In a world where online job interviews are the norm, how does one make a good impression in an interview? We have listed down four areas that you should give careful thought to before going to that virtual meeting.
4 Aspects to Be Mindful of When Doing Online Job Interviews
Physical Appearance
First and foremost, in any job interview, whether it is in-person or virtual, you need to dress appropriately for the occasion. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to dress professionally.
We’re not saying to wear a three-piece suit or an evening gown for the interview. You just need to make sure that you appear neat, clean, and decent in an online meeting.
Understandably, since Zoom meetings and webinars are the main means of conducting face-to-face interactions nowadays, most people don’t feel the need to put on proper pants when they go online. We highly recommend dressing fully, shoes included. This helps condition your mind to be more confident in your appearance which will show in how you conduct yourself in the interview.
Make sure your clothes are pressed and have little to no visible creases. Your hair should be fixed and not unkempt. Be cautious with your makeup. You want to make a good first impression. You only have one shot at it so make it count.
Language and Communication
In any interview, communication is important. You need to ensure that the communication between you and your interviewer is clear. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t be afraid to as or to say something. However, you should also be mindful of how you say things.
Choose your words wisely and speak clearly and intelligibly. Speak at a normal pace and volume. If you’re the type of person who talks very fast, very soft, or very loud, you need to make certain adjustments and practice first before you go to the meeting link. Clarity and intelligibility help minimize the chances of any miscommunication.
Be mindful of your body language, too. Don’t slouch in your seat. Look at the camera and not the screen to give the appearance that you’re looking at the interviewer in the eye. Smile and be pleasant all throughout the meeting. Your nonverbal cues are all being observed, too.
Competence
The reason why you’re applying for the job is that you’re confident enough in your competence and what you can offer the company. Whenever you talk about your strengths, always highlight it in a way that is not self-serving nor egotistic. Tell stories about how you were able to help your previous employers and teammates. Show specific instances about how you were able to solve problems and come up with solutions.
If you worked closely with a team before, don’t leave them out of the picture and take sole credit for the team’s achievements. One of the things that most recruiters and interviewers are looking for is a person’s ability to collaborate and work efficiently with a team.
Talk about how your strengths as an individual and as a member of a team. Perhaps you’re great at network segmentation and have a deeper understanding of it. Bring that up in the interview. Maybe you’ve helped your company increase its overall bottom line by working with a team of marketers. Talk about it, too. Show the interviewer the value that you can bring to the company.
Confidence
Finally, be confident. We know it’s already cliché but a confident person appears to be more accomplished and bolder. We’re not suggesting that you become overconfident to the point of arrogance. Nobody wants that.
Anytime you are unsure of yourself during the interviewer, it will show either physically or in your speech. You need to be in your best form when you show up for the interview.
Dress appropriately and know what you’re supposed to say. Do your homework about the company and the job opening so you know what to expect and how to answer the interviewer.
Preparation is crucial at this point. The more prepared you are, the more confident you get.
If you take note of these four aspects and make the necessary adjustments before clicking that Zoom link, you will have far better chances of landing the job that you want. We wish you all the best in your job hunt!
