Sunday, March 17, 2024

How To Set Up A Zoom Interview

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Choose An Environment You Can Control

How To Set Up A Zoom H1 for Interviews

First, you want to control every aspect of your environment for the interview. You cannot do that from the front seat of your car, in a park or from shopping mall . If you book an interview and forget that youre supposed to take some little people to the soccer or the cat to the vet, its far better to reschedule than try to cram it all in.

Pick a quiet room in which to do your interview and consider the background. Choose something more interesting than a flat, blank wall however, ensure the background is also neat, tidy and uncluttered. Take a close look at the items that are in the frame. Is there some personal memento or piece of laundry you would rather not share with the interviewer?

Once youve decided on an appropriate location, its time to test your internet connection, the application you will use to connect with the interviewer, the sound, video and also the lighting.

Use Your Face To Show Youre Engaged

Nonverbal communication is important in any conversation. But when it comes to a video interview, a lot of the avenues through which we usually give nonverbal cueseye contact, body language, and small murmurs of agreementare cut off. So we have to lean more heavily on what we have left, namely facial expressions.

If youre in the room with someone, you can usually tell if theyre listening to you intently even if their face is not moving much . But everybody can look like a statue over video interview, Turner says. You shouldnt be so static that your interviewer has to wonder if youre still connected.

Short vocalizations arent the way to solve this problem here since on many common video interview platforms, only one mic can be used at once, Eonnet says. So while two people can speak simultaneously in the same room or over the phone, on a video call, your yes, definitely! can mute the other persons microphone momentarily, breaking up the flow of conversation and possibly causing you to miss key information.

Instead of saying mm-hm or yeah, nod or smile when youd usually speak. That way your interviewer still gets the feedback they need without your mic accidentally overriding theirs.

Failing To Gather Your Materials

Once youre seated in front of your computer, you should be able to reach everything you need to carry out a successful interview. Make sure you have all your interview materials, i.e. your resume, references, portfolio, etc., and that youre comfortable and ready to speak.

Although you shouldnt eat or drink during the conversation, you should have a glass of water at the ready in case of emergency.

Read Also: Questions To Ask Cfo During Interview

B How To Set Up A Zoom Meeting

Heres a step-by-step guide to set up a Zoom meeting easily:

1. For Desktop

A. Starting a Zoom Meeting

Step 1: Log in to your Zoom account.

Step 2: Hover your cursor over the HOST A MEETING link at the top-right corner of the screen, and select one of the following options:

  • With Video On
  • With Video Off
  • Screen Share Only

Step 3: The website will redirect you to the Zoom app and start a meeting. Here, you can edit meeting settings or copy the Invitation URL that you send to the attendees.

Note: You can also start a meeting quickly through the desktop app by following the instructions we list for mobile devices later on.

B. Adding Participants

Step 1: Start a new meeting on the Zoom desktop app.

Step 2: In the new meeting screen, click on the Invite button in the toolbar at the bottom.

Step 3: Here, Zoom will give you the options to either Copy URL or Copy Invitation. You can send these to participants via text, email or instant messaging.

Step 4: You can also directly email the meeting details through your preferred email client via the Zoom app itself.

2. For Mobile Devices

A. Starting a Zoom Meeting

Step 1: Open the Zoom mobile app and sign in to your account.

Step 2: Tap the orange New Meeting icon that appears on your screen.

Step 3: Edit meeting settings according to your preferences .

Once youre done, tap the blue Start a Meeting button.

B. Adding Participants

Step 2: In the Participants window that opens up, tap on the Invite option at the bottom left.

D How To Schedule Meetings

How to ace your Zoom job interview and set yourself up for ...

With a busy schedule, you can easily forget about appointments or upcoming business meetings.

Luckily, Zoom lets you schedule meetings in advance to avoid this!

You can schedule a meeting by setting:

  • Its date and time
  • Whether it requires a password to join or not
  • And more!

Heres a step-by-step guide to schedule meetings in Zoom easily:

A. For Desktop

Step 1: To schedule a meeting, head to the Zoom app and click on the blue Schedule button .

Step 2: Enter meeting details in the Schedule Meeting pop-up window that appears.

You can set its date and time, privacy and access settings. You can also select your preferred calendar to schedule the event in your calendar.

Quick Tip: Setting a meeting password can help avoid Zoombombing, which happens when someone who hasnt been invited to the meeting joins and disrupts it.

Step 3: Once youve adjusted preferences, click on the Schedule button at the bottom right of the screen.

B. For Mobile

Step 1: Open the Zoom app.

Step 2: Go to the Meet & Chat homepage and click on the Schedule button.

Step 3: Enter the meeting name, date and time and click Done.

Step 4: Zoom will redirect you or open another form for adding the event to your preferred calendar. Enter details like participant names and set the notifications into your calendar event, then tap Done.

You have now scheduled a Zoom meeting!

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Email Sample : Responding To Accept A Phone Interview Request

If youve applied for a job and the hiring manager or HR department has responded to your job application and invited you for a phone interview, heres a sample template you can use to respond.

Hello NAME,

Thanks for getting back to me. Id love to have a phone interview and learn more about the position and what youre looking for.

Here is my availability this week:

  • Tuesday Wednesday, 11:00 am 5:00 pm Eastern Time
  • Thursday Friday, 8:00 am 3:00 pm Eastern Time

The best number to reach me: 555-182-5872

If none of these times work, please let me know and Ill be happy to come up with some other options, too. I look forward to speaking with you.

Also, if youre able to tell me who will be calling, thatd be a big help. I always like to research and prepare ahead of time!

Best regards, Your Name

This is a great way of responding to an interview request because youre avoiding back-and-forth emails for the scheduling, and youre also finding out the person youll be talking to so you can prepare ahead of time!

Mute When You Are Not Talking

Have you ever been in a Zoom meeting with someone who had too much going on in their home? A barking dog, a loud child, an outside conversation it can be very distracting. But all they had to do was hit mute.

To avoid any unwanted noise from your environment coming through when youre not speaking, utilize the mute button! When you mute yourself, anyone else in the call wont be able to hear anything from your microphone. This is especially helpful if youre interviewing from a less-than-quiet environment or are dealing with unexpected interruptions and background noises.

Simply keep yourself muted at any point at which you arent speaking, and unmute yourself to answer questions.

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What Is A Zoom Interview Call

Many recruiters and hiring managers are moving to a virtual interviewing process, often conducting a Zoom interview call. A Zoom interview call uses a video conferencing software platform, called Zoom, that allows the interviewer and job candidate to hold a virtual meeting in real-time. The interviewer will send you a link via email that you will click on at the corresponding time for your interview. You will then be able to hear and see each other and complete the interview as if you were together in the same room.

Stay Focused On The Camera And Screen

How to Ace your Zoom Interview

Just as you would in a face-to-face meeting, be sure to look directly into the camera when answering questions or speaking to the interviewer. When the interviewer is talking, look at the screen, as if you are making eye contact. If you need to reference your resume or notes, you can easily have them below the monitor to glance at and stay on track. Be mindful of your facial expressions and gestures during your interview, and visually show your positivity and enthusiasm to express your interest in the position.

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

Also Check: What To Wear For An Interview Women

How To Schedule Zoom Interviews

  • Open Zoom.
  • Change the Topic text to: Zoom Interview:
  • Set the Duration for the interview.
  • Set the Video options for both the Host and Participants to off when joining the meeting, so both parties can individually turn on their Video upon arrival.
  • Simplify the meeting message to include only the Zoom meeting link and Zoom meeting ID.
  • Send the meeting invite to the interview candidate.
  • Video Tutorial: How to Schedule a Zoom Interview Meeting

    Sample Email To Decline An Interview Request/invitation:

    Hi NAME,

    Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate the invitation to interview. Unfortunately, Im no longer available and will need to decline. Best of luck in filling the role, and if I think of anyone who might be a good fit, Ill let them know about it.

    Best regards, Your Name

    You can also offer to stay connected in the future if youd like .

    And if youd like to offer a reason for declining, thats fine. But youre not obligated. If you feel like telling them that its because you accepted another position, or the job isnt quite what youre looking for anymore, etc., then go ahead.

    As seen in the email template above, you can also offer to refer a friend or colleague for the opportunity if you know someone who is qualified.

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    Skip Running Tests On Your Equipment

    A test call not only helps you familiarise yourself with the distinct features of Zoom but also allows you to detect problems before they affect a recruiter’s impression of you. Paying attention to these details can help your virtual interview go smoothly. Detecting technical issues well in advance gives you sufficient time to get your equipment fixed or replaced.

    Prepare Answers To The Most Common Questions

    6 Tips On How To Set Up For Your Next Zoom Interview ...

    Dont get so sidetracked by setting up the technology that you forget to prepare for the interview itself mainly, how you plan to answer the top interview questions employers ask.

    Also, think about any potential concerns they may have about your background in particular and how youll address those.

    For example, they may want to know why you left your last job so soon, or why youre looking for a different type of job than youve done in the past, etc.

    Anticipate the questions theyre likely to ask, practice your answers, and youll feel more relaxed in the interview.

    You can also record yourself delivering your answers in the environment that youve set up. Look at the video recording, see how you look and sound, and then make adjustments before going live on Zoom with the employer.

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    Not Carrying On A Real Conversation

    Even when theyre conducted in person, job interviews can feel like interrogations. The interviewer asks questions you answer them. You ask questions the interviewer answers them. Rinse, repeat. Video technology can exacerbate this problem by shrinking your visual field down to two screens and ratcheting up the tension with the threat of technical difficulties.

    To overcome these issues, remind yourself that a good job interview is a conversationno more and no less. You and the interviewer are not on opposing sides, but on the same team, working together toward a common goal.

    Focus on listening instead of waiting for your chance to speak. Youll demonstrate a valuable soft skill as well as communicating better and learning more about the job. Best of all, youll make a more positive impression on the hiring manager, which is essential to helping you land the job.

    Find The Best Lighting For Your Call

    Natural sunlight is the best option for lighting on video. Try to set up your computer near a window and be cautious of direct sun that may cause a glare. A suitable alternative is a brightly lit room. When you’re preparing for your interview, be sure that you have enough light in the area for the interviewer to see you well.

    Also Check: Interview Questions To Ask A Cfo

    Read Your Interviewer’s Instructions Carefully

    Review your interview invitation email for instructions on the date, time and any additional information on the interview. Note this down in your planner to ensure you’re prepared ahead of time. In this email, you may also see a meeting link you can click on the interview date to begin the interview. Store this in a safe location in your inbox to ensure you don’t delete this important email by mistake.

    Record Your Actual Zoom Interview

    How to LOOK GOOD on Video Meetings & Interviews | Zoom Skype Facetime

    Weve discussed recording your practice interviews, but recording your actual Zoom interviews can be just as valuable. After all youll be able to see your actual performance and how it differs from your practice sessions.

    You can see what the hiring manager sees and correct any issues. This is invaluable, after all you cant record an in person interview in order to improve it. With a Zoom interview, you can.

    IMPORTANT: Theres a chance the hiring manager has deactivated the record feature. So be ready for that.

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    What Is A Zoom Interview

    A Zoom interview is an interview for a job that is conducted through the Zoom videoconferencing platform. This particular platform includes several useful tools, such as text-based chat, muting, screen sharing and video recording. When a hiring manager sets up a Zoom interview, they will send you a link that you can use to access the meeting with your computer or mobile device.

    The interview process will be similar to what you would experience during an in-person interview. Those involved in the interview will likely ask you questions related to your experience and the position to determine if you are a good fit. Most interviewers use the video functionality during Zoom interviews to interact with you in a more personal way, so dressing appropriately and being prepared to be on video are important steps to take in the process of preparing for this type of interview.

    Related:18 Tips for Succeeding During Your Zoom Interview

    What This Post Is About

    Ive had pretty extensive experience with Zoom in the last year I planned and ran all of the Zoom programming for the AMWA Virtual Meeting, have been designing ACGME Zoom meetings, and Ive also been running Virtual Preop Call Program sessions over Zoom. To say Ive spent a lot of time on the platform is an understatement . So, Ive interacted with a lot of people on Zoom and have formulated some opinions on how individuals choose to present themselves on the platform.

    This post is meant to focus on your appearance on video conferencing platforms, most specifically, Zoom. Its meant to be light-hearted, sarcastic, and opinionated. Just remember that Im speaking for myself and NOT on behalf of an institution, or organization. These are just some of the thoughts that have crossed my mind and that undoubtedly have biased my opinion of the individuals I’ve met over the virtual platform. I am interviewing for both my medical school and residency programs, so if you encounter me as an interviewer, these are things Ill be thinking of.

    Ill also insert some general, unsolicited interview advice along the way, but make sure youve checked out my interview entry for more in-depth analysis of my interview tips.

    So, lets begin.

    Lets start with Figure 1. What do you see thats sub-optimal? Heres what I notice:

    So I purposely took this screenshot to highlight easy things that can be optimized when you setup your Zoom interview area. These are things like:

    Lets look at another:

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    Prepare For Interview Success

    Want to prepare for different types of interviews? Try this one-hour guided project, Preparation for Job Interviews, which covers common interview questions and best practices.

    Use this checklist to streamline your preparation:

    1. Double-check instructions from your contact at the organization, including the day, time, and timezone of the interview, the Zoom meeting link youâll be using, and other details.

    2. Charge your device and install the latest version of Zoom.

    3. Set up a free Zoom account if you donât already have one. Personalize the basic settings by adding a headshot and selecting your time zone.

    4. Pull up the organizationâs website, as well as your resume, cover letter, preparation notes, and other application materials.

    5. Sign in to the email account from which you applied for this position.

    6. Start a new Zoom meeting and test your internet connection and app settings. Adjust the audio and video settings to your liking. Add a virtual background, or blur the background if you prefer not to display your physical space. Practice using the mute button, chat feature, screen share, and video recording features.

    7. Leaving the Zoom meeting open, place your device where you will feel most comfortable conducting the interview. If possible, experiment with the roomâs lighting and angle your screen about 45 degrees from a light source to provide the clearest view of your upper torso and face. When the setup is to your liking, end the Zoom meeting.

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