How to approach an online interview?

Why

As a result of the COVID pandemic, there has been and increase in the number of interviews performed using online platforms such as Zoom and Teams. This is an good alternative to face-to -face interviews as it respects guidelines on social distancing, but also enables the candidates to feel more comfortable and familiar in their environment whilst minimising the travel, cost and time pressure that attending interviews are often associated with. However, using these online platforms is a skill in itself and is not well taught. I have provided this to help those wanting to excel in their online interview. This is personal advice from my experience.

The Setting

Location

You get to choose the location of your interview, so make sure it's a good choice. Most choose the comfort of their own home which I encourage. Not only is there comfort in being in a familiar environment which can optimise performance, there is also evidence suggesting that you perform better in the environment you study from. Therefore, if you practice in front of the computer in a study room then this would be a great location to sit the interview.

Internet

Make sure there is excellent and reliable internet. This may be the most important aspect of the interview as without the internet, there is no interview. As mentioned above, most often candidates choose to interview in their home using home Wifi. Make sure you are constantly checking the home wifi, especially during the time you are expecting to sit the interview. If the wifi is slow then use an ethernet cable to improve the connection and make sure there are no other devices using the wifi at the same time (phones, tablets, other laptops etc). In addition, have a back up. Even with excellent wifi, there is a chance of it cutting out. In this case, make sure you have a backup. This could be tethering your laptop to your mobile phone service provider.

Distractions

Minimise the risk of any distractions during your interview. Distractions will not only affect your concentration but will also make you sound less professional to the interviewers. Turn phones off or on silent. Put a sign on your front door 'do not ring or knock'. Make sure you have no deliveries arriving on the day of your interview. Inform your neighbours of the day and time of your interview so that they can avoid playing basketball outside your window at this time. Inform anyone you live with that you need to be alone in the house during the interview.

The Set Up

Camera

Most laptops have a built in webcam, however, the quality from these webcams are variable and usually poor. You can dramatically improve the quality of your video by changing the camera you use. You can use almost use any recording device for this, and there are many options available from a separate webcams to full DSLR cameras. Review the different options and find out which one best works for you. Once you have a webcam, make sure it is at eye-level (do not look down or up at the webcam) and make sure your head and shoulders are in the shot with some room surrounding room.

Lighting

To compliment the video quality, use good lighting to really make you stand out. Again, this is variable and can range from using a desk lamp to professional studio apature lighting. You can also use natural light from the sun if this is possible, however, sudden cloud in front of the sun can alter the lighting and this may be distracting to both the interviewers and yourself. Just a desk lamp light shining your way makes a significant difference and therefore lighting is a 'must'. some webcams have a built in flash light and these can be a good option for someone who doesn't want to have a camera separate from the lightning.If you want to go the extra mile then look at how professional photographers take photos of products and use this technique to photograph yourself. This may involve two lights shining on you and a third light highlighting the backdrop.

Microphone

Similar to the camera, most candidates use the built in microphone on their laptop. Again, this is generally low quality. Simply buying a separate microphone can make a significant difference to the audio quality and this can have a profound impact on your interview. It is vital to speak loud and clear during your interview and if you do this with a good quality microphone (rather than a built in one) then you will stand out. Generally speaking, the closer the microphone is to your mouth, the better the quality, however make sure the microphone is not in view during the interview.

Backdrop

Keep this simple and plain. Remember that you are the focus of the interview, so make sure nothing distracts the interviewers from you. Use a plain wall with as little details as possible. One plant or one photo may be OK, however, I was advised to use a plain white wall and this worked very well. Again, it just makes you stand out more. Do not use the pre-set backgrounds available on the online platforms, including the blurred background. These are distracting and distort images which ultimately reduce the quality of the interview.

1. Invest in a camera or Webcam. 2) Use lighting to your advantage. 3) Get a microphone and have it close to mouth but out of sight

During the interview

What to wear

This is not too dissimilar to what you would wear in a face-to-face interview, however, there are some subtle differences that I would consider. Firstly, avoid stripe and check patterns. On a video call these can sometime cause an unsettled appearance and can result in illusionary motion (optical illusions) where the pattern on the shirt looks like it's moving. Also, avoid materials that shine. This is more for silk ties, tie clips and jewellery. Shiny materials reflect the light and can cause a distracting shine or glare on the camera. Instead, wear plain items of clothing (with a plain coloured tie for men) without any distracting jewellery or accessories.

Make eye contact

This is unusual at first but makes a huge impact on the interview. Typically, in a face-to-face interview, making eye contact means looking at the interviewers in the eyes, and even this can be difficult when asked challenging questions. Making eye contact on an on-line platform requires you to look down the lens of your camera rather than the interviewers. Initially this is difficult as you are naturally inclined to look at the interviewers on screen however, through practice, being able to communicate whilst looking down the lens of your camera equates to direct eye-contact with the interviewers and makes the interviewer much more focused on you and what you are saying. However, this is difficult and requires practice. Practice at any given opportunity. This may include using the on-line platforms to undertake practice interviews with peers or even make phone calls to family members. To make it easier, place the camera lens close the the images of the interviewers on screen. That way, if you do slip up and look at the interviewers rather than down the lens, it is subtle and less noticeable.

Show your enthusiasm and personality

An interview provides an opportunity to sell yourself. The above points will create an excellent stage for you to do this, however, you need to make the most out of the moment and match your enthusiasm to your preparation. Again, the virtual on-line platform makes this difficult in comparison to face-to-face interviewing and for this reason aim to be slightly over enthusiastic. The above point on making eye-contact is an essential part of this, and should be complimented with passion in you voice, facial expressions and smiles. Learn how to talk with a smile, as you will be doing this for most of the interview. In addition to this, show your personality. An interview is not only an opportunity to test knowledge but also, and perhaps more importantly, an opportunity to get to know you and determine if you will work well within the team. You will be an excellent asset to the team and you need to demonstrate this verbally and non-verbally.

Closing note

Preparation for an interview is key to success. This is especially true for online interviews. Interviews using an online platform provide an opportunity for you to generate your own unfair advantage. Through following the above steps, you have already demonstrated skills in preparation and professionalism. You have already showcased your attention to detail and your commitment to go that extra mile. You have already made a positive impression and you have already expressed your desire for the job.