Some helpful tips to help you prepare for your virtual interview:
- Test your technology beforehand.
- Depending on the software program that will be used to conduct your virtual interview (Webex, Zoom, etc.), be sure to check the audio and video settings on the app to ensure that the program is working effectively.
- Wear professional attire.
- In a virtual interview, you should dress the same as you would in a face-to-face interview. If unsure of what to wear, business casual attire is usually a safe option. Be sure to dress from head to toe for a virtual interview, in case you may need to or be asked to get up during your interview!
- Choose an appropriate setting for your interview.
- Choosing an appropriate setting will help to limit distractions, whether that includes noisy family and roommates or distracting objects in your surroundings. Try to stay in a quiet room for the duration of your interview and if staying with family or roommates, be sure to inform them of your interview so that they maintain appropriate noise levels during your interview.
- Try to position your camera to face a plain wall or background. This will help to limit the view of distracting objects in your background. If needed, you can utilize a virtual background but be sure to test the virtual background setting before your interview!
- Be aware of your body language and facial expressions during the interview.
- It is important to maintain professional body language during a virtual interview due to the limited ability to communicate in a virtual setting. Maintaining professional body language includes sitting up straight, positioning your camera so that you are directly positioned in the middle of the screen, and giving enough distance between you and the camera so that the interviewer(s) can feel comfortable with their viewpoint of you.
- Facial expressions are also important when communicating with the recruiter(s). Be sure to exude interest and enthusiasm by maintaining stable eye contact with the interviewer and soliciting vibrant expressions like smiling and nodding.
- Other helpful tips:
- Be authentic! Express yourself in ways that feel natural to you and convey your confidence and personality through conversation and authentic responses.
- Establish rapport! You can do this through casual conversation, which will help you to find common interests between you and the interviewer and to learn about their experiences. Building your rapport allows you to separate yourself from other candidates and to build a stronger connection with the recruiter.
- Do lots and lots of research before your interview! Make sure to be knowledgeable about the company and position you are interviewing for. It is helpful to be familiar with the company mission, values, and accomplishments. It is also helpful to know what the position you are applying for entails and the kind of skills desired for that position so that you can express effectively why you are the best candidate for that position.
- Be prepared to sell yourself! If you’ve had prior work experience, be prepared to speak about your past experiences — what you did, what you accomplished, and what you learned from those experiences. It’s also important to be prepared to speak about anything included on your resume, including any listed skills, projects, or professional or academic accomplishments. Use those as your selling points, but be sure to maintain your authenticity and legitimacy while selling yourself!
Next Steps Following Your Interview:
- Follow up with an email
- After your interview, plan to send a follow-up email to your interviewer (be sure to get their contact information during your interview if you don’t already have it!). A safe timeline for sending a follow-up email is within 24 hours of an interview. In the email, be sure to thank the interviewer for their time and let them know you’re available if they have any additional questions. If you remember any interesting topics discussed during the interview, be sure to include those details in the email in order to distinguish yourself from other candidates.
- Keep a record of who you spoke to during your interview and any additional information you learned about the company or position from your interview.
- In the case that you have a follow up interview, it would be beneficial to know who you’ve already spoken to and to utilize some of the information you gained from your previous interview.
- Connect with your interviewer on LinkedIn.
- Whether it is to build your network or keep in contact with your interviewer, it is beneficial for you to connect with them on LinkedIn. If you plan on reapplying to the company in the future, it will also help to maintain a relationship with your interviewer through the professional networking app in case you may want to reach out to them for future opportunities.