What Is A Digital Interview Like
Youll have a minute or two to read and contemplate a question, then another couple minutes to answer it while a camera records you.
Typically, a company will give you a time frame to complete it on your own. During the interview, some organizations provide one redo if you mess up, others unlimited tries, depending on who it is.
Practice Calling On Zoom
Arrange to call a friend or family member using Zoom. Practice using all the features, including mute, screen sharing and raising your hand.
Ask whether your friend/family member can see and hear you, adjusting the lighting and sound settings as needed.
If they report hearing an echo, Zoom has an audio echo troubleshooting guide. This will guide you through how to fix the problem.
Use Engaged Body Language
Similar to the power poses, using engaged body language during the interview is going to help you answer with confidence and energy. Even if the call is just over the phone, the right posture will help you sound more friendly, open and sure of yourself.
On the flip side, slouching can cause you to feel tired and want to be done. Crossing your arms or your legs will look like you arent fully engaged and can actually cause a kind of mental block that makes it hard to really take in the information.
Pro Tip: Make sure you are sitting up straight with your shoulders back and head up. This is something you will want to practice when you are getting your spot picked out. Make sure that your computer or camera is positioned at eye level, so you dont have to lean over or duck down to get in the frame. You may need to place it on a box or stand to get it to the perfect height.
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Ensure You Have A Fast Reliable Internet Connection
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.
Rid Yourself Of Distractions
Virtual interviews come with a slew of distractions you wouldnt normally have to deal with when you travel into an employers office. Be sure to do what you can to eliminate these potential interruptions on your end prior to beginning the video call.
Turn off the TV, silence your cell phone, and close the window to muffle any honking horns or blaring sirens. While you cant plan for every distractionparticularly if you have childrenthe more prepared you can be, the better.
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Why Have Video Interviews Become So Popular
With the increasing quality and reliability of affordable video conferencing software and hardware , video interviews have become a common method for assessing candidates.
According to the Institute of Student Employers, in 2018 49% of their members used video interviews as part of their recruitment processes. Thats basically a one in two chance that youll need to take one for each job application.
There are plenty of reasons as to why theyve risen in popularity so much:
With that said, there are, of course, downsides to video interviews. They can be time-consuming to watch back and analyse, and that usually has to be done manually . Also, suitable candidates who are unfamiliar with or not suited to video interviews might be scared off.
After Your Online Interview
Just as with an in-person interview it is essential to follow up after your online interview with a well written interview thank you note or email to your interviewer.
Wait for a reasonable time period to lapse and then be proactive about following up on the progress of your job application with an interview follow up email
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Get Comfortable With The Setup
No matter what type of format or technology will be used, it’s a good idea to practice with a friend beforehand.
It often takes a few tries to get the hang of angling the camera so that your whole face is in the frame.
Youll want to find a flattering angle and practice making eye contact with the interviewer via the camera. Newbies tend to stare at the part of the window with their own video image instead of looking into the camera, which can appear odd, not to mention disengaged.
Mock Interview With A Career Counselor
A career counselor is an individual who gives professional advice to those seeking to advance their careers. Conducting a mock interview with a career counselor can provide you tips and tools to use later when speaking with an actual hiring manager. This is helpful if you’re interviewing for your first professional job or internship, as you will gain a good introduction to interview etiquette.
Check the professional background of your career counselor before scheduling your mock interview with them, so you can see if their experience matches with the job you’re seeking. A career counselor is also a good source for expanding your professional network to build more connections to lead you toward more job opportunities. Schedule a time to meet with them to begin building an ongoing relationship.
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Examples Of Interview In A Sentence
interviewsinterviewsinterviewinterviewsinterviewinterviewsinterview ajcinterview Varietyinterview Rolling Stoneinterview USA TODAYinterview Los Angeles Timesinterview alinterview NBC Newsinterview Essence
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘interview.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Bottom Line About Video Interview Preparation
Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and the other video platforms are relatively simple to use, but you might need to take some time and practice to make your video look and sound clean. Prepare for your interview well ahead of time and you wull look good to the hiring manager, and save yourself a whole lot of stress.
If your field is IT, the standard is higher. Employers expect IT professionals to have technology that works flawlessly.
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Mind Your Body Language
Maintaining good eye contact is crucial during any job interview, but its especially important during video interviews. Your camera should be at eye level. It won’t make a good first impression if you are seen as looking down or looking up when speaking, Palmer says.
Dont forget to nod and smile when its appropriate. You dont want to sit there rigidly, locked into place, without moving, says Skillings.
How To Ace Your One
Youre most likely very familiar with the traditional job interview where you meet with a recruiter or hiring manager face-to-face in their office. Nowadays, companies are implementing video interviews into their hiring process to better and quickly connect with candidates. The one-way interview, in particular, is used by many Spark Hire customers for the early stage of their interview process.
Below are answers to questions that you may have about your one-way interview so you can fully prepare and ace it:
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Write Down 5 Questions Beforehand
Prepare by doing some research on the company and industry. Try to think of five good questions that arent about salary or benefits
You want to think up five in case some of them are naturally answered along the way. Most interviewers ask at the end if you have questions and having two or three questions to ask will show youve put thought into this.
Pro Tip: Ask questions that show you would be an engaged and valuable member on the team, ready to get to work as soon as you are hired.
What Is A Mock Interview
Facing a potential employer in the interview setting can be a challenging, and sometimes even intimidating, step in the hiring process. Faring well in the interview is crucial for hiring, so being as well prepared as possible is key. One preparation tool that often proves useful for behaving with grace during the real interview is the mock interview.
The mock interview simulates the real-life interaction between you and the hiring manager. The person or persons who help you can advise you on your behavior and test you with questions you may face during the real thing. In this article, we outline what a mock interview is, options for mock interviews, how to prepare for mock interviews and examples of mock interview questions that can be asked while preparing for a real interview.
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Tell Me About Yourself Interview Answers
After the initial introduction, the interviewer will likely begin the interview by asking you to elaborate on who you are and why you’re interested in the position. In many cases, they will do this by saying, Tell me a little bit about yourself. When you answer this, its important to make sure your answer is directly related to the job for which you are interviewing. For example, this is not the time to discuss your hobbies or the name of your pets, unless you’re applying for a dog-walking position.
You can start by highlighting the strong suits or skills that should be emphasized for the specific position you’re applying for. If you are applying for a manager position, briefly explain your job history and something unique about you that would make you a good manager.
For example, say something like, _”_I’ve worked as a manager for the last five years. There are many things I like about the job, but what I enjoy most is being able to take on a leadership role at a company by advising others on their day-to-day tasks.”
How To Prepare For An Online Interview: Before The Day Of Your Interview
With virtual interviews, there are many things to consider prior to the day of your interview that you dont need to think about for an in-person meeting. Below are some things you can do ahead of time to make sure your online interview goes smoothly.
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Put Your Technology To The Test
As mentioned above, do at least one full test call with a friend beforehand ideally, at least a few days before your interview to make sure everything works. Ensure that your computer has all the latest updates installed and that your Zoom is up to date.
If there are other people using the Wi-Fi in your home, you may want to ask them to stay offline during your interview. If your signal is sometimes iffy, you might also consider purchasing a Wi-Fi booster to ensure your connection is stable. Log on an hour before your test to make sure you dont need to install any last-minute updates. During your interview, keep an eye on the details, like ensuring your screen name is displaying your first and last names and that theyre spelled correctly.
Although it might feel awkward, its important for you to practice out loud, record yourself during your test run and then watch it. This isnt just to get comfortable with the technology and ensure that you can be seen and heard with ease, but also to prepare when things to go wrong. Because they will.
How Are Virtual Job Interviews Different
If you are preparing for a job interview , you may be wondering how virtual interviews differ from in-person interviews.
Job interviews have always been daunting for employees of all experience levels because they include a fast first impression and could put you on the spot to prove yourself. There is an even higher chance for things to go wrong if your prospective employer wants to chat face-to-face online.
Not only do you face potential connection issues or tech problems, but it can be harder to read someone virtually. You will have to change some of the things you think about during the interview. For example, women wont have to worry about whether they should wear flats or heels, but they will have to worry about sitting in a space with adequate lighting.
You may find the format is different as well. Depending on the type of online interview you are participating in, there are some instances where you are just recording your answers instead of conversing with a live person on the other end. This can be stressful for some candidates. Just remember that being brave enough to take the plunge and show initiative during an unfamiliar interview process is already a positive step in the right direction!
Going through an online job interview for the first time can be scary, but we are here to help! Here are 15 tips to help you succeed:
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Tips To Prepare & Dress For Your Video Job Interview
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Skype and Zoom have made it so easy to video chat over PCs and mobile devices that more employers are using video to replace some in-person interviews, especially with the pandemic.
It makes sense: From the companys point of view, a video conversation can save both time and money, very similar to a phone interview but providing a view of the candidate.
And, of course, the Coronavirus pandemic dramatically increased the use of video interviews, making video interview skills more important for job candidates.
Video interviews provide a convenient way for hiring managers to have an initial conversation with a candidate, before committing to the time and expense of tests and additional interviews.
Also, recruiters say that, as the competition for talent becomes more intense in technology centers like Boston and San Francisco, companies there are becoming more open to the idea of hiring remote workers in secondary markets. Clearly, the pandemic has increased that interest.
Video interviews are an invaluable tool for screening those candidates.
Candidate Experience And Online Interviews
Many companies worry that the online interview feels too impersonal and can ruin the candidate experience. The candidate experience is an essential factor to consider throughout the hiring process. It can impact your employee retention and your employer branding a candidates first-impressions are formed early on and will affect their decision-making down the line.
When managed properly, candidates report that online interviews are actually more enjoyable than in-person interviews. Digital interview tools help move the hiring process along more quickly, and job auditions can keep candidates engaged from early in the hiring process.
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Light Colored Jacket And Pants
Not sure if the company you’re interviewing at requires a business casual, or business formal type of dress? Find the middle ground with a light-colored or khaki blazer and coordinating pants.
A khaki blazer is less harsh than a black or grey suit coat. It’s a great piece because it straddles the boundary between business casual and business formal. It’s adaptable, too: Worn with a tie, it skews business formal, but when it’s worn without a tie, it’s a solid option for when you aren’t quite sure of the dress code.
How Do You Prepare For One
Digital interviews are like any other interviewyoull want to be rehearsed on all your basic interview questions, as well as personal stories in case any behavioral questions come up. But there are other things you can do to be prepared for the video aspect of it:
- Take out a timer and actually give yourself two minutes per response. If you go too long, consider cutting out the fat, or parts that dont directly answer the question.
- Have a friend mock interview and evaluate you. Dont have anyone? Mock interview yourself.
- Practice your speech over your computer camera. Youll get comfortable with seeing your own face instead of an interviewers, plus youll also spot whether you need to sit up straighter or shift your gaze less.
While digital interviews can seem a bit overwhelming, I hope this will remind you that its not much different than any other kind of interviewand a bit of preparation is all it takes to get to that more comfortable in-person round.
Fast Company
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What Can Do You Better For Us Than The Rest Of The Competition
This question allows you to sell your abilities and any contributions you can make to a company’s culture. Review your past accomplishments and see where you can mention them in your response. List the most important contributions first then before moving onto other duties you’ve performed throughout your career.
