Tips and Tricks for Working and Interviewing Remotely
Dear Stephen,
I am interviewing for a new job. Yes, it seems many companies are still hiring but they are just not interviewing in person. Everything on a video meeting. All via WebEx, Google chat rooms, Zoom Rooms, sometimes Skype and others Facetime. I am working in outside sales and now we use the same technology while home officing, so I am familiar with the technology but talking to my colleagues or supervisors and peers is not the same as an interview. I feel like I am having a hard time establishing chemistry with a video interview. Any tips?
Signed,
Not Ready For Prime Time Interviewing
Dear Primetime,
You mention something I want to share with all our readers. Many furniture manufacturers are considered a life-sustaining business due to their many health care, government and financial services customers, so they have permission to operate their plants. They may be at a reduced schedule but are still operating.
Right after after keeping their employees and their employees' families safe, as companies prepare themselves for the eventual economic recovery, they know they will need new salespeople to generate revenue. So both manufacturers and dealers are still hiring salespeople. Employers now recognize the best salespeople with the best relationships will generate new sales the fastest. That’s why they continue to recruit these people, even in this trying time.
Smart HR departments and sales managers realize this is an ideal time to get an otherwise “hard-to-reach” candidate’s attention. Smart companies want to jumpstart sales as business resumes, and they already know they need the very best salespeople in place. I predict there will be many “outside salespeople” in particular that will leave the sales field after this. Not because of the economy but because they are scared of going back to work. The idea of making in-person presentations is now scary to some salespeople. Many have told me: “Who needs it!”
So companies will have unexpected openings they will need to fill fast. And lots of early retirements. Now to your question — participants on a video meeting report getting distracted by what’s behind the person speaking. A pet, toy or a family picture. You are inviting people into your homes for these meetings so make the best impression possible. No need for a blank wall, but have a neutral setting, quiet with proper lighting. A business meeting is still a business meeting, and there should be no loss of professionalism in the way you look either. Dress for the meeting. And never dress nicely just from the waist up. What if you have to get up to let the dog out, or someone comes to the door? Be fully dressed.
Here is another tip. Choose a desk lamp as opposed to an overhead light — shading from above is unattractive. Adjust your chair, then again your light and rehearse. Minimum echoing. A room with carpeting or drapes. And it cannot be said enough: head-to-toe dressing. If it is an interview, dress like an interview. That’s my advice, and now I am sharing some advice from a friend from my TV world who coaches TV hosts like myself, Barbara Bana Abel:
The Checklist: On-Camera Basics
Speak to serve: It’s not about you, it’s about the audience. Look outward, not inward. Be generous. Focus on the listener, the viewer, the audience. What do they need? What are their expectations? What problems do I solve? What value do I offer? How can I help?
Smile: Relax your facial muscles and engage, engage, engage!
Eye contact: Know where the camera is on your device and focus there.
Mirror work: Study your face in the mirror while brushing your teeth and practice the range of facial expressions in your tool kit.
Set your intentions: How do you want to show up? If you want to appear warm and engaging ask yourself what you need to do to achieve that (energy, looking into the camera, facial expressions, vocal intonations, vocabulary) … and then do that.
Be present: Be an active listener (but avoid vocalizing i.e. hams and uh-ha’s) and don’t do anything you wouldn’t do in an in-person meeting.
Practice makes … success!: Don’t worry about getting it right or perfect. You will get the hang of this quickly.
The Mechanics
Framing/distance/eyeline: You want to look into your camera (avoid the instinct to look at yourself in a little box on your screen). Put your laptop on a stack of books or a box to improve your eyeline. If you’re using a smartphone or tablet and don’t have a tripod you can do the same thing by propping up your device so you are looking directly at the screen. Avoid looking down.
Here's a visual description.
Lighting
* Natural light is a good thing. Use what you have.
* DO sit facing a window if you can.
* DON’T sit with your back to a window – that causes you to be backlit and in shadow or silhouette, and we can’t see you.
* DO move lights around as needed. Best positions are ten o’clock and/or two o’clock in front of you. If you want to get fancy you can put a light slightly behind you at four o’clock.
Audio: Your computer/phone audio should be fine. Test to see how your levels work. Know how to turn your microphone on and off (mute). It varies from platform to platform and the device.
Production design: Simply put, know what’s in the frame. Do a test shot. Everyone is making do – we understand – but be professional and appropriate for your business or school. Books and art are nice. So are uncluttered spaces. No one wants to see your pile of laundry, dirty dishes or the inside of your bathroom.
Recording your video calls
Skype has been standard in the casting-industry for several years (Fun fact: Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for Silver Linings Playbook via Skype) and Call Recorder for Skype is an extremely useful, easy-to-use tool ($39.95) to record your Skype calls to QuickTime Files. Skype for Business has different protocols so check What those options are
Zoom and Blue jeans both allow recording calls from the platform
(https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362473-Local-Recording
https://www.bluejeans.com/meeting-recording-record-video-conferences-bluejeans).
Display documents on screen
On Zoom roll your cursor to the bottom of the screen and a series of icons will appear (microphone to mute/un-mute, camera to record, people to invite, a handy chat box and more). A bright green box labeled “share” allows you to share documents, power points, spreadsheets, photos and lessons. The key is to open the documents in advance of your meeting (although you can search in real time by clicking files). There is also a handy whiteboard feature that allows you to write and share notes IRT.
Got it everyone? Thanks Barbara! Together we'll all get through this rough time. Please SHARE this POST on your own social media, LIKE and comment.
I am happy to answer your questions about your career concerns by email. Be sure you follow The Viscusi Group and me, Stephen Viscusi, on LinkedIn and see our daily job tips at www.viscusigorup.com<https://www.viscusigorup.com>.
Signed,
Stephen