Where To Do A Virtual Interview

Sticking To The Question

The key to giving a good interview is to be confident, concise and direct. That means you need to stick to the question rather than talking about something unrelated.

A great way to do this is to practice the STAR technique. The STAR technique is a way of structuring your answers so that all the important information is in your answer and nothing superfluous slips in.

• Situation Give the interviewer some context. Explain the project you were working on, who you were working with and what you were working towards.

• Task Then be a little more specific. Describe the specific task you want to highlight to the employer. This is where you explain what you were doing in particular. What were your responsibilities? What were your goals? What problem were you solving?

• Action Here you go through what steps you took to resolve the problem or challenge you were facing. Its key here that you focus on yourself. What actions did you take? Use I and not we as much as you can here. Teamwork is important, of course, but here you state what your role in that team was and what you did to help.

• Result Finally, describe what the results of those actions were. Be as concrete as you can here. What were the outcomes of your actions?

Practice delivering all your answers with the STAR technique so that it becomes second-nature, and feels comfortable and natural to use.

Think About Your Background

You probably wouldnt invite your future boss over to your house if it were strewn with socks, right? So dont let them see that on video! Find a clean, quiet area of your living space where you can take the call. Be sure to speak with any housemates in advance to ensure that nobody will walk behind you or make loud noises while youre in the middle of discussing your professional strengths and weaknesses.

You Might Struggle With Technical Difficulties

Job interviews are stressful enough for both you and the candidate. The last thing you want is a bunch of glitches and headaches to make the process even more complicated.

With virtual interviews, theres the potential of running into a vast assortment of technical problemsfrom connectivity issues to lagging audiothat can really throw a wrench into the interview and kick the level of nerves up a notch.

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Set The Scene And Minimize Distractions

While testing your technology, determine where to take the interview. Find a room with optimal lighting, preferably near a window, or a blank wall to guarantee youre the focal point of the conversation. Whether you sit on your living room couch or in your home office, tidy up your surroundings. Its hard to convince employers youre detail-oriented and organized when theres laundry visibly piling up in the corner.

Once settled, eliminate all distractions. Turn off the TV, silence your cell phone, and close any nearby windows to muffle neighborhood traffic.

Make Eye Contact And Be Mindful Of Body Language

One of the most often overlooked video interviewing tips for hiring managers is to use positive body language. Candidates can still see you, even if you are only visible from the waist up. The advantage of video interviewing is that you can also see yourself and adjust your body language accordingly, for instance by smiling more if you have a resting serious face, or sitting up straighter.

Basic instinct on video chat is to stare at the screen, but glancing at the webcam directly simulates eye contact. You should make a point to stare into the webcam from time to time, and nod to give the candidate further encouragement.

Also, try to avoid pulling up multiple tabs, checking your phone, and paying attention to offscreen events. Interviewees can notice the direction of your gaze and your perceived lack of focus. If distractions arise, address them and apologize briefly before refocusing your attention on the interview.

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Conduct Research On Candidates

Researching candidates is standard interview practice, and you should not skip this step in virtual interviews. Many online applications have fields for LinkedIn profiles, personal websites and portfolios, and Twitter or Instagram pages. Be sure to peruse the profiles and applications well before the interview, and give yourself a refresher before the call.

Another good idea is connecting on platforms like LinkedIn, whether by adding the candidate as a connection or encouraging them to follow the page. Even if you pass on the applicant for the current position, forging an ongoing online relationship can help you fill your recruiting pipeline for the future.

Most importantly, pull up the correct resume and application materials before the call starts. Having the resume on hand will help the interview flow more smoothly and will show that youve done your homework.

Question : Tell Us A Bit About Yourself

This interview question might sound simple but is always problematic to many interviewees. Majority of candidates fail to answer this common interview question correctly by giving irrelevant personal details.

So, if you dont want your answer to flop, then only mention key abilities and accomplishments that display you as the best person for the job. Start with your achievements and positively connect your skills and abilities. Moreover, make sure your answer is relevant for the position you are being interviewed for.

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Fiddle With The Camera

Virtual interviews can be messy especially when there’s a shaky video screen. Don’t mess around with the webcam too much, as it will leave your interviewers dizzy and distracted.

If you need to use a mobile phone for the video call, prop it up somewhere where it can’t rock or fall. Likewise, set up a laptop or webcam on a steady surface. This will save you from a lot of awkward movements during the call.

Send The Candidate A Virtual Interview Invitation Via Email

Send each candidate an invitation for the virtual interview to stay organized. The invitation should include the day and time that the interview will be held and all the information needed to access the software youll use for the interview. Be very clear about the format of the virtual video interview, so candidates know what is expected of them. For example, if the candidate will need an access code to log in to the interview, list this information in a prominent place in the email. Include how long you anticipate the interview lasting and add any additional documentation or information you want the candidate to have on hand during the interview.

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Prepare Like You Would For An In

Just because your interview is happening over Skype , doesnt mean its not a real interview. Other than preparations to travel to the interview, you still need to prepare the same way you would if you were going into the office. That means researching the company and role, preparing to answer common interview questions, and coming up with questions to ask your interviewer in return. Your interviewer is still looking for someone they can see themselves working with and who is passionate and knowledgeable about the role theyre applying tobe ready to show them why thats you.

Minimize Interruptionsbut Take Them In Stride If They Happen

Do whatever you can to cut down on the chances of being interrupted. If you can, set up in a room where you can close the door and inform anyone you share a space with that they shouldnt disturb you during your interview Check your space the day before for any unexpected distractions. You dont want to be caught off guard by an ongoing construction project, for example. And make sure you turn off or silence your phone or any other electronic device that might make noise and pause any notifications on your computer.

However, if theres a high chance of you being interrupted by something outside of your control, mentioning it at the start can prepare your interviewer and show them youre proactive. It can also help settle your nerves about the situation. For example, if you have a dog in the next room that might start barking, you can make your interviewer aware of that possibility.

Its not about erasing the fact that youre in your home. Its about being as professional as you can given the circumstance, Eonnet says.

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Virtual Interview Tips For Employers In 2021

You found our list of the best virtual interview tips.

Virtual interview tips are best practices for conducting online interviews. For example, streamlining the scheduling process, testing technology 15 minutes before the call, and remaining mindful of surroundings. The purpose of these tips is to help hiring managers appear professional and conduct insightful online interviews.

These tips can be implemented in applicant tracking systems, and at virtual career fairs.

This article contains:

• video interviewing tips for hiring managers
• best practices for virtual interviews
• Zoom interview tips for employers

Here is the list!

How To Setup A Virtual Background In Zoom Skype And Google Meet

Remote work is here to stay with the advent of Corona virus so be it an interview or a meeting you should leave a good impression when on a video call and having a background image free of clutter is one of the important steps to achieve that.

We will show you in Simple steps how to set a virtual background in Zoom, Skype and Google Meet. You can use some existing custom background images or live background images or Videos or put an individual image like your logo or even your resume image as the background to grasp the attention of the interviewer on your skills and qualifications.

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Streamline The Scheduling Process

Setting up interviews can feel like just as much work as conducting interviews. Finding a time that works for both parties can be a struggle, especially if time zone differences or current work schedules delay a candidates response.

To avoid wasting time, use an online meeting scheduling tool. Instead of emailing proposed times, candidates select an open slot from the choices provided. The scheduling software updates availability automatically. The program can instantly set up a video meeting and send invitations and calendar events to both parties.

Automating the scheduling process helps recruiters stay more organized. Plus, eliminating the administrative work frees up hiring manager to prepare for the interview.

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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Use The Computer For Reference

During the interview, you may want to refer to something that’s included in your CV or portfolio. However, it’s important to avoid clicking through your computer and searching through files while on the call instead, print them out to use them for reference. And if you need to take notes, opt to jot them down by hand instead of typing them up, as this will look more professional.

Tip : Dress For An In

Treat your online job interview exactly as you would if you were meeting the hiring manager in person.

You might feel more comfortable in the clothes you wear while working at home. But, wearing smart attire will put you in the right mindset for an interview.

This makes it easier to separate between your at-home and at-work personas. Consider items such as blazers, button-down shirts or blouses and smart trousers or skirts.

If you are not sure what to wear, you can check the company website to get an understanding of their work attire. Some firms may be more business casual. Others will be completely dressed down, with hoodies and baseball caps common at some tech companies.

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Question : What Do You Know About This Company

This interview question is much more about the companys vision or to test your understanding of that vision. It is to access how passionate and caring you can be about the company. And, to correctly answer this question you need to search for the company well in advance.

Present your understanding of the companys mission and what is your take on it. In your answer, you can use some of the high pitch keywords from the companys website.

How To Handle A Phone Interview

When the time comes, follow these tips for a successful phone interview:

• Take your time answering questions: Its perfectly acceptable to think about what you want to say before responding to a question, so dont be afraid to stop and take a breath to collect your thoughts before answering.
• Focus and listen: It can be easy to get caught up thinking about your half of the conversation and fail to listen to the interviewer. Focus on listening to what the interviewer is saying, and ask for clarification if you need to.
• Take notes: It can be difficult to remember what youve talked about after a phone interview , so jot down key points that you can refer to later.
• Be polite: Remember that a phone interview is no different than a face-to-face interview when it comes to etiquette, so keep it friendly but professional at all times.
• Keep your answers concise: Often, telephone interviewers are a quick way of judging your suitability for a role, so stay focused on the questions and keep your answers specific.

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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.

Speaking Clearly And Slowly

A really common problem for anyone whos a bit nervous about speaking whether at an interview, giving a presentation or just talking to someone is going too fast. Nerves can make you rush through what you want to say to get it over and done with. Dont let that happen.

This is a skill that will take practice. Get friends and family anyone who will listen to practice interviews and presentations with you. Really focus on speaking clearly and slowly.

This will make you come across as more comfortable, confident and professional.

Remember to let the interviewer finish speaking before you begin responding as delays in the audio could mean your response is misinterpreted as rude.

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Empower Your Candidates With Information

Remember all of that important groundwork you did for this virtual interviewsuch as testing your technology and finding a quiet space?

Things run even smoother if your candidates do those very same things.

A day or two ahead of your scheduled interview, send a simple guide to the candidate youll be interviewing.

This guide can walk them through things they should do to prepare for their interview, any dos or donts you want to fill them in on, and any other information you think is relevant.

• For example, do you prefer that they wear headphones?
• Is there a certain video chat app that they need to download?
• Do they need to be told to silence their computer notifications?

Outline everything that they need to do ahead of time. Not only will you calm their nerves a little bit, youll also set yourself up for a far more productive interview.

Need A Phone/video Interview Room

Rooms in CAPD E17-294 are available for students and postdocs to reserve for participating in virtual interviews. Our interview space is private, has a digital phone, WIFI, and is available Mon-Fri from 10am-4pm except on holidays and school closings.

• To reserve, please fill out our CAPD Room Request Form .
• Employers looking to participate in on-campus interviewing can reserve interview rooms and organize schedules through Handshake.

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Glassdoor Recruiters Answer Questions On How To Have A Successful Virtual Interview

How can I come across warm and personable through a video interview?

So, if you’re trying to come across warm and personable in a video interview, it’s really good to smile, use a lot of great eye contact, take your pauses, and also try to connect on a personal level. Right now, a lot of companies are doing video interviewing, so everyone’s in the same boat, and so you can talk about your personal experience right off the bat, and that way it’ll help with the conversation.

What should I wear to the video interview?

Can you go over proper video interview etiquette?

First, I would suggest doing a trial run before your interview, making sure the camera and microphone are all set up just so you don’t run into any issues during the interview. Next, I would make sure that the background is distraction-free, clean, and tidy, well lit, and in a functional space in your home or wherever you’re taking the interview from. And lastly, just to keep in mind that a video interview is just as important as an in-person interview. Good luck!

What are some tips for successfully completing a technical collaboration during an interview?