How to ace that online interview

Online interviews have become popular post Covid. This is so because of their convenience in the early stages of the talent search. It is worth noting that meeting someone face to face is different from meeting them online through such platforms as Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom. However, it is also worth noting that since many companies have not resumed working full-time at the office, more and more recruiters are increasingly choosing to have at least the first pre-screen interview happen online.

The goal of an online interview just like a face-to-face interview is for the recruiter or hiring team to appraise your skills, qualifications, fit for the role, and your attitude. As such, it is important to treat online interviews with the seriousness you would a face-to-face interview. As a recruiter, I have come across candidates who don't put in the effort to adequately prepare for an online interview. I have seen candidates show up to the call five minutes late and do not care to apologize, once the interview starts, they are plagued by connection and audio issues which could have been ironed out, had they joined 10 or so minutes early.

To ace that online interview and set yourself apart as the best-fit candidate in order to progress to the next stage of the hiring process, you need to incorporate the following key techniques when preparing for that all-important online interview.

1. Find out all information about the interview: Speak with the recruiter to find out the date of the interview, the timings, whether you will need to have your camera on or off as well as the platform the virtual interview will be hosted on. This information is crucial because it will give you a head start to adequately prepare for the call and download and install the software to use for the call in case you don't already have it.
2. Research on how to ace an online interview: There are numerous sites and platforms that offer candidates resources and tools to prepare for an online interview. Personally, I find?this?video by the Self-Made Millennial Madeline Mann to be quite helpful. In the video, Madeline Man talks about how to make the best possible impression, scientifically proven things a candidate could do in the job interview that are low effort, high reward, and how you get companies to like you and give you a chance.
3. Do your homework about the company: It is extremely counterproductive to prepare how to ace that online interview and not know crucial information about the company you are interviewing. Doing research about the company before your online interview offers you a chance to gain a better understanding of your potential employer's expectations and allows you to not only craft effective answers to questions that may be asked by the interview panel but also provides you with the insight into the needs, challenges, and successes of the company that you could use to develop thoughtful questions that highlight your interest and commitment in the role and the company.
4. Choose a conducive environment: Online interviews are all about the ambiance. Avoid too much light and focus on positioning yourself in a place with enough soft natural light, ensure that the environment does not have clutter and is not too loud as this would serve to distract you and the interviewers and could give the impression that you are not professional which will work against you as it is not the kind of lasting impression you want to create about yourself.
5. Do a test- run: Ask a friend to help you set up a trial interview. This will help you to test the quality of your audio and video output, and help you check whether your chosen device has the ability to effectively host the online call. I find that laptops are preferable to mobile phones since they are less fidgety. Additionally, try using earphones as opposed to direct audio input provided for in the device, as earphones provide noise cancellation hence better quality audio.
6. Dress appropriately: The best way to decide what to wear for a job interview is to research the company's dress code. How employees of a company dress speak to the culture of that company. As such, you could visit the company's website to check for photos of employees and how they dress. Alternatively, you could reach out to someone you know that works there to ask them about their dress code. This will help you discern whether to dress formally or casually.
7. Be audible and concise: Research shows that when we are not sure of what we are saying we tend to speak in low tones and use too many words to explain something. Being too wordy while being incoherent is our brain's coping mechanism as it tries to figure out the next thing to say. We find ourselves using too many words as a delay tactic. Since first impression matters, you should always aim to communicate clearly and concisely. This is why it is crucial for you to do your research on the company to understand its pain points and its vision for the future. As discussed previously, this will help you craft thoughtful answers to the panel questions. You could also intentionally slow down your speech while emphasizing the points you are putting across. Next time you have an interview, try pausing for 5-10 seconds to form your thoughts before answering a question.
8. Employ the STAR approach: The?STAR?approach is an interview technique that gives you a straightforward format of answering interview questions by outlining the?Situation,?Task,?Approach, and?Result. The?Situation?sets the scene and helps you describe a specific event,?Task?describes the task that you needed to accomplish in the given situation,?Action?describes the actions you took to address the situation and what your particular contribution was,?and Result?describes the outcome of your actions. It is advisable to put the focus on you by taking credit for your behavior and the result thereof. Ensure that in your delivery you are specific and concise with your choice of words while using examples that paint you in a positive light. Examples with negative outcomes could also highlight your strengths in the face of adversity.
9. Ask questions:?Asking clarifying questions when you don't understand a point is important during an online interview, to avoid coming off as irrelevant, it is advisable where applicable to ask the interviewer questions that help you understand their point of view better. Asking questions also let your potential employer know that you are prepared and well interested in the role.
10. Finish strong: How you end an interview dictates the overall impression of what the recruiter has of you. A successful end to an interview will leave the interview panel with a good memory of you. As Maya Angelou once said, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” How the interview panel feels about you at the end of an interview is what will determine whether you get that job or not. Recruiters tend to clearly remember the skills, qualifications, and attitudes of candidates who inspired and provoked their thoughts in a positive light.