One of the new norms nowadays is... you guessed it! Zoom 🖥. Which means video interviews have become far more common, perhaps even a prerequisite in any interview process now. Below are some useful pointers to keep in mind.
Video interviews are slightly different from Video Q&A as you will be talking to a person during this interview process. So when it comes to prepping for a Video Interview, remember to do everything you would do for a Face2Face interview as you won't have the possibility to re-do your response!
→ Like any other interview process, you must prep for your interview! Which means doing research on the company and their product(s). Truly understanding what the company does and finding things to mention throughout your interview is super important, especially when you get asked basic questions, such as, "when was the company founded?", "what do you know about us?", etc.
→ Prepare questions to ask the interviewer. I know, I know... we keep on mentioning this everywhere, for every interview process, but it is truly very important because it shows that you are genuinely interested in knowing more about the company. So remember, don't ask questions about your wages/salary, perks or holiday!
→ Although you will be on a video call with the interviewer you can use not being there in person to your advantage, what we mean by this is that you can have some notes or prompts to help you in case you get stuck at some point. This will also make you feel more at ease, knowing you can look over your screen camera to the back wall with your notes!
→ Before you have your interview, make sure to practice and check the lighting of where you'll be sitting. You don't want to be frantically trying to sort these issues out on the day 5 minutes before your Video Interview, so to save yourself from the stress test this out!
→ Keep calm and have fun with it. Doing an interview over a video call can be very nerve-racking because you don't have the benefit of seeing the interviewers full body-language and so reading the person can be a bit difficult. Don't worry though, take your time answering your questions, there is no need to rush or feel overwhelmed by it all!
→ A Video Interview can be quite temperamental, especially on the day - because the universe likes sending unwanted surprises on important days! So, if you're having issues with your connection/internet be honest, we have all been there!
→ Dress the part! Just because you're on a video call doesn't mean you should look scruffy! Make sure to (at least...) dress up your top half in interview-appropriate clothing!
✅ Research the company & job spec beforehand
✅ Dress accordingly
✅ Conduct the interview in an appropriate environment
✅ Be present - remember, you're on camera!
✅ Ask questions
❌ Ramble, try and stay clear and concise
❌ Record in a noisy or disruptive environment
❌ Dress inappropriately
❌ Use bad language or slang in your answers
❌ Forget to check your webcam & mic are working