Tips for Zoom Interviews
With the state of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing us all to move most aspects of our lives virtually, interviews have been no different. After interviewing Renee Young-Trego, Assistant Director of the Advising and Career Center at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, on tips for zoom interviews, I thought her advice was too good not to share. So, whether you’ve already participated in an online interview or you’re preparing for your first one, I’ve outlined the best tips for zoom interviews.
Preparation:
How you prepare for your interview ahead of time may possibly be the key to your success. Preparing properly for your interview means doing thorough research on the employer, preparing for questions you expect to be asked and being knowledgeable on exactly what the job you are interviewing for entails. Employers are able to tell right away whether you are knowledgeable on their company or not, so come prepared with background knowledge that you can bring up in the interview to show that you did your research, as this will go a long way.
Another key aspect of preparation for a virtual interview is to have a “plan B” in case of connection issues or other interruptions. This “plan B” involves having the interviewer’s phone number in your contacts in order to be able to quickly call them on your phone if there’s issues with continuing the interview on your laptop.
Physical Appearance:
In regards to physical appearance, this is something we all stress about, especially seeing as though it’s probably been a while since you’ve needed to dress up. Although this may seem obvious, make sure you are dressed properly from head to toe. Many of us are guilty of dressing up from the waste up and keeping our sweatpants or pajama pants on during our zoom calls. However, it’s become known that some employers will ask you to stand up in order to show off your full attire, even while being virtual. For specific tips on attire, solid colors are typically the best when it comes to zoom interviews and blues especially come across well on camera. Try to avoid any busy patterns and stick to simple accessories.
Background & Setting:
There are many distractions while being at home, some of which are uncontrollable. However, make sure to double check all of the aspects of your background and setting that are under your control; sit in front of natural lighting if possible, sit in front of a simple and picked up background and avoid having any personal photos of yourself in the background that could be a distraction to the employer, or that could put your chance in jeopardy, such as photos of you at a party. In addition to these pointers, make a point of telling anyone else that will be around during your interview what’s going on in order for you to have the best chance of a quiet setting. The smaller chance of distractions, the better.
Body Language:
Body language, positive or negative, is hard to show on virtual interviews. However, there are a few things you can keep in mind in order to show that you are engaged in the conversation. One of these is figuring out the best way on your camera to make “eye contact”. Making this connection is important, so practicing looking into your camera instead of the person on the screen will come across on the other end as you making eye contact with them. In addition to eye contact, using hand gestures is also a great sign of engagement. To do so, make sure that you are sitting far enough away from the screen for the other person to get a good view of your body language.
Interviews in general are always nerve-wracking, in-person or virtually, but these are a few key pointers to keep in mind when you’re preparing for an interview. Just remember to come prepared, review your physical appearance, double check the setting and practice your on-camera eye contact. Oh, and last, but not least, remind yourself that “you got this!”.
