A growing number of human resources mangers use popular video chat applications such as Skype, GoToMeeting, Google Hangout and Apple’s Facetime to interview job candidates. If you are looking to change your career in this day and age, you are increasingly likely to attend a video based job interview. Before the interview starts, you will do well to read and act on the following tips.
Before the Interview
Location – Choose a location that enjoys stable and fast Internet speed (broadband or Fiber). Furthermore, the area must be well lit and background noise should be minimal. If, like many candidates, you decide on the home, stage the areas behind and to your sides so the ‘scenery’ that the interviewer sees comes across respectable.
Configure on Time – In certain cases, the interviewer will ask you to download and configure their video chat application of choice. Reduce your pre-interview stress levels by doing so well before the interview is due to start. Furthermore, a number of applications will require you to open an account before you can start using the software. This, as you can safely gather, will take a few more minutes to complete. Hence, you are better off downloading and configuring the application well ahead of time. Waiting for the last minute is asking for trouble.
Learn to Use The Application – If you are new to the particular video chat application, it is recommended that you learn to use it before hand. Start by viewing an online tutorial at one of the popular video sharing sites. Then initiate a mock interview by asking someone you know to video call you and ask you a number of career questions. Use this exercise to test your comfort levels of using the application and to test your speaker, microphone and webcam.
Prepare Your Computer – Minutes before the interview, close all non-essential applications on your computer. Your twitter alerts and incoming email notifications might be distracting.
During the Interview
Establish Eye Contact – To come across interested in the position, you must establish and retain eye contact with the interviewer rather than letting your eyes wander off. When you look at the webcam you are making eye contact with the interviewer. Therefore drag the video chat window nearer your webcam. Now when you look at the video chat window, you are looking at the webcam and thereby retaining eye contact.
Your Body Language - Keep your posture open at all times. Crossed arms suggest a closed and defensive position, so practice sitting so that your hands are comfortably rested one on top of the other, or one on the arm of the chair and the other one in your lap. In essence, the same best practices for correct body language that applies to face-to-face interview, apply here.
Avoid Making Noises – Tapping on the desk, dragging papers around and other such activities produce sounds which are often amplified to the other party thanks to the sensitivity of modern microphones.
After the Interview
Thank The Interview – A nice and short email thanking the interviewer for their time the right way to end the interview. If you are invited to a face-to-face interview, make sure the email includes a short line about your interest in the position.
Good luck.
This piece was written by drinks jobs people the Carling Partnership. An International search and selection company offering beer jobs within the biggest breweries in Europe, North America and Asia.