5 Tips & Tricks for a successful virtual job interview

So far this year I have done 150+ interviews and added 20 SciLeaders to the team, and we are still recruiting! For many people these interviews are one of their first out of university, and for most people it’s their first fully virtual interview, so I wanted to give some tips and takeaways that I have learned in my time as Head of People and Culture.

If you are invited for an interview with SciLeads it normally consists of a 30-minute Zoom interview with me and the manager of the team you would be joining. I appreciate this can be a daunting task and often people want to know what they need to prepare for it, what to expect, and whether they should ask me questions at the end.

Here are my 5 universal tips for an online interview:

1 - Get tech-savvy.?

You don’t need to be a tech wizard (unless you are wanting to be one of our software engineers!) but you wouldn't believe how many people try and join the interview without the necessary app ready. You will never need to purchase any apps and at SciLeads we use Zoom, but other companies may ask you to join the interview via Teams or Google Meets. Either way, all of this software has desktop, web, and mobile apps available for free so check your meeting invite and get the app ready in advance.?

Quite a few times I’ve been waiting for a candidate to join the meeting and when they finally do they are flustered and say that they needed to download the app or they didn’t know how to work it, so save yourself the stress by getting your tech ready.

If you are using a new platform, before your interview take a few minutes to navigate the basics like joining a meeting, tweaking audio and video settings, and screen-sharing options if you need/want to share anything during your interview. I personally feel a laptop works best for online interviews but I appreciate that not everyone has one and so mobiles and tablets are fine too.?

Just make sure you’re somewhere with a strong/stable internet connection as video calls need more bandwidth and use more data. Of course, unexpected problems can happen like network connection issues or apps that crash but overall make sure you are familiar with the tech you’ll be using ahead of time.

2 - Location, location, location.

I mentioned above that you should be somewhere with a strong internet connection. But also consider your environment to help avoid distractions.?

I know (from experience!) that it can be difficult interviewing in the house with deliveries arriving, kids shouting, or the dog barking but if you can, select a quiet location where you won’t be interrupted and can speak freely about your awesomeness and why you’re the candidate for the role! And please only use a busy cafe with clinking cups and other conversations happening if you really have to.

If this was an in-person interview we would be in a quiet boardroom with no interruptions so try and recreate this atmosphere for the best interview experience.?

3 - 2, 1 … Action!

And just like an in-person interview, timekeeping is very important, so make sure you join the meeting online at the scheduled start time or a couple of minutes before. I often have back-to-back interviews so it’s essential to start on time. Be aware that the software might have a ‘pre-joining’ screen to check your audio is working and that your camera image is positioned correctly, so give yourself some time to adjust this.

I’m no cinematographer, but a pet peeve of mine is lighting and camera angles! Often I’m trying to get to know someone who is sitting in a dark room or is against a bright window that is casting them in shadow. Or I will only be able to see part of their face on the screen or they are sitting miles away from the camera.

Please try and position yourself in good light and with your head and shoulders clearly visible on the screen. I’ve captured a couple of images below to illustrate this:

Oh, and make sure you are speaking into the microphone or you have a headset!

4 - Prepare and practice your responses.?

We can all get a little bit tongue-tied in new/stressful situations or when the focus is put on us so it’s a good idea to do a little bit of practice if this is your first interview or you’re a little bit rusty.

Granted you can’t know the exact questions your interviewer will ask, but you can prepare responses to some general questions like Why do you want to work at SciLeads? Why do you want to work in [department]? Can you give me an example of when you worked as a team? Tell me about a project that went well or that you had to manage your own time? Etc

Preparation is key!?

The main thing is to take your time and try and relax. Once a question has been asked to give yourself a couple of seconds to understand it and then structure your response.?

A popular framework for answering questions where you need to tell a story (such as ‘Tell me about a time when…’) is to use the STAR method. STAR stands for:

Situation - a quick overview of the scenario

Task -? what you were asked to do

Action - what methods you took to achieve your goal

Result - what was the outcome

Frameworks like this can help you provide a succinct answer and are especially good for keeping you on track, especially if you’re prone to rambling when nervous!

5 - Turn the tables and ask your burning questions?

Normally as part of the interview process, you will be asked if you have any questions. It is, of course, common to be asked things like ‘When will I hear back from you’ etc but it’s also a great opportunity for you to learn about the company, its culture, and whether it’s a good fit for you.

You could ask 2 or 3 questions that frame how you see yourself in the role and how I/the interviewer sees the path ahead for example:

1. What progression opportunities are there in this role?
2. What kinds of challenges can I expect?
3. How do you see SciLeads evolving over the next five years??
4. What do you like about SciLeads?
5. What is the culture like at SciLeads?

By following these tips, you'll be well-prepared for your remote interview. Remember to be confident, authentic, and let your passion for the role shine through. Interviews are like anything in life - practice makes perfect and preparation is key. Get your tech ready, sit in a quiet and bright room, and try answering a few common questions beforehand so you are more confident on the day. Good luck!

Take a look at our open roles at SciLeads here and hopefully one day soon you’ll be on a Zoom call with me!