Zoom Interview Tips for Medical & Dental School Applicants

We’ve been interviewing lots of applicants for our medical and dental program via Zoom. Here are 10 tips from an Admissions Director to help students better prepare for a Zoom interview.

1. Dress as you would on an actual in-person interview day. Even if someone might not see your entire outfit, all of this is to help you “get into character”.
2. TURN OFF YOUR PHONE! Don’t just mute it, turn it off.
   P.S. — Unless, of course, you are using your phone for your interview, but also try and avoid using Zoom on your phone to interview if you can.
3. Change your Zoom screen name to your first (preferred) and last name. On in-person interview days, we typically give out name tags to everyone, setting your screen name as your first and last name is far more professional and helps us immediately identify you.
4. Back to phones: just like you wouldn’t pull out your phone during an in-person interview and start texting, don’t even have your phone on your person during a Zoom interview. Even if you are holding it off-screen, we can tell when you are on your phone!
5. If you need to get up to use the restroom or take a break, just tell everyone that you are going to step out for a bit. Everyone needs a bathroom break or to get up and stretch their legs, we understand, just give us a heads up.
6. The morning of your interview update your Zoom software and test all of your equipment ahead of time with a friend (laptop, mic, camera, etc.). One of the biggest issues is microphone feedback. It can ruin the experience for everyone if one person has faulty equipment or settings.
7. Don’t use humorous or quirky Zoom backgrounds. You don’t have to use one at all, but if you do, keep it simple and professional.
8. Get used to using the Zoom breakout rooms feature. Familiarize yourself with how they work, where notifications from breakout rooms come from, and how to move in and out of them.
9. Choose a location in your house that is simple and preferably quiet. Don’t try to impress anyone with the room or location where you interview. I’ve had students interview from their apartment kitchen and it was fine. We all understand.
10. Mute your microphone when you aren’t obligated to talk, especially if you are listening to a general information session. Our Zoom interview day begins with a PPT presentation so respect the presenter by muting your mic.
11. Bonus Tip: Upload a profile photo. There is nothing that looks more disengaged than a blank black screen when someone mutes their camera. Upload a professional profile photo so other attendees can still recognize your face when your camera is temporarily muted.
    https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201363203-Customizing-your-Profile

These are the tips I immediately thought of after conducting a few Zoom interview days. I would love to hear everyone else’s thoughts and ideas.