Conducting Zoom Interviews - ElevatedHR
As much as we all probably hope that COVID-19 would just disappear overnight, the reality is that it’s here to stay for the time being. Even after COVID-19, there will be certain trends that still stick around, like working from home and conducting interviews and meetings virtually. As most of you are going through the recruitment process, virtual interviews are either something you love or absolutely hate. Either way, they will be something that you will have to do at some point or another, so it’s best to learn how to become a pro at them now. Luckily, we have some tips and tricks from Rebecca Wood and the team at ElevatedHR. ElevatedHR supports businesses with recruitment, compensation, training, policies, handbooks, terminations, employee engagement, safety & wellbeing. The organization has a wealth of experience on what recruiters are looking for and how to nail your next interview. Here’s some of their advice on interviewing over virtual platforms:
First impressions still count. Just because you aren’t meeting someone in person doesn’t mean that you should be late or unprepared. Treat the interview like an in-person one - you want to be prepared and ready to show off everything that makes you amazing.
Be mindful of background noise. Find a private space where you will not be disturbed by people or pets. This is distracting for both you and the interviewer and definitely takes away from overall experience and your legitimacy.
Digital backgrounds can be distracting. Ensure your background is clean, clear and crisp. The only time you should be using a digital background is if your area is messy or unprofessional. That being said, try to stay away from backgrounds if you can.
Dress for the role. That includes what the interviewer can’t see on video. Even putting on a pair of shoes can shift your mindset and put you into work mode.
Lighting. Selfie rings are inexpensive and can reduce shadows, warm up the screen, and create ambiance. If you can’t afford a ring light, putting a lamp behind your laptop will help light up your face and bring attention to it (which is what you want!).
Turn your self-view off. You can distract yourself by over-thinking what you look like on the screen. Focus on the interviewer and try to be as engaged as possible. Not worrying about what you look like helps with this a lot.
Smile more. The screen takes away from visual body cues that when in person, help us navigate our conversations. Being aware of your “resting face” and smiling more often will put both you and the interviewer at ease. Use hand gestures if you need to appear more relaxed and engaged.
Don’t have other screens or tabs open at the same time as your interview. You will easily be distracted and the interviewer will be able to tell! This also goes for your phone. Keep it away from you, otherwise you might be tempted to look at it if it vibrates. Give the interviewer your undivided attention.
Do not have notes open on your screen. It is really easy to tell when someone is reading off their screen and it definitely makes it look like you are less prepared. Be genuine and prepare in advance.
Be yourself! As much as you want this job, believe me, the interviewer wants you to be “the one” as well.
If this is your first time going through recruitment and you are unsure of what to expect from an internship that is online, check out ElevatedHR’s summer student Fion and the vlog she created about her experience at the organization. Fion was hired for an 8-week internship, which during a global pandemic, was quite different. What is important however, is that despite the challenges that everyone faced, they were able to get creative, be flexible, and manage expectations. These are critical attributes to hold, especially now, because the more flexible and willing to adapt to changing circumstances you are, the greater your employability. Small businesses might not necessarily be able to hire a student due to budget constraints, but you can always reach out for job shadowing opportunities. Be ready to take on challenges and learn! Employers love to see that. At ElevatedHR, they believe that work shouldn’t suck, and the WIB couldn’t agree more. What do you think?
