Remote work has become exceedingly more common post pandemic, which means virtual job interviews are here to stay. While they’re not completely different from in-person interviews, there are some nuances you should be aware of and prepared for. From ensuring your tech is in tip top shape, to dressing professionally, and showing you’re engaged, check out our best tips for how to nail a virtual job interview.
How to Nail a Virtual Job Interview
1. Set Up Your Background
It’s important that your background is clean and uncluttered. A blank wall or one that has a few pictures or a painting hanging is perfect. If your background is too cluttered, it can distract the interviewers away from you. A well positioned bookcase or floating shelf can be nice, or perhaps a little bit of greenery.
2. Prep Your Tech
You want to make sure all your tech is working for your virtual interview. Test your audio and video, ensure your battery life is good, and log onto the video platform early to ensure there are no updates and all technical aspects are running smoothly. Also make sure to close other tabs, browsers, or apps that may slow down your connection or interrupt your call. All notifications should be turned off as well. You can also do mock calls with a friend or family member, especially if you haven’t used the platform before.
3. Assess What Others Can See
Before your virtual interview, get your webcam running so you can see what your interviewer will be able to see on your video feed. Avoid anything too distracting in your background (you may need to move things around) and ensure your space is quiet. Set up in a private room if you can and make sure the people you live with know you’re having a video meeting. You also want to have the best lighting possible. Make sure you’re near a window and that the natural light is behind your device so that you’re facing it.
4. Dress for Success
Even though it’s a virtual interview, you still want to look professional. What you wear will depend on the job you’re interviewing for and the culture of the organization, but there are a few go-to tips you can follow. Women’s dress shirts, work dresses, and cardigans or blazers are great for a virtual job interview. And although the bottoms you’re wearing won’t show on screen, wearing dress pants or a nice skirt may make you feel more professional and get you into interview mode.
5. Practice Makes Perfect
Just like any interview, it’s important to rehearse and be prepared for common questions. Practice your speaking pace. You don’t want to speak too slowly that the interviewer starts to dose off, but you also don’t want to speak too quickly that they find it difficult to keep up. Note that when you’re nervous you tend to speak quicker, so practicing your pace before your interview is key.
6. Know Who You Are As a Professional
It’s really important to know who you are as a professional and be confident about the traits and skills you bring to the table. Take some time to think about your personal strengths and weaknesses, how you overcome challenges in a workplace setting, and what ideas you can bring to the table. You can make a list ahead of time to get your thoughts organized. These types of questions will likely be asked in an interview, so knowing what you want to clearly communicate ahead of time will give you a leg up.
7. Ensure You’re Engaged
Make sure your webcam is at eye level and try to maintain eye contact throughout the interview. Keep good posture and enunciate and project your voice. If you take notes, make sure to use a pen and paper, and not your phone or laptop. Also remember to pause to allow others to speak and to account for audio lags. Nod and smile when appropriate to show that you’re listening and engaged in the conversation.
8. Keep Notes Handy, But Don’t Rely On Them
Create a Word document of notes with crisp bullet points to highlight anything important you may want to share. Just make sure not to refer to them too often. Try for no more than one page of notes and keep them short and simple. You don’t want to get overwhelmed by your notes or make it seem obvious that you’re reading them. Use them only to remind you of what you’ve practiced. This is another reason to rehearse beforehand.
9. Be Curious
Although they’re interviewing you, it’s also important to show an interest in the company you’re potentially going to be working with. Ask questions such as “How does the team communicate? How do you give feedback to remote employees? Does the office have any virtual socials where I can meet new colleagues?” You can also ask questions about the type of technology you’ll have access to, how success is measured at the organization, and how remote work is monitored. Showing genuine interest is always a bonus!
10. Have Fun and Be Yourself
The best interviews are ones where your personality shows through. It’s okay to be nervous, but try to have fun with it and be as natural as possible. Smiling, laughing, and showing your enjoying the chat is encouraged. You want to come off as genuine and authentic. Your interview is where you get to show who you are as an individual after your resume got you in the door, so be yourself and the rest will follow!
Prepping for any interview can be nerve wracking, but we hope these tips help you feel prepared and confident for your next virtual job interview!
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