Interviewing from Home
Nailing Your Virtual Interview:
Using Your Home Field Advantage to Get the Job!
If you’re searching for a new job during this time of social distancing and Zoom conferences, you honestly have hit the jackpot! You have the time to dedicate to your application and prepare for each job interview. However, it may be challenging to shine through a computer camera that may lessen your natural charisma.
How can we stand out, feel connected, and make a positive impact from our homes? Luckily, we are all facing the same challenge right now, so no one will be held to a different standard, and there are ways to make your home interview stellar. Here are a few tips for making a great impression virtually, focusing on harnessing your natural confidence and comfort to help you nail your remote interview!
1. Get Dressed
Yes, get dressed from your head to toe! Pretend like you are going to be seen in person. Put on a full suit and dress shoes, do your hair and makeup, put on a watch, have your interview materials in your briefcase or work bag and take that with you into the interview space. By getting fully dressed, it helps you focus and act professional. Even if the interviewers can’t see your bottom half, it doesn’t matter. Getting dressed in your best interview outfit will help you radiate confidence knowing that you look good, overall helping you smile and present yourself well. This confidence will transcend the computer screen and make a difference in the quality of your interview.
2. Prepare Your Space - In 3 Parts
Part 1:Is the space clean?
After you’ve gotten dressed, prepare your desk and your surroundings that will be seen in frame:
Minimize clutter
Ensure pictures on the walls are work appropriate - consider taking things off the wall entirely!
Adjust the lighting to have you be the focus.
Part 2: Do you have everything you need?
Having all of your interview materials ready is important! Have a copy of your resume, the job description, your cover letter, and any notes you’ve taken on the company sitting in front of you.
Do not rely on virtual information because you don’t want to be clicking around on the computer during the interview. Remember, the interviewers can see this! Have everything laid out and easy to see for your reference.
This is a true asset to interviewing virtually because you can have these tools for your reference that you normally would not bring to an in-person interview! Take advantage of this!
Part 3: Find a Quiet Space
This is important to avoid distractions and make sure the interviewers can hear you clearly, and nothing else. That means:
Roommates - ask them to leave the room during the interview
Kids - set them up with a movie or game and tell them they cannot disturb you, have the other parent take them outside
Pets - although we love them, you’ll need to put them outside or in the basement to avoid disruptive sounds in the background.
You do not want any distractions to break your concentration, or to attract attention to anything other than you during the interview. Plus, we’ve all been on video calls where there’s a loud TV in the background, music playing, or kids yelling - although these are sounds we can all cope with, it makes it difficult to hear and concentrate when communicating virtually. Do your best to set up the space to be clutter free and quiet so that you stand out for being professional and prepared!
3. Technology Isn’t Perfect...so Double Check it!
Technology is a great tool, but we all know that WIFI can be moody, your computer mic may not work, your laptop randomly dies, or your connection can be slow.
Ensure your computer is fully charged!
Sit near an outlet to keep it plugged in so that it won’t die mid-way through the interview
Practice a video call with a friend to make sure your mic is working and they can hear you clearly
Sit close enough to your WIFI router, or sit in the best room in your home for optimal connectivity.
These glitches, although not your fault, will not be excused in an interview.
There is also no excuse to be late to a remote interview. Be sitting in your interview space, totally ready, 5min before your scheduled so that you can log in exactly on time. There is no way to show that you arrived 15min early, which is the usually accepted time for in-person interviews. So take advantage of the interview being in your home - take your time getting ready, and give yourself enough time to gather your materials, log in, and be ready to impress! The interviewer wants to get to know you and determine if you’re a good fit for the job, not watch you struggle with WIFI and mic settings, or awkwardly wait for you to connect to the meeting. Your preparation, punctuality, and professionalism are just as important to a virtual interview as they are at an in-person one!
4. Body Language is important! (Even if it is just the upper body)
Your posture is very important in a virtual interview. You can’t shake their hand and utilize your natural charm to impress and engage the interviewers. Instead, you must use your upper body to convey professionalism, confidence, and friendliness. Sit up straight with your hands visible on the desk or table. Smile and nod to show active listening. Leave your phone in the other room, turned off. These small actions conveying active listening will show the interviewers that you want to be speaking with them, and you are unphased by the virtual aspect of the interview.
Do Not: Slouch, hide your hands under the table, look out around the room, appear to be clicking or doing something else on your computer - essentially, anything to give the impression that you do not care, you are distracted, or not taking this seriously!
Present yourself as you would in person to ensure optimal success!
5. Remember standard interviewing tips!
Above all, this is just another interview. Despite the challenges that may occur due to it being remote, do not forget that you are there to sell yourself as the best candidate for the job. Remember to stand out, highlight your greatest achievements, ask good questions, and have confidence! You have a home field advantage when interviewing remotely! Allow the advantage to help you shine with confidence. The hiring managers will absolutely notice someone who is comfortable, confident, and prepared!
Every little thing counts for a virtual interview. Your preparation, appearance, diction, confidence, friendliness - you cannot rely on your natural charisma or pristine outfit to impress the hiring managers. There are advantages to interviewing remotely like being in your own space giving the overall sense of comfort, and being prompt because there is no travel - however, do not get too relaxed despite your couch being 5 feet away. Stay on your toes! Be attentive, excited, and professional. These tips will help you stand out for the right reasons in a virtual interview.
Need more advice before your virtual interview? Check out these other helpful articles to help you prepare!
https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/8-tips-successful-online-interview/
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/get-organized-10-tips-for-remote-job-interviews