If you can do a trial run for your video interview setup with a family member or a friend over Skype or Google Meet, youll have a better idea of how youre comfortable listening and speaking. Find out the companys appropriate and expected dresscode. This is the same for if you have small children: arrange for a parent or caretaker to be engaging small children so that they can leave you with some quiet. Send each candidate an invitation for the virtual interview to stay organized. As we mention in our home office setup guide, some houses will experience stronger WiFi in some rooms than in others. Conduct your virtual interviews in a place that is quiet and free from distractions to give your full attention. You can also download one of our free Zoom backgrounds! Scott says this is totally acceptable and indicates your eagerness: You can't go wrong with a follow up email to thank someone for their time. If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Here are steps to take when conducting a virtual interview with a candidate: Even though you may be conducting the interview from home or another remote location, its important to dress professionally to create a businesslike atmosphere. I have pretty bad habits of fidgeting with my hair, like a nervous habit, and with my hair set in a do, I dont touch it at all when interviewing on video. Your interviewer might ask you to use other things, like whiteboarding tools for assignments or sharing a presentation youve prepared for the role. Its good to prepare your questions in advance. If you run into issues, offer to continue with your video off and to save bandwidth. If itll help you mentally feel ready, dress up from head to toe. I think it even looked real! Take the video call where your WiFi isstrongest. Its also ideal to have your interview questions in a Google doc that you toggle into. So, I suggest having some alternate over-ear headphones like these sitting right nearby for backup use. Make sure youre connected to the 5G version for your video interview call. Gaby is a huge advocate for trying to build a connection with your communication skills: From my experience, soft skills and body language can be assessed pretty much the same way as in a traditional interview.. 1. Your answers (and the questions you pose) will seem more relevant, demonstrating your understanding. Use professional language, including body language, and remain focused. Prepare questions and take notes as you go. If you live in a city like NYC, youre probably pretty accustomed to loud airplanes flying overhead, and very frequent ambulances and firetrucks with alarms sounding (the noise can reverberate off buildings like a big echo). For example, if the candidate will need an access code to log in to the interview, list this information in a prominent place in the email. Smile. Photobooth isnt just for stretching your face with the funny filters: its a way of seeing how you look without using Zoom or making a test video call over Google Meet. The video interview dress code will vary, whether youre interviewing at a chilled-out tech startup or an international bank. Its more important than ever to know how to ace a remote interview. Find relevant content from their careers page or handbook if its public. We have some virtual backgrounds that you can have, for free! Ive been doing this in all my interviews. If youre still waiting for the meeting URL or dont want to join quite yet, Photobook can help you out. Yasmine encourages candidates to bring notes to the interview and sees this as a sign of good preparation and an indication of solid organizational skills: Dont read off your lap, but glancing at notes is noticed and loved by recruiters, she shares. While many aspects of the interview process are the same whether in-person or virtual, there are some key differences to keep in mind as you prepare. Some of the links used on this post may be affiliate links. On-ear headphones are new for me, so I use my AirPods as a first choice, and these for when Im in the mood (good for music). Also check that no one on your network is playing games, uploading files or using a lot of bandwidth. If you have a Macbook, you have the Photobooth app. The goal of limiting in-person contact with others is to flatten the curve, or slow the rate of infections so that health care facilities can adequately provide for those who are ill. By holding virtual interviews, you can contribute to the reduction of the spreading of COVID-19 and keep you, your employees, and the candidate safe. Read our Affiliate disclosure. While you take your video interview, do keep your cell phone face-down, as to not distract from getting texts or notifications! Im excited to share some video interview tips here in regard to how to look your best and be low-stress during an online interview. Determine if you will use headphones or computeraudio. work effectively with your remote team members. If you enjoyed this article, give it ashare! If you like wearing your hair down, reconsider if this will mean youll be fidgeting with your hair a lot. Tell your interviewer that youll continue the interview with video so that the audio is as seamless as possible. Carefully toggle into a separate screen if you haveto. Make sure youre connected to the 5G version of yourrouter. Holding virtual interviews can make it challenging for candidates to get an idea of what your company culture and office environment are like. You can also describe the workplace environment to give the interviewee a better idea of what to expect if you hire them. Windows will create back-lit scenarios, making your face dark. **When it comes to video interview setup, sign in early for a few reasons:**. Even if you are, a remote job interview is still an experience very few candidates will have mastered. Many people touch their face and hair when they get nervous. Also, if you have a window to one of your sides and not the other, it could create an awkward shadow. If you have a puppy, try to put him or her in a closed room where barking or yelping wont be a distraction. Anastasia pinpoints the questions candidates ask as a critical window into their analytical skills and their intelligence in relation to the role. In addition to charging headphones, make sure your laptop is charged, if youve brought it into another room and away from your charger. There are more high-quality remote opportunities available on the job market than ever before, and if you continue to apply and interview, you will eventually find the perfect fit for your values and skill sets! On your end, you can pause things like Dropbox or Adobe Creative Cloud from syncing. There are a few unspoken rules to setting up your video interview location and making sure your environment is as top-notch as it can be for this remote interview. When Im interviewing candidates, one of the most important parts for me is seeing what kind of questions theyre asking, as it shows how much preparation they put into the interview. Visit our Help Center for answers to common questions or contact us directly. You submitted a killer application and snagged an interview for an exciting new job. Remember that you want to impress the interviewer and give him or her your full attention. With a good connection, you ensure that you dont miss any part of the interview and that your video is clear. Just like with in-person interviews, develop a standardized system in which you rate each candidates qualifications for the position. To account for this lag, provide the candidate with plenty of time to respond. You get to show your future (hopefully) employer how you hold a conversation, how you shake hands and how you hold eye contact confidently. We're currently working remotely inBrooklyn. If youre more digital, having the questions in a Google doc are completely fine, as long as you read them naturally. In case youre having a messy day, no one will know! I set up a Google Meet invitation called Test, and then we both attended, seeing how it sounded and looked. The following are steps you can take to effectively prepare for a virtual interview: Its important to give your candidates time to prepare for the virtual interview rather than scheduling a meeting for the same day. Wear shoes, too, if this helps you! Consider that on the bright side, a video interview is a great way to stay connected if youre already working remotely. The day before, run a speed test to determine the volume on yournetwork. How Indeed Can Support a Digital Hiring Process, A Business Owner's Guide for Keeping Customers and Clients Safe During the COVID-19 Outbreak, How to Conduct a Successful Video Interview. Ive had a lot of luck with using virtual backgrounds for online video meetings, and meetings are quite similar to video interviews, technically speaking. How can you be the memorable candidate of the day? The invitation should include the day and time that the interview will be held and all the information needed to access the software youll use for the interview. This is a good precaution to take and a good ideal practice just in case your interviewer also signs in early and sees that you were ready, rather than late. Turn off your phone and computer notifications to avoid distractions. Being barefoot can make you feel too comfortable. We recommend some ideas for flats for women in our ladies shoe guide. Its therefore important to head confidently into an interview to show your worth and value. Subscribe to receive the latest Remote blog posts and updates in your inbox. As an alternative to having a phone call if your virtual interview setup backfires, you can create a Whereby room that your interviewer can hop into. If you are applying for fully remote roles, you need to be able to communicate effectively during a remote interview to demonstrate that you can work effectively with your remote team members in the same context. Its important to stay friendly, open, and authentically communicate your interest throughout the conversation. 5. It can be distracting to the interviewer, who gets a clear view of you on a screen. Make sure you understand the size of the company. On the off chance that you have a service interruption, you should always have a backup plan! I recommend drawing the curtains closed and working with a lighting setup over which you have control, or sitting in front of a window that illuminates your body. See more about Zoom and meeting apps in our guide to staying connected as a remote worker or while working from home. For example, if a candidate currently has a full-time job, they may be unable to travel to your workplace for an interview during normal working hours. These days, its more and more common to be offered a remote video interview as a first-round interview for a job in your city. Pause and listen closely, as to not interrupt theinterviewer. Its personal and friendly. Another reason to consider holding virtual interviews is to ensure you meet with all candidates, especially those who have excellent qualifications. This conveys your commitment to professionalism and shows that you take the interview process seriously even when conducting interviews remotely. Remember to bookmark all these video and Zoom interview tips for future virtualinterviews. Scott relies on these cues to assess the cultural fit of remote candidates: At Remote, our number one value is kindness. Do thank your interviewer immediately as you begin, and as youconclude. Conducting virtual interviews ensures your hiring efforts dont suffer as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Consider that what to wear to a remote interview depends on the industry. If Google Meet is problematic, have a backup plan like a call-in number through a phone, or a Skype or Zoom account. You also shouldnt neglect your background. Are you preparing for a virtual interview for a remote job interview process? During the remote job interview process, you may find out that your video interviewer would like to hold the interview over a platform youve never heard of before. I also made sure I could do a screen share, as some final presentation interview rounds require presenting a slide deck or Powerpoint. Check them out. If the recruiter who sets up your video interview does not provide a backup phone number, you can request one for the call. Essentially, having a notebook at your fingertips and your notes and questions written there allows you to continue giving your interviewer attention while you reference the remarks youd like to bring up. I like to go into video interviews being grateful that I dont have to go to an office, get dressed up from head to toe and awkwardly in a lobby or at a reception. Make sure any service or usage within your WiFi network thats using bandwidth in the background is disabled during the interview. Prepare questions you need to ask during the virtual interview. As a safe bet, I usually always wear a blouse, and I add jewelry for a visual pop.