With remote employees often scattered across the country, as well as the globe, today’s offices know no bounds That means fewer and fewer first-round hiring interviews are being conducted by two people in the same room. Just because you’re not physically shaking hands with someone in person doesn’t mean your first impressions don’t matter. Here are some tips for making sure your digital interview shows you in the best possible light – in every way.
The old adage “location, location, location” is as true for video interviews as it is for real estate. Think about it, you’re showing someone who you are, how you present yourself, and where you will likely be doing the work they’re thinking about hiring you to do. Whether you’re using Skype, Google hangouts or any other video chat, you need to set the scene. Set up your laptop in a place that has great lighting, ideally in a quiet location that has a door you can shut if there is activity going on in the background.
Make sure there are no distractions over your shoulder that could send the wrong message. One hiring manager told me she conducted a Skype interview where the person had a huge pile of dirty dishes in the background. “I'm not going to say 'no hire' based off of that, but it's an interesting choice, versus just a neutral room or an office.”
If you work in tech, you already know there’s always something that can go wrong at the last minute. That’s why you need to set up your laptop, connect to the Wi-Fi and/or the router and make sure all your systems are working properly. If you can connect your laptop directly to your router, do that. The last thing you want is your Wi-Fi going out in the middle of a job interview. If you’re counting on using Wi-Fi, make sure there’s a strong signal in the location you’re doing the video chat. Also make sure your mic works or get a headset/mic if you need to.
Once you’ve set the location and adjusted lighting, set your laptop to the right height. Viewing anyone from below is never a flattering angle. Stack some books under your laptop and adjust the angle so you see yourself how you want others want to see you.
The best way to tell if you’ve properly adjusted your laptop is to look directly into the camera and take a picture, or practice with a friend so they can see where you are looking. You never want your head to be pointing up towards the camera, you want your head even with the screen with your eyes focused slightly upward to the camera on top.
Speaking of your eyes, they need to be looking straight into the camera at all times so the person on the other end of the video call feels like you’re looking right at them. If you look at their image on your screen, it will look like you’re looking down and not directly at them.
This is difficult to master and may take some practice. You can put a little Post-it note up near the camera that says “look here” to remind yourself. This is also a great place to post a cheat sheet of keywords to remind yourself of all the important points you want to make.
Just because you’re having a video interview and not meeting someone in person doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still dress appropriately. Many people tend to have a more casual at-home appearance, which is fine when you’re working at home, but not fine when you’re going after your dream job. Take a shower, comb your hair, and dress as if you were walking out the door and into someone else’s office. That doesn’t just mean from the waist up. We’ve heard stories of people having suit jackets, dress shirts and ties on, but rocking boxers or sweats below the camera. Definitely not cool if something happens and you have to stand up mid-interview. And if you’re dressed for success in your best interview clothes, it will definitely help to put you in the right mindset.
One way to ensure success is to run a few dress rehearsals or practice sessions. Connect with a friend on Skype, and make sure your Skype name is appropriate and not something you dreamed up in your early college days. Have your friend confirm they can hear you properly, that you are sitting in the right environment, and that you’re not fidgeting in your chair or tapping your pen wildly while you speak. Make sure they can see you looking directly into the camera and that there’s no crazy distractions behind you or noise coming from outside that might prevent the interview from going smoothly.
Remember, this is a live interview and a lot can happen. Employers love when potential candidates are flexible and can handle any given situation. So if your cat walks across your lap or your keyboard while you’re in the middle of explaining why you’re perfect for the job, don’t panic! Simply pet the cat lovingly, smile sweetly, and explain the Office Cat wanted to come in to get interviewed as well. Then move on.
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