Preparing For Your Online Interview: What You Need To Know
In what seems like overnight, many employers are shifting from competing in talent wars to having potential new hires beating down their virtual doors looking for work. While many companies have been conducting online interviews for years if this is your first time interviewing online here is what you need to do to prepare for your interview.
- Know the Online Address Directions
There are a number of platforms that a potential employer could interview you on. Much like you find the directions to an in-person interview, adjust for traffic, parking, and arriving just early enough to show you are punctual the same is true for online interviews.
Download the proper software well in advance. If you are not given the link to the interview immediately, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for the platform. Test it out and make sure you understand how to use all of the software components. Showing up to an interview unprepared and late because you’ve never used the software before is not an acceptable response and will not get you hired.
2. Do A Test Run
From an early age, I have been notorious for getting lost. However, through the years I’ve learned to use it to my advantage and better prepare myself. Whenever possible I used to do a test run to make sure I knew exactly where I was going, what the parking situation was, make sure there were no surprises like construction or street closures to deal with. (This was pre-internet times). This is still the best online practice.
Not all software you download will automatically sync with your computer setup. Additionally, if you are using a public computer you won’t be allowed to use many software applications for privacy reasons.
Don’t just download the software needed to do a full test. Have a friend or colleague join you online and ensure the person on the other end can hear and see you clearly. Be sure to check the sound quality and echo with and without headphones.
3. Present Yourself In A Positive Light
This is both metaphorical and literal. When you go to an in-person interview you take the time to present yourself in the best way possible and one suited for the role you’ll be applying for. Interviewing online takes the same kind of attention to detail. Make sure you’re set up in such a way that the lighting doesn’t block you out. Check your background. Don’t allow for anything that will cause the interviewer to be distracted from you.
Be aware of the noise level. Let others know you’ll be interviewing and to keep the noise down. Outside factors interrupting the interview will not have the interviewer leaving with a positive memory of you. Interviewing in a public space is not recommended.
4. Clean Up Your Desk(top)
Be prepared and ready to share your screen should the interviewer ask. Act as if the interviewer is sitting at your desk with you. What is on your desktop? Is it clean? Do you have several tabs open that are not beneficial to your interview? Close all your tabs and disable all alerts that could possibly distract from your interview.
5. Have Your Interview Questions Ready
Make sure that you have questions ready to be asked even before the interview begins. There is never a reason not to have questions after you’ve been interviewed. It is most often perceived as a lack of interest. Stating that you don’t have any questions because the interviewer answered them all is not acceptable. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your questions are more company-related than position related. In the event that the interviewer did answer your questions related to the position you still have relevant questions.
Interviewing in-person or online can make anyone nervous. Preparedness is what enables you to put your best foot forward, allows you to shine and stand out from the competition during the interview process.
I’ll be writing more articles on how to interview online but without proper preparation, your first impression could be a poor impression. In this new market, you can’t afford to make a poor impression.
Melissa Smith has been working remotely since 2013. In 2017, she became location independent. During that time she traveled to 16 countries in 12 months while running her business.
Now Melissa teaches and consults others on how to work remotely, specializing in the remote hiring process. You can learn more about working with Melissa at melissasmith.io
Additionally, Melissa and is an author and mentor for the first global, online education remote individual certification program with Remote-how Academy, as well as the Founder & CEO of the Association of Virtual Assistants and The PVA. She is also the bestselling author of Hire the Right Virtual Assistant and Become A Successful Virtual Assistant.
Melissa has since gained international recognition and has been featured in Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and many others.
