Congratulations! Your application documents were well received, the recruiter has become curious and would like to get to know you. Does that mean that you have to be prepared for a perhaps longer journey to your dream employer? Could it possibly get complicated right now, in times of the corona crisis, contagion fears, and travel restrictions?
Don’t worry. More than ever, more than a few companies are prepared to carry out the next selection step at a distance. Not just since yesterday, by the way. In the past, it often happened that the first job interview was not done in person, but over the phone. If the candidate made a professional and personable impression there, a personal invitation was issued. Nowadays job applicants can not only convince with their voice: Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp and other applications make it possible to present themselves personally over long distances in the truest sense of the word “in the best possible light.” During a job interview then via video.
Video selection interviews offer both the employer and the job prospect several advantages: those involved are spatially independent, save time and money, and, depending on the design of the interview, can even communicate with one another at different times. Because video interviews can be carried out both in real-time and in the form of recordings, which are prepared by the HR manager and answered by the job applicant, according to his instructions, within a specified time frame.
Whichever form the company chooses: You should approach video job interviews with the same seriousness and care as you would a face-to-face job interview. That means: prepare yourself! Find out more about the company and give yourself plenty of time to think about how you want to present yourself. Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses? Why exactly do you want to work in this position? And what can you offer the company? The better prepared you are, the more relaxed you will be able to approach the conversation. And the other person can feel this via video.
To make the conversation a complete success, we are going to introduce you to some mistakes that you can easily avoid:
Unprofessional appearance
As convenient as it may be to interview your own four walls – it is and will remain a professional conversation. Therefore, make sure you have a professional appearance in every respect. This applies to your own person – clothing, hairstyle, and, for women, subtle make-up – as well as the place where you present yourself. Make sure you have a tidy environment that does not reveal too much private information. A neat bookshelf or a light wall in the background is ideal. Speaking of make-up: shiny skin always looks unattractive, this applies to both sexes. A little powder, albeit unfamiliar, cannot harm a man either. You can wash it off right afterward.
Disturbing background noise
Create an atmosphere in which you can concentrate well and are not distracted. Make sure that nobody is around for the duration of the interview, switch your mobile phone to flight mode, turn off the television and radio, and, if necessary, close the windows to avoid street noise. Of course, you should not choose a place that is frequented by people, such as a street café. This shows respect for the recruiter, who also has an interest in being able to understand you well. You are also signaling that this interview is my top priority.
Unsightly shadows
Even if it may be cozy: The job interview does not take place by candlelight. Make sure there is good lighting. Don’t hide anything. Proper positioning of the light source can also prevent your facial features from looking too harsh or making you look overtired from shadows under your eyes. Position the camera at eye level. Before the interview, take enough time to check your effects in the video.
Tense posture
If possible, prefer the PC instead of the cell phone so that you can sit relaxed in front of the camera and use both hands. You can concentrate fully on the conversation and, if necessary, take notes. A good headset ensures that you understand your interview partner without interference and that they can also be heard by them without interruptions. If you have to use the phone in any case, invest in a mobile phone holder that gives you the freedom of movement you need.
Inadequate technology
It would be particularly annoying if you were ideally suited for the job, but a technical problem meant that you could not present yourself appropriately to the person you were talking to. Invest in a good webcam that paints a clear picture of you and a microphone that lets your voice through without distortion. A stable internet connection is essential. Make sure that the battery of your device is fully charged before you start the call.
Gestures and facial expressions
With a relaxed smile and a confident posture, you can also score points in video interviews. Make sure you are comfortable and take a few deep breaths in and out before switching on. Having a glass of water within reach helps against a hoarse voice. You can also take a sip if you need a little time to ponder. Eating or smoking during the conversation is, however, taboo.
The party king…
is not the name with which you present yourself to the recruiter from your most professional side. However, it is not so rare that a video program – for example Zoom – remembers your last username and displays it automatically. When logging in, check your personal information once again and, if necessary, replace it with your full first and last name.
Insufficient preparation
It doesn’t hurt to practice a video job interview with friends beforehand. In this way, you can come up with an elegant answer to surprising or perhaps even unpleasant questions. These could be gaps or breaks in the résumé for which HR managers want a coherent explanation. People are also happy to ask what salary expectations you are applying with. There is information that you do not have to answer according to the current legal situation. This includes, among other things, your family plans, your current health, if it is not directly related to your intended job, as well as religious or political views. Since the legislature is aware that you could experience disadvantages if you do not want to answer these questions, you have a right to lie in – narrowly defined – exceptional cases. A tip: put a piece of paper with notes and any questions and answers within sight. That gives security. Be careful, however, that your answers don’t seem memorized.
Conclusion
Prepare yourself mentally and technically as well as possible, but stay calm. Make yourself aware that your interview partner is someone you want to get to know because your first presentation made a positive impression on them. Now you have the chance to deepen this impression. We wish you every success.