5 Tips to Prepare for a Zoom Interview
This pandemic has opened the doors of a new world for us: a world where our lives revolve around apps like Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Teams etc. Be it work from home or online classes, everything is getting a virtual fixture. Not only this, a lot of employers now conduct hiring process online as well. Therefore, the question arises — how to embrace this new normal ?
In this article, I will be sharing some tips that will help candidates seeking jobs or admission into colleges to crack interviews conducted online.
- Familiarize yourself with the technology — Every app has a different interface. In order to feel comfortable on the D-day, you should make yourself completely familiar with how the platform is operated upon. Check the audio and video settings by making a call to a friend or a family member. Practicing this for at least 2 -3 times before the final interview will eliminate the chances of a technical glitch and ease out the nervousness caused in case there is any on the day itself.
2. Search for a perfect background — Background plays a crucial role in an online interview, as reflects your sincerity and commitment to the task at hand. Try to find a plain white background for the interview and focus on the direction of lighting. Sit in such a way that light falls on your face so that your face is visible and not on your back. Try to choose a place at home that is quiet and well ventilated.
3. Dress to impress — There is no doubt that the first thing that comes to mind while preparing for an interview is what do I choose to wear. It is rightly said that the first impression is the last impression. In a Zoom interview, we overestimate ourselves by focusing on the attire of the upper body as the lower half is not visible. Most of us dress formally for the visible upper half while dressing casually for the lower half. However, we often forget that real confidence is built by not only through the knowledge that we possess but also by the tiny details in the efforts that we put in. Hence, the dress you wear makes a huge difference on the way you feel. So, it may be a Zoom interview but dress yourself as if you actually sitting in a real interview.
4. Mute notifications — In interviews, focusing on the questions and utilizing your presence of mind are the key pointers to answer effectively. Try to keep only one tab open in the browser. If you have connected phone on your laptop then make sure it doesn’t cause a distraction by constant notifications. Keep all the gadgets in the room on mute .
5. Be ready with a back up- The technological world has its own ups and downs.There can be technical glitches, so be ready with a back up plan. Keep in the room a second laptop or a tablet. If you are connected to a Wi-Fi network, keep another phone of one of your family members at the ready, so it can be used as a back up. Prefer a hot-spot over a Wi-Fi, especially if you live in a place where there are chances of a power cut .
Failing to plan is planning to fail. So, prepare well for all the online interviews using the above steps because this time the platform might be a little different and strange, to a few, but an ounce of extra effort can make the journey smoother.
