Gated content for a pharmaceutical executive recruiter.
So much has changed in this era of social distancing, and interviewing is one of them. Companies still need good people, and you still need to interview to show you’re the right fit. You’ve always prepared for interviews. Things are different now, and video interviews require a little more, a little different, preparation. You want nothing on your mind but presenting your best self.
Video interviews are like a show.
Check the Tech
SpeedTest is a fast, free way to check your internet speed. If your connection seems sluggish, close any programs you don’t need and ensure no one else using your WiFi network.
Need more speed? Speed up your connection without spending a dime, says Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler. One of his suggestions is to move closer to the router.
Get familiar with the platform. In Fast Company, LinkedIn’s head of Careers Products, Blake Barnes, advises candidates to try out Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom. They are free, at least for a trial. And one browser may work better than another.
You might sound better using an external microphone rather than your computer’s mic and speakers.
Prioritize the camera, not the screen, advises Christopher Null in Fast Company. If your phone or tablet has a stronger camera than your computer, which is likely, use the device that’ll have you looking better.
If you are using a phone or a tablet, secure it so you don’t have to worry about wobbly equipment. If something does go wrong, LinkedIn’s Barnes points out that your interviewer will note the way you behave under stress.
Aim the camera like you’re taking a head shot. Have a little room above your head and end right above the belly button. That way your body language and personality show, IT consultant Mahdi Kafi wrote in Cultivated Culture.
2. Set up the Set
Face a window, a selfie light, and/or a lamp to look your best. Ensure the focus will be on you. Clear any distractions, including phones, pets and people. Ensure the background is neutral and the room is quiet.
Sit up at a desk or table.
You can put notes where you can refer to them unobtrusively.
Always position your camera at eye-level, not above or below you, and look into the camera, not the eyes on the screen.
"The angle is so critical," says Paul J. Bailo, author of "The Essential Digital Interview Handbook, said in Business Insider. “…if I'm looking down at the camera, I'm looking down at the hiring manager….” Consultant Kafi recommended placing a sticky note with a smiley face above the camera to remind you where to look.
3. Rehearse
You’ve always practiced before an interview, but a video interview requires a little more. LinkedIn’s Barnes suggested this tool to help you prepare.
You’ve mined your experience so you’re ready to “Tell about a time when…” Now practice delivering those answers succinctly into a camera. It’s different.
Again, look into the camera, not at the person on the screen. Weird as it sounds, the interviewer will feel you’re making eye contact with them. Your mobile device’s rear camera is usually stronger anyway.
Practice with a FaceTime or Google Duo call with someone you trust to give you candid, useful feedback.
After an initial check, consider covering your own image with a post-it note on your computer screen. You don’t need the distraction, and you need eye contact. You look great, right?
4. Dress the Part
You know how to dress for an interview, but a video interview doesn’t mean you dress halfway. LinkedIn’s Barnes suggests you wear matching bottoms in case you need to get up on camera. And definitely wear solid colors. Patterns can be distracting on camera.
“Put your work shoes on,” Adam Sanders of Successful Release recommends in Wired. “It might seem strange to wear your shoes during a videoconference, but it has an important psychological effect on you.”
5. Go for the Encore
It’s a show, but it’s not an act. You showcased your authentic professional self. Close! Ask what the next steps are, point out ways you shown that you meet or exceed their expectations, and ask for that next step.
Follow up with a thank you, thanking them for considering you, reiterating how you’re the right person for the position, or even saying the position isn’t right for you.
Next, follow up with your recruiter. Then be patient. There are more candidates to see and other decision-makers to confer with, so it may take a while for the hiring manager to get back to you.
