How To Introduce Yourself In An Online Interview
An online interview is similar to a phone interview or an in-person interview, but instead, it’s done over a video call online. Today, many companies are using platforms such as Skype or Zoom to interview potential candidates to see if they are a good fit for the company. Usually, they do it this way because it may be difficult for the parties to meet in person or because the company wants to get to know the candidate better before going to the expense of flying them in for an official interview.
While online interviews have many benefits, it can be awkward to introduce yourself via video camera and still give a good impression. A video interview introduction is different from other types of interview introductions. Luckily, there are many tips out there to help you conduct a strong introduction that will segue into what hopefully will be a very successful online interview.
The Approximate Interview Duration
Many hiring managers include the proposed interview duration to help you understand how the interview might proceed. Knowing this information is important, especially if you have other commitments. For example, if you’re looking for supplemental income, finding out how long the interview would last can help you plan your day.
Interviews Are Your Chance To Sell Your Skills And Abilities
They also give you a chance to find out if the job and company are right for you. Follow the tips here to ace your interviews.
Review common interview questions. Practice answering them with someone else or in front of a mirror. Come prepared with stories that relate to the skills that the employer wants, while emphasizing your:
- Strengths
- Willingness to work and flexibility
- Leadership skills
- Ability and willingness to learn new things
- Contributions to the organizations in which you have worked or volunteered
- Creativity in solving problems and working with people
Figure out in advance how well you qualify for the job. For each requirement listed in the job posting, write down your qualifications. This can show you if you lack a particular skill. Plan how you will address this in the interview so you can convince the interviewer that you can learn the skill.
Make a list of questions that you would like to ask during the interview. Pick questions that will demonstrate your interest in the job and the company. This might include commenting on the news you learned from the company website, and then asking a question related to it. Also ask questions about the job you will be expected to perform, like:
- What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
- How will my responsibilities and performance be measured? By whom?
- Could you explain your organizational structure?
- What computer equipment and software do you use?
- What is the organization’s plan for the next five years?
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Answer The Call In A Professional Manner And Introduce Yourself
To make sure you sound professional when answering the phone for your interview, start out by stating your name in an upbeat tone, and when the interviewer states who they are, confirm that you were anticipating their call. This way, the interviewer will know who you are and that they reached the correct individual. Additionally, check that your voicemail greeting is professional and clear in case you are unable to answer the phone.
Example:“Hello, this is Gemma Rutherford. I’ve been looking forward to speaking with you, Ms. Anderson.”
Take Notes And Ask Questions
Take notes and ask questions during your phone interview. For instance, take notes on specific requirements for the job or additional resources to help you prepare for the role if the interviewer mentions them. Similarly, if something is unclear to you, ask the interviewer about it. You can add their clarification to your notes for later reference.
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Do Some Background Research
Before conducting an interview, research any information related to the topic of the interview. You can also research the background information of your interviewee so you know what questions to formulate. You dont want to sound ignorant, and some interviewees dont have time to explain everything. You may also see Interview Schedule Examples.
Example:
You will be interviewing a singer-songwriter, so do some background research about his work his songs and compositions. You can also gather information from what label he belongs and what kind of music is he an expert in. You can formulate your questions through your research. You may also see Job Interview Tips.
S To Prepare For Phone Interview
Just like anything, adequate preparation makes everything ultimately easier. Here are some tips on how to prepare for a phone interviewer.
Curate a list of candidates to call. Before any interview takes place, you have to review each applicants resume and cover letter to decide which candidate best fits the position. If a candidate has the required experience, theyre added to the shortlist. If the candidate does not make the cut, it may be best to send them a rejection email.
Define your objectives. Different jobs have their specific needs, a particular criterion thats non-negotiable for the job. This should be the main focus of your phone interview. Do you need a candidate with mastery of WordPress? A candidate with a masters degree? A candidate thats willing to work remotely etc.?
Remember, its not the interview. You may get carried away and think this is the primary interview. It isnt. A phone interview is just a peripheral before the main course. Do not ask the candidate questions that should be asked in the main interview. This is only to determine if the candidate is suitable for the main interview.
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Confirm The Details Of Your Interview
Before a phone interview can take place, make sure you confirm all the details of the interview with the organization. For instance, confirm the date and time that the interviewer plans to call you so you can be prepared ahead of time. Confirming the details of your phone interview also ensures that all professionals involved are aware of the schedule.
Keep Your Introduction Short And Concise
You’ll have an opportunity to introduce yourself on an in-depth basis during the interview. Many hiring managers will start an interview with an open-ended question like “Tell me about yourself.” The core of your response should focus on the key elements in your background that will enable you to excel in the job for which you are interviewing. Create an elevator pitch and practice it, so you’re comfortable describing yourself.
Carefully analyze the job before the interview, so you can point out the interests, skills, experiences, and personal qualities that will enable you to meet or exceed the job and company requirements.
Review answers to tell me about yourself questions. Learn the best ways to highlight your skills, experience, and personality without sharing too much information or taking up too much precious interview time.
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Questions To Ask Toward The End Of The Interview
This important step in the interview process is relatively easy and can be done in advance of the actual interview. Use the research youâve already conducted to formulate five to seven questions youâd like to ask at the end of the interview. Table 8.1 “Topics and Potential Questions” includes some topics and potential questions.
Table 8.1 Topics and Potential Questions
| Topic |
|---|
Introducing Yourself At A Video Interview
When you’re interviewing via video, be sure to arrive at the meeting slightly early, so you’re sure all your technology is in working order. Arriving late is one of the Zoom interview mistakes you don’t want to make.
Look directly at the camera, and try to keep your focus on the camera during the interview. That’s how you’ll make eye contact with your interviewer. The interviewer will start the meeting by introducing themself. After the interviewer’s introduction, you can reply with a simple introduction of your own:
- Hi. I’m Sylvia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
- Hello , I’m Katie, and I’m looking forward to talking with you.
- I’m Jason. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.
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As The Interview Is Happening
As the interview proceeds, your main concern should be to answer the interviewers questions thoughtfully. However, if possible you should also aim to weave in some of the following statements:
- Dont just say youre a match for this job: Say why. Review the job posting and match its requirements to your resume ahead of time to determine which qualifications are most valuable. Then, use examples of real-life interactions, success stories, and accomplishments from your past. Be sure to tailor your anecdotes based on the jobs specific requirements and responsibilities: Im a match for this job because
- Explain how you will add value : In previous roles, heres what Ive done and this is how I will add value to your company.
- Convey that youre a team player:I consider working with others to be one of my strengths.
- Suggest that you would plan on staying with the company:This role aligns with my long-term goals, and Id really like to continue to build my career at this company.
- Emphasize that youre eager to learn and develop yourself personally and professionally:Im always looking to build my skills, and Ive recently ____ which I think has really sharpened my edge in this field.
Greeting An Interview Panel
If there are several interviewers in the room, wait to be introduced. Smile and shake their hands confidently as you hear their names. Greet every one.Example:“Hello, Mrs. Young, it’s nice to meet you.”
Try to recall as many names as possible if there are no nameplates in front of them you will need to use them when you address them later.
Wait for an invitation to sit down. If the interviewer doesn’t direct you to a specific chair, you can position yourself in front of the interview board. During the meeting, keep your calm and friendly behavior. Take contact information. At the end of the interview, say clearly that you want the position you interviewed for.
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How To Introduce Yourself In An Interview
First impressions happen quickly. During the interview process, there may be several times when youll introduce yourself: at the front desk or reception area, to a recruiter, to the hiring manager and potentially additional interviewers. There are a few guidelines you can follow on how to introduce yourself in any interview setting. To help you navigate the process, we identify best practices when introducing yourself, followed by examples and tips.
The Night Before Your Interview
- Read through your notes, resume, cover letter, job description, company or industry summaries one last time.
- Know the route you will take to the location and how much travel time you will need.
- Build in additional time to ensure you are not late.
Youre ready! Get a good nights sleep to ensure that youre at your best on the day of the interview.
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Follow A Consistent Interview Structure
Putting a consistent interview structure in place can help your interviews run more smoothly by giving you a predictable format to follow for each interview. An example of an interview structure is as follows: introduction phase, standard interview questions, behavioral interview questions, final questions with an opportunity for the candidate to ask their own questions and the conclusion of the interview. Choose an interview format that works best for you and decide what will occur during each phase of the interview.
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Avoid Rambling And Remain Focused
For some, answering this question is like pulling teeth. For others, it’s fun getting to share and share and share some more! It’s best to find a happy medium. Consider ahead of time the highlights you’d like to cover when sharing about yourself and stay focused on those highlights during the interview. It’s good to provide your Tell me about yourself answer in under a minute or two only go longer if the interviewer has asked follow-up questions based on what you’ve shared.
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Star: Situation Task Action Result
STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Using this strategy is particularly helpful in response to competency-focused questions, which typically start out with phrases such as, “Describe a time when…” and “Share an example of a situation where….”
Read below for a more detailed description of the STAR interview response technique, and examples of how to best use it.
Tailor Your Answer To The Role And Company
When an interviewer asks that, they really mean tell me about yourself as its relevant to the position youre applying for and this company. I think theyre giving you an opportunity to articulate succinctly why you have the right qualifications, says Muse career coach Tina Wascovich.
Take advantage of the opportunity! In order to do that, youll want to spend some time combing through the job description, researching the company, and figuring out how you can tell your story in a way that makes it crystal clear why youre interested and what you bring to the table that aligns with the role and company.
This is the best chance to be very direct and share your objective. But your objective needs to fulfill their goals, says Muse career coach and recruiter Steven Davis.
For example, a client he worked with was leaving a job where shed worked on a team developing a new antibacterial cream and getting it ready for clinical trials. The new job she wanted entailed working on an entirely unrelated product, so the important thing for her to mention in this case was that prior to her current role, shed never had experience working on antibacterial creams and was able to come in and figure out how to move the process forward, just as she could do in this new role.
Generally the that always resonate with me show that they really get the role, she says, as well as why they applied. I get more engaged because I can see that its going to go somewhere.
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Examples Of How To Answer Tell Me About Yourself In Interviews
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In this article, Im going to walk you through steps and examples of how to answer the Tell me about yourself interview question to impress employers and get more job offers.
Well also cover the costly mistakes you NEED to avoid if you want to pass this question.
Heres exactly what youre going to get:
- The most-recommended method of how to answer tell me about yourself
- 4 examples of good answers to tell me about yourself
- A shorter, newer method for experienced candidates
- How to practice your answer to make sure youre 100% ready for the interview
Lets get started
Answer The Phone Professionally
You want to be right near your phone at the time of your phone interview conversation so that you dont miss the call. If you are using a cell phone, make sure its charged and that you get good reception where you are. When the phone rings, pick it up in a timely manner. You dont need to jump to answer on the first ring, but dont let it almost go to voicemail. When you answer, state your name clearly and pleasantly to let the interviewer know that she’s reached the correct person.
Examples:
Hi, this is John Jones.
Hi, this is Rebecca Andrews. Is this Mr. Roy?
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Ask The Right Questions
A major component of a successful job interview is knowing which questions to ask. There are several different types of interview questions you can use however, the specific questions you ask should be based on the job and the information you wish to learn about your candidate. The following are a few of the most common types of interview questions:
- Situational/hypothetical questions
How To Start A Conversation In An Interview
Related
Your interview starts the moment you enter the building. Use the minutes leading up to the formal start of an interview to demonstrate the exceptional verbal and interpersonal communication skills touted in your cover letter. Your ability to engage in interesting small talk and to connect on a human level will impress potential coworkers and your future boss. Be ready to initiate friendly conversation on a deeper level than the weather.
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Follow Up After The Interview
No introduction is complete without a goodbye. After your interview has ended, follow the lead of your interviewer: stand when they stand, shake their hand again and thank them for their time with a smile. You can prepare to say a few phrases that will end the conversation on a positive note, like,
- It was a pleasure meeting you, I appreciate your time today.
- Thanks for a great conversation, hope you enjoy the rest of your day.
- It was great to hear more about your role here, I hope to be in touch in the future.
If you have multiple rounds of interviews, be prepared to stand and greet your next interviewer, repeating the steps above.
After youve had some time to process and review your interview notes, remember to send timely follow-up notes to your interviewers, whether that be via email or handwritten. Sometimes recruiters dont give out interviewer emails, so be sure to ask for their business card or ask the recruiter if they can pass a thank you message to the interviewer. If youre sending handwritten notes, an easy way to get them to your interviewers is to send to the office address under their name.
Here are a few additional considerations for making a great first impression.
