Have you been asked to participate in a video interview? If you haven’t yet, you will be soon – whether you are a jobseeker or a current employee. More and more companies are turning to online video technology to conduct interviews for their open positions. While many of the same concepts apply, there are ways to approach a video interview that may be different than what you’re expecting. Let’s look at some of the ways you can rock your next video interview, impress the employer, and land that job!
Test your equipment ahead of time.
First, find out which video conferencing service the employer uses. The most common are Skype and Google Hangout. Be sure to install any necessary programs before the meeting and do a practice run with a friend at least an hour before your interview. This will give you a chance to fix any glaring issues. While technology issues happen, the negative first impression made from not being able to conduct the interview on your end will be a difficult obstacle to overcome.
Prepare necessary notes.
It is completely acceptable for you to have notes available during the interview. Prepare them ahead of time and keep them at the space where you will be conducting the interview. If you had an in-person interview, it’s acceptable to have notes on the job description or your resume sitting next to you on the table. A job interview isn’t a closed-book test.
Remove all distractions.
You need to treat a video interview exactly like you would a phone or face-to-face meeting. Set up your computer in a quiet room where you won’t be interrupted by family or pets. Turn off your phone and close out of any internet browsers you were in, especially distracting sites like Facebook. More than likely, the phone interview won’t last very long so you can give undivided attention for 30 minutes.
Dress to impress.
Another way to treat the interview like any face-to-face meeting is to pay attention to your clothes. Sure, the interviewer probably won’t see more than your shoulders up, but a professional wardrobe will put you in the right mindset for the interview. Wear exactly what you would wear to a traditional interview.
Look at the camera and pay attention to body language.
Many job seekers aren’t’ sure where to look when they’re doing an interview. Some look at the eyes of the video image and others at their small image to see what they look like. The best way to really engage with the person on the other side of the interview is to look at the camera directly, similar to your eye contact behavior for an in-person interview. Also, make sure you keep your body language and visual cues in check throughout the conversation.
If you work with us, you’ll deal with the same people for years to come. Our staff is heavily involved and invested in our company. We dedicate ourselves to building partnerships with all parties. Contact NRI Staffing today, to work with one of the top staffing agencies in DC.
