Candidates: Being Video Interviewed During COVID-19
Digital interviews have been on the rise, and as coronavirus concerns continue to sweep the country, they will be used to an even greater degree. They can be faster, more cost-effective, and most importantly, safer, for candidates and hiring managers during these unprecedented times. As an candidate, here are some top tips and a few things you will want to avoid as you navigate this new reality.
Prepare just as you would for an in-person interview
You still have to do your research on the company and hiring manager. Consider your answers to common interview questions like why you are interested in the position and why you want to work for that specific company. Like you would for an in-person interview, choose what you will wear ahead of time so you are not scrambling to come up with something suitable a few hours before. Even though you will be taking the interview from home, it is important to dress for the position you want and look professional. If you are nervous about your video interview, make good use of any extra time you have by video chatting with friends or family to test out what the experience might be like.
Prepare your interview space
Not only do you need to prepare your mind, but you will need to make sure your space is suitable for an interview. First, make sure the room you will be interviewed in is quiet and has decent lighting. You also will want to test your video and audio connections a few times to ensure everything goes smoothly on the day of your interview. Last, make sure that your background is free of distractions. This may mean moving a few things around or angling your computer in a way so that interviewers can only see a blank wall behind you.
Use your body language
Even though you won’t be with your interviewer in person, they will still be paying attention to your body language. You will want to frame yourself from the waist up while on video and keep most of your body movement within the frame. Easy examples of positive body language include making eye contact, nodding in agreement, good posture, smiling etc.
Demonstrate your soft skills
When interviews are done online, it can be hard to exhibit your soft skills rather than just talking about them. Consider how you can demonstrate soft skills like social awareness, logical thinking, adaptiveness, and a willingness to share ideas through the process. We are all in this together, so be sympathetic and authentic if things don’t go exactly to plan. The process may be uncertain, there may be issues with technology and there may be misunderstandings due to distance, but the way you handle these challenges will speak to your character and affect your job opportunities.
Ask questions you normally wouldn’t
Generally, an interview process would allow you to go into the office space and get a feel for the place, meet your boss, peers, stakeholder etc. and see how they interact, assess how you were greeted when you came in. These factors, albeit small, add up to give you a pretty good idea of the day-to-day operations at your prospective company. Over video alone, this will be harder to assess, and you will have to make some allowances for that.
Send a follow-up note
Don’t forget to follow up on the video interview with a quick thank you note. Everyone is facing increased stress and hiring managers’ inboxes may be more full than before due to remote communications. Keep your note short, but don’t hesitate to show empathy in the note and try something a little different (like a thank you e-card) to separate your message from the others.
We’re all in this together, and the interview process must go on! Visit the Holyoake Search blog for more insights.