10 Tips For Virtual Interviews

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Dress: Tahari ASL // Jacket: Ann Taylor (On sale!!) // Slingback Heels: Nordstrom // Headphones: Apple AirPods

Work life has changed drastically since Covid-19 happened and that includes how interviews are being conducted. Most jobs are now taking to virtual interviews which means the tips for in-person interviews don’t necessarily apply. For some they might find it easier but for other it might be a big challenge. Personally, I am a very in-person kind of person because I like to read the room, get a feel for the company and interact with others through the interview process. So when I have done virtual interviews I have had to dig for some tips on how to succeed.

Many of you have reached out to ask if I have ever gone virtual interviews and if I have any tips. For this post I wanted to round up the best tips I have to help you feel confident and prepared! If you have done virtual interviews and want to provide more tips in the comments below feel free!! There are so many people out there right now looking for jobs and doing virtual interviews, I think this would be a great place to help them out:)

1. Make sure you have a strong internet connection. While this might sound like a no brainer, it’s the first tip for me because if you can’t get online then you can’t attend the interview. For most of you, you will be in your home so you will know if you have a strong wifi connection. But if you are in a new place, then try FaceTiming/zoom meeting others to test it out. If you are concerned about the connection then try using your phone as a hotspot. Most iPhone’s have that capability now but know that it will use a lot of data.
2. Check your settings on the camera and microphone days before the virtual interview. Most computers now have built in camera’s and microphones but you will want to double check it all works. Some business, typically large companies, don’t always use Zoom, Skype (which most companies no longer use), or Microsoft Teams. They might have their own systems but for those they normally send out a link to test out your connectivity with their system days before hand. If they send you a Zoom, Skype or Teams link then make sure to have the software downloaded days before the interview. Once you have the software installed, you can test out your camera and microphone in the settings section.
3. Have a clean professional background. Do not have your bed in the background, dirty clothes lying on the floor or odd artwork. This will be distracting to the interviewer and it will take away from you. There are plenty of options for more professional backgrounds. Setup a table so your back is against a blank wall or use a virtual background through the Zoom/Teams software. You can simply search on google how to setup virtual backgrounds.
4. Dress up like it’s a in-person interview. This will help boost your confidence significantly and get you in the mind set of an actual interview. While the person interviewing you will not see your bottom half, they will see your top. I always recommend a blouse and a blazer. If it’s less formal, then just the blouse will do. Make sure you tidy your hair either left down or pulled back. I tend to pull mine back because I play with my hair a lot which makes me look nervous (even if I am not).
5. Know where to look during the interview. I thought this was so interesting because during an in-person interview you are always making eye contact. But during a virtual interview, you will want to look at the person on the screen. This will make it look like you are looking down instead of right at the person speaking to you. My recommendation is for the most part keep your eyes on the camera and then every once in a while look at the screen to see the person speaking.
6. Be early! Just like an in-person interview make sure to show up early. There is nothing wrong with being early. It shows you are eager to get to know the company, punctual, and you are prepared. For in-person interviews, I try and show up about 15 minutes early to the building. Make sure I know how to get where I am going and then walk in about 10 minutes before hand. For virtual interviews, I think 10 minutes is a good amount of time to get connected and make sure everything works great.
7. Interview the company as well. You are interviewing virtually so you don’t get to see the office, the people and the environment you will be working in. Ask them about their experience at the company, what the environment is like, how long have they been with the company, what is their favorite thing about the company and how have they been able to grow their career there. While getting the job is half of it, you want to make sure it’s a good fit for you. If it’s going to be a high stress job then most of the time they will say that because they want to see how you react. If it’s a fun casual environment they will share that it’s okay to wear jeans and the office is very modern. These are key pieces of information for you to get a sense of what the company is actually like.
8. Come with questions to ask the company that play on your strengths. While this does apply to in-person interviews, I think it’s still relevant to add to virtual interviews. Since you aren’t face to face and they don’t get to interact with you. Having a dialog will help the interviewer to see your personality instead of just going back and forth with questions. Best interview I ever had was when I simply asked the guy interviewing me about why he loved technology consulting. The interviewer and I had the best conversation because he was so excited to share why he loved it and why he had spent 20+ years doing it. Worst interview I had was when the conversation didn’t connect and it was just questions and answers for a full hour. I knew I wasn’t a fit for the company but they were such a big company that I just wanted in. Ultimately things ended up for the best.
9. Take notes during the interview. I always have a notebook with me. At the top I write my questions for the company and then at the bottom I write topics/key points throughout the interview. It’s helpful to go back and reflect on the information after the interview. Plus if there are multiple rounds of interviews then you can use some of those key points/topics during the next interview.
10. BE YOU! You are confident, you are strong and you are amazing. The person interviewing you wants to get to know YOU not some person you think the job needs. You have a personality and you do not have to be perfect the whole interview. Having confidence has not always been my strong suit and most of the time I fear talking in front of people. When I am speaking in front of people my heart is racing at the rate of someone doing a full cardio work out. But it is all about how you compose yourself throughout that makes the biggest difference. Being nervous is natural but use that energy to drive your confidence to the next level!