a few notes, pull up some information for them, or even just formulate your answer to a question. This shows that youre aware of their experience while also reassuring them that no technical glitches have occurred.

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Find Common Ground With The Interviewer

Recruiters and employers like to hire people who they like. Itâs just a natural part of human nature. Boost your chances of forging a genuine connection and leaving a good impression by making strong eye contact, mirroring body language , and asking thoughtful interview questions when given the opportunity. If the interviewer attempts to make small talk, definitely take them up on it and use it as a chance to find something you have in common.

Rid Yourself Of Distractions And Background Noise

How to Prepare for a Virtual Interview: Q &  A

In advance of your video interview, make sure you have a quiet place to meet or record thatâs free of audio or visual distractions for both you and the interviewer. Nowâs not the time to find out if your dog likes to make unexpected Zoom cameos. Closed doors and windows make for successful, uninterrupted virtual interviews. If you live with roommates, family, or a partner, make sure to remind them youâll be doing an important interview.

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