10 Tips to Master Your Virtual Job Interview
We are about to reach a full year since the pandemic started, and so much has changed. As time passes, the world we live in continues to adapt to the "new normal." Companies that previously had strict remote work policies or had never even thought about the possibility of remote work had to pivot almost overnight to allow their employees to work from home.
And guess what?
It's worked well for a lot of industries. Companies like Amazon, Aetna, Twitter, Zoom, Microsoft, and Shopify, decided to let their employees work from home indefinitely, as long as their role allows them to. The longer companies and organizations continue to operate remotely, the more likely interviews will also continue to be remote -- again, depending on the type of industry and type of role you are applying to, of course.
If you are reading this, chances are it's because you are actively searching for a new job or preparing for a virtual interview. If you are embarking on a search, we recommend reading 'Best Places to Work in 2020' and 'Yes, You Need a Cover Letter' as a starting point. And if you are preparing for an upcoming virtual job interview, we've got your back! Check out the tips below to help you master your virtual job interview
10 Tips to Master Your Virtual Job Interview
1. Ask the recruiter or the person you are interviewing with which software platform will be used for your interview (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, FaceTime). It is important to know the technology you will need to use and get familiar with it.
2. Call into the meeting from your phone, use a headset, or connect a headset directly to your laptop for high-quality audio.
3. If you have no childcare, do your best to schedule the interview during nap time or a time that works best with your current schedule.
4. Find a place in your home where you feel the most comfortable and set up a temporary workspace free from distractions.
5. Schedule a test run with a friend to ensure everything is working correctly.
6. Prepare a list of questions ahead of time and have a copy of your resume ready.
7. Dress for the occasion. Yes, this is a virtual interview, but it's still an interview, so dress to impress!
8. Mute all device notifications to help minimize distractions on your desktop.
9. Be on-time. Make sure you are sitting in front of your computer at least ten minutes before your interview so you can clear your head and prepare, but do not join the meeting until the time you’ve been assigned. For example, if the recruiter told you the interview is at 9:00 AM, then be ready to join at 9:00 AM.
10. Speak slow and clearly, and be aware of your body language. Look into the camera and try not to stare at yourself (we know, it's hard).
Interested in seeing where companies stand in regards to remote work? LifeShack has put together a list of over 155 companies. You can search by name, or filter by remote policy type (remote-first, remote-friendly, temp remote). Check out the link below to keep up with the latest in remote work.
Credit: LifeShack
