If the pandemic gave us one small silver lining, it’s that virtual job interviews are commonplace and even expected. But while most of the advice you’ll read covers how to interview from your home, what can you do if that’s simply impossible?
Maybe you’re traveling for your current job. Maybe your kid, roommate, or pet is unpredictable. Maybe your home Internet service is acting up. Whatever your reason for not setting up shop at your desk or in another location, there’s one place that’s more private than the library and quieter than a coffee shop: your car.
Here are a few suggestions if you’re thinking of conducting a formal job interview from the comfort of your sweet ride.
Remember the basics:
- Just as you would at home, choose a non-distracting location.
- Dress for an in-person interview despite being on four wheels.
- Test your camera and microphone before the interviewer joins.
- Behave as professionally as possible under the circumstances.
Finesse your background:
- Park on the remote corner of a lot or on a secluded street with little traffic.
- Think about lighting. If you’re under some dense trees or in the shadow of a building, get to an open area where the sun can bring out your best look. Your car’s dome light is probably too dim to help.
- Consider sliding over to the passenger seat to do this. That way, the steering wheel won’t be in the shot. And leave your seatbelt off. No one wants a potential employer to laugh at them.
Sweat the tech:
- While you could use your laptop, your phone is much more likely to not rely on Wi-Fi, and it’s easier to position optimally in a car.
- Have your phone fully charged! Some cars don’t supply electrical power when the engine’s turned off, which you want to do to prevent background noise.
- Confirm that you’ve got enough mobile data for a lengthy call.
- Make absolutely sure there’s a good, strong cell signal or nearby Wi-Fi connection. (Again, the former is preferable.)
- Set up a windshield or dashboard mount for your phone at eye level. Not only should your hands be free, but you also want to get the most flattering camera angle on your face.
- Turn on the conferencing software’s filter to blur or conceal what’s behind you.
Of course, this all requires that you pull up to your interview spot well before the interview start time. In addition to giving you a chance to prepare your equipment and software, it’ll allow you to pause and center yourself. Interviewing for a job is stressful enough—now you’re adding an unnatural, potentially unnerving location to the mix.
One last thing to contemplate is coming clean with the person you’re talking to. If it’s still obvious you’re sitting in a car or they say something about it, just assure them that you’re taking the interview seriously and briefly explain what led you to make this unusual decision. Any reasonable interviewer should give you points for your resourcefulness and honesty.
