Cracking a Virtual Interview in the Post COVID Era: Things You Must Remember

Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced broad swaths of the economy to embrace remote work, the impact on job hunters has been seismic. Due to the restrictions on social gathering and travel during the coronavirus crisis, many job interviews have adapted in an agile fashion by migrating their interview process online with readily available video conferencing technology platforms, such as BlueJeans, Zoom, Cisco Webex, and Skype. A video interview can be a good concept, as long as you are prepared for what might go wrong. Mastering the virtual interview is often one of the first steps toward a cracking first interview and subsequent employment. Here I discuss few tip and tricks and points to remember.

·        Avoid acting too casual

·        Use a professional screen name

·        Project a confident tone and body language

·        Dress professionally

·        Choose the right location

·        No interruptions

·        Show a clear image of your face

·        Get a well-balanced shot of your head and upper body

·        Make proper eye contact

Looking at your notes is acceptable in a video interview. As long as you do it subtly, there's no reason you can't have handy tips nearby. Use them to help you answer any difficult questions or remember specific facts about the role or company.

Remember that When employers using video to screen candidates, it is possible to more easily judge you by your appearance and eliminate prematurely since they miss that personal connection and the “real” eye contact that can happen during an in-person interview.

Another limitation of virtual interviews is that Video interviews can be very stressful for some candidates who are not comfortable with using technology and/or being on camera and feeling self-conscious. You may not feel as though you are getting a fair chance because the video acts as a barrier that keeps your real personality from coming through.

There’s no way to know exactly what a hiring manager will ask, but there are some common interview questions you can prepare for. Consider prepping answers to some standard questions to ensure you put your best foot forward on camera.

Hence It is worthwhile for you to follow these points carefully and to be familiar with the video technology used for your interview. You may have concerns with the virtual interview process, such as decreased time for personal interactions with the interview team, lack of a physical tour of the company, and difficulties with displaying interpersonal qualities over streaming video.