In the chaos of 2020, remote employment and “work from home” opportunities are the new standard for hiring. The way we conduct interviews has evolved, and applying for a new job might be scary for applicants. Even if the interview is conducted via webcam, these techniques and tricks can reduce your anxiety and aid in your job search.
Making Improvements to Your Resume
No matter how remote the interview is, resumes are still the most popular selling point. If you employ the proper strategies, interviews can actually help to increase virtual communication. You can provide hyperlinks to your CV and cover letter because neither one will be brought to an interview in a printed form. This demonstrates your organisational skills and makes it easier for the interviewer to discover you online.
To direct hiring, JCSI RPO advises including a link to your LinkedIn profile on your CV.
managers to your website without having to look for it. It’s also nice to connect your Twitter and Facebook accounts. Make sure that your internet presence accurately reflects your professionalism and manners. It’s crucial to remove any harmful or inappropriate content from your accounts. It may also be advantageous to link to any personal websites or online resumes, depending on your field and career.
Sending your final resume as a PDF copy is advised due to the variety of operating systems and programmes. The formatting will be kept exactly as you want it with the greatest accuracy by doing this.
How to Prepare for Your Interview
Virtual meetings and interviews have the potential to be very helpful and go well, but frequently minor hiccups happen, robbing them of that promise. Even if some circumstances will be beyond your control, make every effort to ensure a positive outcome.
1.Get familiar with the technology:
There are many “virtual meeting” systems available (ex: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meets, WebEx, etc.). Prior to your encounter, you should try to determine which platform the interviewer will be utilising. You can use this to create an account, become familiar with the controls, and practise using the programme. You can check to see if your internet connection is compatible during the trial run.
2.Change the lighting:
During the call, it’s crucial to make sure the interviewer can see you well. A photo with a background that looks excellent with the colours in the image might be darkened by too much background light, whereas a shot with no background light would be problematic and you might as well replace the background. A gentle, diffused light that doesn’t cast a shadow on your face might be used. Here, it’s also helpful to stay away from bright lights that are outside of the camera.
3.Utilize the angle:
Your laptop or computer camera is frequently below eye level, which results in a subpar visual presence. The ideal stance is when you’re slightly looking up. To keep the camera above eye level, most individuals will need to set their device up on a book or box.
Make sure the camera can see your complete face; this is extremely crucial. When doing an interview by video conference, many people will prop the camera such that only a portion of their face is visible, which is annoying to the interviewer.
4.minimising background noise:
Children and animals in the background may be tolerated and accepted by the majority of people, but it can still be distracting and come across as unprofessional. Try to choose a quiet space for your interview where no other people or animals can enter. It’s also important in this situation to make sure you are not standing in front of a window. This will prevent lawnmowers, automobiles, or walkers from ruining your performance.
5.Keep “eye” contact:
Although it is normal to glance at the interviewer’s face on the screen, because the camera is above the screen, it may seem as though you are constantly looking down. During your interview, try to maintain “eye contact” with the camera. A lack of organisation may be implied by looking around or down at notes.
Pinning notes, resumes, job descriptions, etc. to the wall behind your camera might be a useful tactic in this situation. In this manner, you can find brief talking points without standing out too much.
Practicing in Advance
Consider your video interview to be an audition; in a sense, you are vying for the role. You can control your background and prepare for your role while in a faraway location.
Try practising your interview by filming yourself, even if it could be awkward. Prepare your environment, come up with some potential questions, practise your elevator pitch, pay attention to your body language, and record it. Check to see what minor details you can fix before the big event.
