As COVID-19 restrictions ease and organizations return to in-person work, we find that most interviews continue to remain virtual. Students
appreciate this modality, as it affords flexibility and eliminates travel and housing expenses. Additionally, students now have access to opportunities located anywhere in the world. Whether you are interviewing for internships, full-time jobs, or graduate school, there are universal practices you can use to stand out during the virtual interview process!
1. Set Up Your Interview Space
Here are a few changes you can make to your interview environment to create a strong, lasting impression:
Have a clean, simple background
You don’t have to rearrange your room to achieve this. We recommend finding a space that is free of distractions, for example, a blank wall or bookshelf. Another option is to choose a simple, virtual background. Courtney, a senior career assistant, removes her framed picture behind her desk when she has an interview. Jessica, a career assistant with a very busy room, books an individual study room in Mann library for her interviews.
Create optimal lighting
We advise that you light yourself from the front to avoid being backlit. If you have a desk lamp, position it towards your face. Additionally, research has found that recruiters favor cool light, a light that emits a modern, cleaner, and brighter look, over warm light (Harvard Business Review). If you don’t have a lamp, sitting near a window could emulate this optimal lighting scenario.
Eliminate distractions
Turn off all TVs, put your cell phone on do not disturb, and close any nearby windows. Make sure to tell anyone you live with about your interview to minimize background noise and disruptions.
2.Test Your Technology
Prior to your interview
It is important that your interview location has a good internet connection. If your Wi-Fi is unreliable, consider doing your interview from a different location (i.e, study room in a library) or using a hotspot/ethernet cable.
Additionally, confirm that your camera and microphone work properly. For instance, Zoom allows you to test your video and audio in settings.
Moreover, some organizations could use a video platform that you are unfamiliar with. We encourage that you familiarize yourself with the platform prior to your interview by downloading the program and practicing with its features.
3. Preparation
Pace, gestures, and facial expressions
The optimal speaking rate is neither too slow nor too fast. You want your interviewer to keep up with what you are saying, but you don’t want to bore them. Taking time to pause before important points will help you better connect with your interviewer and emulate confidence.
A Harvard Business Review study found that successful candidates used hand gestures for exciting and important points. When sharing a personal story, you can move your hands closer to your heart. Moreover, keep an open posture by not crossing your arms.
Finally, it is important that you look into your webcam and not at your reflection. This allows you to make eye contact with your interviewer, a key step for building trust. We recommend that you turn on speaker view so that you are not tempted to look at yourself while speaking.
Research and rehearse
Although it may be tempting to have your notes in front of you, you want to appear prepared and ready to answer any questions without scrolling around on your computer. Research the company beforehand and have thoughtful questions prepared to ask your interviewer.
Additionally, you should practice your responses to common interview questions. For instance, most organizations will ask “why here?” or “tell me about yourself.” By practicing in advance of your interview, you can avoid rambling and sounding unprepared.
Finally, virtual interviews are more monotonous than in-person interviews. You can keep the conversation lively by showing genuine interest, asking engaging questions, and finding common interests with your interviewer.
Dress appropriately
It is still important to dress professionally. Dress as you would if you were interviewing in-person. Studies reveal that people feel more competent, trustworthy, and authoritative when they are dressed in formal business clothing.
Overall, engaging in these practices can help you ace your next virtual interview!
Need practice? Stop by the Human Ecology Career Exploration Center in 1203 MVR to schedule a practice interview with a career assistant!