How To Succeed at A Remote Interview

In our previous article, we took a look at?Preparing Yourself for Virtual Interviews. So now that you’ve done all the groundwork, the time has come to take the actual interview. What are some of the things you need to be aware of? What will help you to perform at your best in the interview? What are the key components that will help you cross the line and secure that job? Below, we share some tips on How To Succeed at Virtual Interviews.

Dress to Impress

Just because you’re being interviewed online doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dress as you would for an in-person interview, right down to your shoes! You do need to be 100 percent committed to coming across professionally and that means dressing the part. Not only will it put you in the right frame of mind, it will also make you feel more confident and more focused on the task at hand.

Be Punctual

It’s important that you never leave your interview host (s) waiting. You need to show up on time. Ideally, you should be in place 10-15 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. By doing this you are demonstrating a show of respect to your interviewers while also giving you time to have everything in place and that you are ready to go once the interview begins.

Speak Clearly

Because you’re speaking over an internet connection, clear communication can be harder. Try to speak up and be clear and, if you’re a fast talker, slow down a little so that the interviewer has time to hear what you are saying, take notes and process your answers.

Eye Contact

Your body language says so much about who you are and even in an online situation it’s essential that you maintain good eye contact. This is most effectively achieved by positioning your computer with the camera at eye level. Keep your eyes on the screen throughout the interview. Looking off screen can give the impression that you are distracted, even to the point of not being interested.

Posture

Also maintain a good posture. Avoid slouching in your comfy chair at home. At this stage, you should have a decent office chair at home which you should be using for online interviews. Sit up straight and don’t lean back. Any leaning you do should be a slight lean forward, which can give off a sense of engagement and interest.

Don’t communicate with your arms folded – it can make you seem closed off, cold, detached and not interested and will give off a negative impression to the interviewer. Keeping your arms open with palms facing down placed on your lap displays a sense of openness and warmth in a person and can give off positive traits such as calmness, control and confidence.

Smile

And of course remember to smile! A light, relaxed smile will ensure that you are in the right frame of mind with a positive aura. Smiling conveys a sense of calm, control and even confidence. while also helping to put your interviewer at ease and make you a more likable candidate.

Notes

Many people use notes when they are taking an online interview. You need to be very careful if you are one of them. Reading from notes is a big no-no for recruiters. It comes across very unnaturally. If you do want to use notes, use post-it notes with bullet points as reminders of answers you’d like to give or points you’d like to make.

Engage with the Interviewer

You are not just there to answer questions. Be sure to prepare some short relevant questions to ask the interviewer. You want to demonstrate to the company that you are keen to be successful and want to know all about the role you are interviewing for and the company’s vision and your own future with them.

Follow up

It’s always a good idea after an interview to send a quick thank you note to the person who interviewed you. Thank them for their time and let them know how grateful you are for the opportunity to be considered for the role you interviewed for and let them know that you are looking forward to hearing from them.