Virtual Interview Tips – Part 3: Best Virtual Interview Tips

Virtual interviews have become common during the pandemic, but they can be just as intimidating as an in-person interview. To ace your virtual interview and land the job, it’s important that you’re well prepared and are presenting yourself professionally. We have researched the most impactful ways you can impress your recruiter and avoiding any digital missteps along the way.

Present Yourself Professionally

Virtual job interviews might seem like an informal occasion, but the way you dress communicates a lot to your potential employer, just like in a regular interview. Avoid the temptation to join the call wearing informal clothes or, even worse, your pyjamas. The same goes for your surroundings. If you join the call with a pile of dirty laundry on your bed in the background, that doesn’t exactly scream “I’m a professional that takes things seriously”. As with a traditional interview, make sure you speak politely and professionally and don’t answer your phone or switch to another window on the computer when the recruiter is talking to you.

Make Sure Your Technology is Working

For an in-person job interview, most people leave the house 30 minutes early in case there’s traffic or setback on the way. It’s important to be just as prepared for a virtual job interview. Well before the scheduled interview, make sure you’re connected to the internet, that your computer’s camera and microphone are working properly, and that you have the link to the conference call or video platform at the ready. Ideally, do this the day before the interview to avoid any last-minute emergencies that could affect how the recruiter evaluates you.

Be Yourself

While virtual job interviews might feel a little uncomfortable at first, try relaxing and being yourself so that you make a good impression with the recruiter. Staring blankly at the screen or looking out of the window every ten seconds are likely to come off as impolite and unprofessional, so just act as if the recruiter was physically sitting in front of you. Things like body language and enthusiasm are hard to gauge through a computer screen, so make sure you’re being expressive and communicative despite not being physically in the same space as the person interviewing you.

Send A Follow-Up Email

Sending a follow-up email to your recruiter the day after your job interview is one of the best ways to increase your chances of getting to the next round of interviews or even landing the job. It shows that you’re highly interested in the position and can be a good opportunity to reinforce why you think you’re the right candidate. You can use the email to thank the recruiter for considering you, to express why you want the job, and to revisit any issues brought up during the interview. Keep it professional and to the point.

Make sure to implement these tips in your next virtual job interview, and good luck. You’ve got this!

More Virtual Job Tip Articles:

• Virtual Job Tips – Part 1: Four Powerful Resume Hacks That Get You Noticed by Recruiters in 2021
• Virtual Job Tips – Part 2: 3 Job Searching Techniques Recommended by Recruiters