Employment  Advice Column: Preparing for a virtual job interview

Dear Joanna

I’m scheduled for an online job interview on Zoom  with a local financial company for a data entry position. I’ve never participated in this type of job interview – only in-person ones.  How do I properly prepare for a successful virtual job interview?

Signed: Camera shy

Dear Camera,

Welcome to the world of technology especially post the Covid pandemic! There are tons of ways of interviewing these days including employers using AI (artificial intelligence) avatars to arrange the job interview via text! Zoom, Teams, and video-conferencing online tools are other examples.

I’ve consulted with recruiters for advice as well as from my own job search experiences to present the following suggestions on how to prepare for this type of job interview and make the best impression to the interviewer.

1. Clean up your online digital print. Make sure all your social media profiles are professional. Remove all the “digital dirt” and if you don’t have this in place already, create a professional email and ID name. There is a high chance that the recruiter will check out your Linkedin profile even before meeting you! If you need to, create a new facebook page for the job search as well as for future professional activities. Once the information is out there in cyberspace, it’s forever.
2. Research the company. Learn as much as you can about the company and its employees as well as career opportunities. Use Linkedin and google to do this. If you can chat with an employee to get an idea of the culture, the expectations of the position and the job interview, great.
3. Technical check-in. Make sure all of the audio-visual and computer equipment are working in advance. Select a quiet, clean and well-lit office type environment where you will conduct the interview without any distractions or noises in the background. Silence your phones. A headset can be helpful so you can have more control with your body and hands and to keep out unwanted noises.
4. Present yourself professionally. Just as you would in a face-to-face interview, be clean and neat, dress well, and act professionally. If you want to be sure of what to wear, again, ask other employees at this company via social media or pick up the phone for an informational interview. Fashion photographers recommend avoiding wearing pure black on camera.
5. Be aware of your non-verbal/body language. Just as you would with any interview format, be yourself and be professional. You have been called for an interview because of your qualifications and talents. Make sure the webcam or camera on your computer is placed correctly above the eye-line slightly downward facing the interviewer. Test this out with a friend or family member before the interview. Adjust it (or get help) when you connect with the employer. You can explain this to the interviewer at the beginning. Smile and present enthusiasm for the position with a professional and confident energy.
6. Prepare and practice. This is key so that you are ready for the behavioural or situational questions. Rehearse with a friend, family, partner, and/or an employment specialist at a local employment program. Attend interview skills workshops prior to the interview and be ready to meet your next boss with your scripts and presentation. Use online tools to rehearse and practice interview questions.

Good luck with the online interview.

Joanna

To submit your challenges, concerns, questions and comments regarding this column and/or your job search IN CONFIDENCE, please email Joanna Samuels, Employment Resource Supervisor, Reena – jsamuels@reena.org