How to navigate an online interview

Many businesses are now using online interviews as a way to work through a high volume of applicants and/or reducing travel costs if recruiting overseas.

The key to a successful online meeting is in the preparation. I hope that these hints and tips will create the environment for you to reduce the stress of the situation so that you can perform at your best.

"I don't believe in luck, I believe in preparation" Bob Knight (Basketball Coach)

Before the Meeting

• Test the meeting link (make sure you have a back up phone number and/or email address in case the technology fails you in some way)
• Make sure your username on Skype/Zoom is appropriate and professional
• Use headphones and a mic - phone ones work well - they block out external noise/distractions and your voice will be picked up more clearly
• Turn off notifications on your computer - this is distracting for you and for the interviewer
• Check there is enough power on your device - you do not want to be looking for a charger half way through, or even worse lose battery life altogether - if in doubt, plug it in!
• Have a practice call with a friend - this will get you used to the technology, you can check you have enough band width as well as putting you at ease. 
• Ask your friend to provide you with feedback on your performance. Do you use filler words like "erm" or have a 'fidget' that may be distracting to potential interviewers?
• If you are at work, find a quiet space like a meeting room
• If you are at home, check out the background. I have been on calls with people whilst looking at a pile of clothes in the corner of the room. What about pictures, is there anything on the wall behind you that makes you look like something is growing out of your head?!
• Remove children/animals from the area - do you have a partner who could take both out for a walk? There is nothing worse that the dog barking when an unexpected delivery arrives - best to remove them from the house. As people can see me in my home office, I put up a polite notice saying I am taking calls and unable to come to the door.
• Clear your desk of distractions - have only your meeting notes to hand (of course, the advantage of an online meeting is that you can keep notes to hand!)
• Dress as you would do if you were meeting for a face to face interview - not just your top half, the full outfit!
• Think about any jewellery - avoid bracelets that may clatter against the desk causing unnecessary noise, avoid necklaces that may clash against your headphone/microphone cable
• Prepare for this interview just as you would for a face to face, here are some hints and tips on how to prepare and here is a link to some effective questions to ask at the end.
• Keep your phone on until the last minute (just in case they are trying to contact you). Once you are on the call, silence your phone and put it out of sight.

During the Call

• Check how long you have together - the invitation may be for 60 minutes but the interviewer may be doing back-to-back interviews so they are planning for 45. Ensure that you have enough time to give your most pertinent examples
• Check if there is anyone else in the room with the interviewer
• If the connection is not clear, ask if you can log out and back in again to see if you can get a better one
• Rest your device is on a solid surface (not on your knees or in your hand!). You will be surprised how much 'movement' the other person will experience, which can be distracting
• Position your device so that your camera is at eye level. You don't look down at people when speaking with them face to face, why would you do this online? Looking down into your device only increases the number of chins that you have, stack your device on books if you need to!
• Look in the lens of the computer/your phone - not at the screen, this way, it looks like you are looking directly at the interviewer
• If you wear glasses, beware of potential reflection from the laptop in the lens of the glasses. I have been on calls with people where I cannot see their eyes, all I can see is a reflection of myself in their glasses!
• Drink only water - don’t eat, no gum

Finishing the Call

• Keep smiling until the end, the very end. I have interviewed people on line who did the "phew" thing when they thought that the meeting had finished. As there was a few seconds delay, I saw it.

What have I missed? Do you have any other hints and tips that you could share to enhance this list? Please comment below.

#interviews #preparation #jobhunting #bestself #focus #onlineinterviews

?Jane began training as a coach with Ashridge Business School in 2011, while working as an HR Business Partner at British Airways. She works with clients to devise a strategic plan and take massive action. She has held a variety of Senior HR positions, most recently as Head of Training roles in an SME and Head of Talent at British Airways.

If you would like to work with Jane on a 1:1 basis to write a new chapter to your life story then please get in touch via LinkedIN, email: [email protected] or call: +44 (0) 7961 426886.