SarawakYES!

  • Home
  • Career Advice
  • Education
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Digital Economy
✕

Preparing for a virtual interview

Career Advice, Digital Economy, Newspaper Column

Preparing for a virtual interview

sarawakyes.com June 8, 2020

In your job search during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a likelihood that you would be asked to attend job interviews virtually.

This is not a recent scenario. In a survey conducted by organisational consulting firm Korn Ferry in June 2015, almost 75 per cent out of 700 employers used real-time video platforms to interview leading candidates.

Given the present situation that demands businesses to be highly adaptable, virtual interviews might become part of the new normal for employers to expand their talent pool, reduce costs, and ensure the health and safety of themselves and potential employees.

Preparing for a virtual interview is similar to an in-person interview: you need to dress appropriately, practise your answers to potential questions, establish rapport with your interviewer, and follow up after every session.

However, there are some key considerations to remember in order to achieve a successful one.

Test your technology

Being technologically-savvy is one of the most important skills that employers are searching for in a potential employee. Therefore, you must be able to prepare the necessary technology before you can attend a virtual interview.

Set things up at least several days in advance. Check that your Internet connection is reliable, your camera and microphone are functioning, and the right video conferencing software (Zoom, Skype, etc) is installed.

Most importantly, test things regularly until the day before the interview to ensure that they can be used to communicate effectively.

Set your environment

For a virtual interview, an employer’s first impression on you might depend on the environment you choose for the session.

Thus, you should find a quiet location with the least distractions if you want to do it at home. The space you opt for should be well-lit, professional-looking and kept clean to keep the interviewer’s focus on you.

You should also limit any distractions before your interview. Turn off the TV, put your smartphone on silent mode, and inform the people in your home that you need a quiet space for the interview.

Watch your body language

Due to lack of physical connection, your body language is important in expressing your enthusiasm towards getting the job during a virtual interview.

Learn how to communicate through your body language clearly and professionally. Show confidence by sitting up straight, smiling, and refraining from fidgeting.

Looking at the camera is especially helpful – studies have shown that employers tend to remember candidates who maintain eye contact throughout an interview.

Be yourself

When convincing the interviewer why you’re the best person for the job virtually, it is vital to show him or her your authentic self because the interviewer needs to gauge your suitability for the position and the company.

Therefore, leverage your body language, facial expressions, interview preparation, and interpersonal skills effectively to convey your enthusiasm, confidence, and personality across the virtual divide.

This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

First published in the Borneo Post online on 6th June 2020: https://bit.ly/2MHmyEk

Photo by Marcus Aurelius from Pexels.

Author: sarawakyes.com

Previous Article

Juggling freelancing while working full time

Next Article

How to prioritise your workload

Latest Posts

The Nature of Employment in Tourism

The Nature of Employment in Tourism

Creating a Career Development Plan

Creating a Career Development Plan

The Advantages and Challenges of Self-Employed Youth

The Advantages and Challenges of Self-Employed Youth

Categories

  • Career Advice
  • Day in the Life
  • Digital Economy
  • Education
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Newspaper Column
  • Resume and Cover Letter Advice
  • Sarawak Jobs
  • SarawakYES! News

About SarawakYES!

SarawakYES! is an initiative aiming to build a better future for all Sarawakians.

At SarawakYES! we want to help Sarawakians discover opportunities to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals.

An important part of this is providing them access to great education, which will allow them to start building careers and lives that are rewarding and enriching.

Through our blog and social media channels, we offer practical and useful information to help guide people on their journey towards attaining academic and career success.

Archives

Tags

Bintulu Borneo business career career development career path career planning careers digital economy digital entrepreneurship digital technology education employability employment engineering entrepreneur entrepreneurship job job application job search Kuching Malaysia Miri online entrepreneurship personal personal development personal management productivity Sarawak Sibu skills social media soft skills study technical education technical training technology tips TVET university vocational education work work experience workplace youth entrepreneurship
Arba WordPress Theme by XstreamThemes.