13 Ways to Ensure Your Online Interview is a Success

Online job interviews require just as much preparation as face-to-face or telephone interviews, if not more. Due to the added element of technology, the chance of something going wrong is increased, so it is important to do everything you can beforehand to ensure your interview goes smoothly.

These tips from NADIA Global Group will help to ensure that you are not caught off guard by any technical issues and that instead, your ability as a candidate shines through.

Establish a remote interview-appropriate environment

Firstly, consider where you are going to have your online job interview – will it be in your home office? Your bedroom? Your kitchen? Once you have decided on the most appropriate room, think about what the interviewer will see in the frame when looking behind you. Keep your background scene as clear as possible, as pictures on the wall or other objects can risk distracting the interviewer when their attention needs to be firmly on you. Also, make sure your surroundings are tidy and there is good lighting in the room.

Once you have set up your ‘interview room’, make sure you are not risking family, friends or even pets walking in while the interview is taking place. Let them know ahead of time that you have a job interview, and then close the door to keep out noise and potential distractions.

Learn about all the tools your video conferencing application has to offer

Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Webex have many functions that can be useful in an interview scenario. For instance, during the interview, you might need to utilise the functionality to share your screen or other files with your interviewer. So, prior to your interview, take a look at this article and familiarise yourself with all the tools Zoom, for example, has to offer.

Do a test video conference call the day before the interview

The day before your online interview is due to take place, organise a test video call with a family member or friend. This will ensure you feel confident using the technology, and that the camera and microphone both work. Run through some interview questions and answers and ask the family member or friend to provide you with any specific feedback.

Practise speaking your interview answers out loud and record yourself

It will probably feel strange doing this however, video recording yourself speaking your interview answers out loud is a great way to check for any points you may need to correct before the interview itself, such as looking down too much, poor body language, speaking too quietly or speaking too quickly. It also gives you a final opportunity to test your video conference settings, the lighting in the room and your body language. You definitely want to avoid suddenly becoming aware of these issues during the interview itself, and risk looking ill-prepared and unprofessional as a result.

Make sure your video conferencing account is professional

The first thing that your interviewer will see is your video conference profile photo and username, so ensure both depict you in a professional light. If you already have a personal video conference account, consider creating a separate account which you can use specifically for interviewing. You could even create a username associated with your profession, for instance, JohnSmithFinance.

Have notes and questions prepared

Before the interview, print off your CV and prepare questions to ask at the end. Prepare individual points to put to one side to use as springboards for conversation, or prompts. This will help limit the risk of being tempted to look down and simply read from your CV, thus not maintaining eye contact with the interviewer.

On the day of your online job interview…

Log in and get set up ahead of time

Generally speaking, it would be unusual to turn up to a face-to-face interview seconds before it is due to start, and the same is true for when you do an online interview. Make sure you start the program up and have everything in place at least 10 minutes before the interview start time. This will ensure you are ready and waiting when the interviewer dials in – the last thing you want to do is keep the interviewer waiting, and risk being perceived as unorganised and poor at managing your time.

Dress for success

Whilst you may be taking the online interview from the comfort of your own home, you should still dress as you would for a face-to-face interview. If in doubt, it is a good idea to dress as professionally as you can. Also, be aware of what clothing will be in the frame – for instance, if you decide to wear tracksuit bottoms and a shirt, you may regret it if you need to stand up!

Body language is crucial – even through the lens

First impressions are formed within the first seven seconds of somebody meeting you, so your body language has a powerful part to play in the opinion your interviewer forms of you as soon as they log in online. So, during your online job interview, make sure you look directly into the webcam when you speak and not at the screen – this will help maintain eye contact as though you were physically in the room with the interviewer. Maintaining eye contact will show the interviewer that you are paying attention and will help you build rapport – making conversation flow more naturally. Also, remember to sit up straight and smile to show the interviewer that you are a confident communicator and are engaged in the interview process.

Be engaged when the interviewer is talking

Remember that you are in a conversation, so you should show engagement when the interviewer is talking by nodding and agreeing. If you are not accustomed to online interviews, having to look through a webcam and at a tiny video conference window may feel unnatural at first. So, you should be careful not to come across as too static and unnatural in turn. Use hand gestures and animate your face and body in much the same way as you would in a face-to-face conversation.

Stay calm if the technology goes wrong

Despite all the preparation, practice and precautions that you may take for your upcoming online job interview, you may still encounter problems that require troubleshooting. For instance, you may have issues with your internet connection or your microphone may start to play up. It is important in these situations to stay calm. How you react when things do not go as planned here can reveal to your employer your ability to calmly and proactively tackle difficult situations. Have a look at these common problems so you have an idea what you might come up against during the call.

Follow up after the call

This final step is no less important than it is after a ‘regular’ interview. After the online interview is finished, send a quick email via your recruiter to say you enjoyed meeting them and learning more about the role and the company. Conclude the email by saying that you look forward to hearing from them and reinforce your interest in the role.

As technology becomes even more prevalent in many hiring processes, video interviews are in turn becoming increasingly common. If you’re looking for a job, it’s almost a given that at some stage in the very near future you’ll be asked to attend an online job interview. By following the above tips, and dedicating the time for thorough interview preparation, I have no doubt your online interview will be a success.

If you’re considering your next step, get in touch with one of our expert recruitment consultants for a confidential chat about the career options available to you. Alternatively, check out our latest expert tips from NADIA