With the development of technology, along with the pandemic, it’s oftentimes more cost-effective, convenient, and safe for employers to perform online job interviews. Online interviews speed up the\u00a0interview\u00a0process, reduce transportation costs, and allow companies to\u00a0interview\u00a0candidates not local to the area. If you’re looking for a job, you may be asked to participate in a virtual\u00a0interview. This guide will help you learn how you should prepare for an online\u00a0interview.<\/p>\n
There are some main distinctions between traditional in-person meetings and online interviews. You may already know how to prepare for an\u00a0interview, but a virtual\u00a0interview\u00a0has some quirks all its own.\u00a0And, you should definitely be prepared for things like:<\/p>\n
Here are some important ways to prepare for your upcoming job interview:<\/p>\n
Decide on the Best Technology to Use<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n If you have several devices (i.e. tablet, computer, smartphone, etc.), you\u2019ll want to choose which one you\u2019re most comfortable with as well as the one that will be the most reliable. For many individuals, this would be a computer. If necessary, you might need to invest (or borrow) the ideal technology you\u2019ll be using for the interview.<\/p>\n Test the Technology Out Beforehand<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Make sure you test all the different aspects of the technology you\u2019ll be using such as testing your:<\/p>\n Ensure you have the right knowledge of how it all works. Before the interview begins, test it all out again.<\/p>\n Decide on the Location<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Choose the location where you’ll perform your interview prior to your scheduled interview time. Preferably, this should be a quiet room with no distractions and minimal background noise. Ensure you have the right type of lighting (natural lighting is best) and there’s nothing distracting behind you. Ask your housemates ahead of time to not disturb you and shut all pets out of the area you’ll be doing your interview. You might even want to invest in a professional backdrop, which shows your interviewer you’re serious about the interview.<\/p>\n Prepare Your Clothing<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n If you’re new to being on camera, you should assess the clothing you’re going to wear during the\u00a0interview\u00a0through the lens to ensure it works well on video. Put the clothing you plan on wearing during the\u00a0interview\u00a0on and record yourself. Things to keep an eye out for are:<\/p>\n These things can be distracting. Tightly striped patterns, in particular, can create a strobe effect. Also, what you plan to wear should contrast with the background (you don’t want to appear as a “floating head”).<\/p>\n Prepare Your “Priority Talking Points”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Come up with a list of key points before the interview you’ll want to go over during the interview. For example, what do you want the recruiter or hiring manager to specifically know about you after the completion of the interview?<\/p>\n Prepare Your Online\u00a0InterviewQuestions and Answers<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n While you will want to have some answers prepared for common\u00a0interview\u00a0questions, you’ll also want to come up with a few questions of your own. Some examples are asking the hiring manager about:<\/p>\n Some candidates want to jump into salary and benefit questions in the initial interview, but that isn\u2019t always a good idea if you\u2019re trying to sell yourself for a position. Your questions should make it so the interviewer will be sharing additional information regarding what they expect from ideal candidates. This can help you in the next interviewing stage.<\/p>\n Prepare Your Workspace<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Clear away any clutter in your workspace that’s behind you so it isn’t showing up on the screen. Clutter can cause distracting visual noise or make it appear to the interviewer that your space is disorganized which could give them an impression of what you\u2019ll be like as an employee.<\/p>\n Eliminate Distractions<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Silence things that can interfere and disrupt your conversation, including any email or phone notifications. Silence your phone so you’re not interrupted by phone calls.<\/p>\n Schedule a Mock\u00a0Interview<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Schedule a mock\u00a0interview\u00a0that’s as close to the same circumstances as the\u00a0interview\u00a0will be with:<\/p>\n Calm Your Nerves<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Practice your primary talking points if you feel anxious or nervous. It\u2019s too easy to talk over others when you\u2019re doing online calls, so remember to slow down. While your\u00a0interview\u00a0will be hosted online, it can\u2019t hurt to go over traditional in-person skills. Don\u2019t stress over it. Take a few deep breaths before your\u00a0interview\u00a0begins.<\/p>\n Here are some key tips of what to do during your online\u00a0job\u00a0interview:<\/p>\n Look Directly into the Camera <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most important things as far as what to avoid during an online\u00a0interview\u00a0has to do with the camera. You may be tempted to look at yourself or the monitor, but remember you’ll need to look straight into the camera, so you’ll be making eye contact with the interviewer.<\/p>\n Remember Your Nonverbals<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Smile when appropriate. Maintain good posture; perhaps lean in a little bit. Do some research on nonverbal cues in job interviews beforehand. Don\u2019t fidget, yawn or slouch. Some online interview software allows the interviewer to rewind. This means they can view your bad moments over and over. On the plus side, it also means they can view your positive moments again, too.<\/p>\n Be Conversational<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Just like you would in an in-person\u00a0interview, speak in a conversational voice.<\/p>\n Have Notes Handy<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n As with other\u00a0interview\u00a0situations, you could have notes near you to remind you of crucial things you wish to highlight. But don’t overuse notes. It’s okay to glance at them from time to time when needed and they’ll keep you on track.<\/p>\n Pause Between Questions<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n When you’re responding to the interviewer’s questions, take a couple of seconds before you respond to answer their question. This helps you consider their question carefully before answering and keeps you from talking over the interviewer.<\/p>\n After your\u00a0interview, you’ll want to send the interviewer a thank you note. You can do this through an email or physical card, depending on the situation. Wait several days after the\u00a0interview\u00a0and if you haven’t heard back from the interviewer, reach out to them. Always thank them for their time.<\/p>\n To help you prepare for your new career, consider an MBA degree<\/a> from the\u00a0Gary W. Rollins College of Business<\/a>\u00a0of The University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Here you\u2019ll be offered the best education to prepare you the right way for success as an entrepreneur or professional.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How to Prepare for an Online Job Interview With the development of technology, along with the pandemic, it’s oftentimes more cost-effective, convenient, and safe for employers to perform online job interviews. Online interviews speed up the\u00a0interview\u00a0process, reduce transportation costs, and allow companies to\u00a0interview\u00a0candidates not local to the area. If you’re looking for a job, you… <\/p>\n\n
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What to Do During Your Online\u00a0Job\u00a0Interview<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What to Do After Your Online\u00a0Job\u00a0Interview<\/strong><\/h3>\n