Facing and Acing Digital Interviews
Video interviews have evolved to be a vital part of the hiring process. Whether you’re camera-shy or not, today’s global competition demands that you are able to present yourself just as well over a digital interview as in person. With such high standards in place for every step of the hiring process, read on to find out how you can stay ahead of the competition.
1. Environment check
Keep your environment clean. Ideally, don’t give the interviewer the opportunity to take their eyes off you (by keeping absolutely nothing else in the frame). The ideal frame should be a wall behind you.
This is done so that the limited time available is spent talking about the important and relevant things rather than how neatly/clumsily your bed is made. This also prevents the interviewer from forming biases — for example, the interviewer may think you’re not a very organized person because of that messy bed they see in the frame!
2. Lighting and background noise
Proper lighting is another important aspect of the environment. Make sure you’re in an environment that has sufficient lighting so that the interviewer can see your face clearly.
Close any windows or doors that might be open. Background noises can and have distracted people before, and the interview will be no exception.
3. Tech check
Make sure your internet connection is stable, your video-audio works well, and that your device has sufficient charge. If you’re relatively new to a platform, spend some time getting comfortable using it well ahead of your scheduled interview.
4. Dress appropriately
It’s always a safe choice to wear formal clothing unless you know with 100% certainty that business casuals are allowed.
Kid nobody and wear those pants well. You’ll never know when you might need to get up and walk during the interview.
5. Eye contact and body language
To make sure your body language is like it would be during an in-person conversation, make sure your camera is eye-level. Use a table or some books to prop your camera up to the desired height. This ensures you don’t have to look up or down while conversing.
Eye contact is one of the most important elements of communication — whether direct or virtual. Make sure you look straight into the camera while speaking, and look at the screen while listening. Feel free to nod and move your hands around like you normally would. This adds a human touch to the virtual conversation.
6. Skip the notes and stickies
People can track eye movement even during a digital interview which is why it’s important to prepare beforehand and not get caught looking at notes. The one exception that comes readily in mind is when you’re trying to pull up some figures from a previous project — in which case, having the document ready in hand is recommended.
7. Preparation check
Preparation is the key to everything in life, including interviews. Be prepared with questions to ask the interviewer, responses to common questions and also be psychologically prepared.
Ideally, begin your preparation days ahead of your interview so you have enough time. Getting a good night’s sleep the night before helps to a great extent. Going over your answers, your communication skills, how you present yourself are all factors you should consider. You could make use of tools like the MirrorAI app to practice your responses and get feedback on your non-verbal communication like eye contact, calmness, etc.
To quote Gina Linetti from Brooklyn Nine Nine, notoriously famous for her confident and secure personality, “Life is chaos, success is arbitrary. But confidence is everything”.
So, do whatever it takes to stay confident and calm during your interview. And may the force be with you!
