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Your wisdom for job interviewing via Zoom? Not the typical....
So now, 9 months into a pandemic, we know to remove distractions (no kids, no pets, turn off our cell phones). We know that cheesy vacation pictures in our backgrounds aren't helpful. What are your best tips for interviewing for a new position via Zoom that go beyond the regular ones?
Anonymous
12/05/20 at 1:22PM UTC
As a hiring manager one of the things I want to call out is the energy you exude during the interview. It’s been my experience people are more relaxed (probably because they are in their own home) and being on camera it is harder to see other communication cues such as hand movements or if someone is leaning in. Make sure to sit on the edge of your chair which will make you sit up taller automatically and appear more engaged.
Katie FioreGrowth Marketing Strategy & Innovation
12
12/02/20 at 3:56PM UTC
Something I've started doing when presenting on Zoom is placing Post-Its around my monitor to remind myself of things I want to cover when speaking. You could easily do the same thing when interviewing - have a list of experience examples, skills, etc., posted in your sight line so you can reference them if you need to.
Amber MedelArt Director in the San Francisco Bay Area
60
12/01/20 at 9:24PM UTC
Set up your own Zoom meeting with someone beforehand, to test out everything suggested here. Have that person give really honest feedback about everything from lighting, sound, and background to how you come across when talking. Also, do a screen recording of yourself so you can go back and see how you look and sound (it's a little horrifying, I know). Good luck!
Yvette BrooksInternet for all
40
12/01/20 at 4:02PM UTC
Mentally prepare before the interview that you are interviewing THEM. Take deep breaths beforehand if you are feeling nervous. Try to be your natural self. Then in the interview ask the questions that you want to know the answers to. Life's too short to find out three months later when you are in the job and you realize it's not a good fit. Also, I've gotten call backs before from positions I haven't even interviewed for. Interview well and they will remember you. Good luck out there.
Sara Shapiro-Plevan
80
12/01/20 at 4:21PM UTC
Call backs for positions you haven't even interviewed for, that's pretty awesome! Congrats!
SerenaAccount Manager
189
11/30/20 at 11:46PM UTC
Practice before- put a post it note over where your icon will be so you aren’t looking at yourself! Test your audio. Invest in a good microphone if it’s something you can do!
Sara Shapiro-Plevan
80
12/01/20 at 4:21PM UTC
I even encourage folks to take themselves off the screen--Zoom has a "hide self" view which I love (I hate looking at myself). It's great for self conscious types like me and people who don't want to accidentally focus only on themselves!
Katrina HonerCareer Confidence Coach | Employer Branding
124
11/30/20 at 11:44PM UTC
What has always been a conversation starter is the Zoom background I created. All it includes is my name, desired job title, and solid color. (You can create one in Canva for free).
It's simple because the focus is on your name. On top of that it isn't "cheesy" and the easiest way to set up something professional looking instead of having a background with a fake library or bedroom.
Rebeca EvantashStrategic integrated marketing leader
200
12/01/20 at 2:25AM UTC
What a fun idea. Have you received feedback from people on this?
Katrina HonerCareer Confidence Coach | Employer Branding
124
12/01/20 at 2:42AM UTC
In my interview, everyone commented it looked very professional.
When I got hired, a few people asked me to make them a background. Lol.
I actually made it implemented this idea into a company branding strategy - for any virtual events, we all have zoom backgrounds with the company logo, color, our names and titles. It became very popular!
Joy Matwale
87
12/01/20 at 6:37AM UTC
Love It! That's great that it worked out not just for you, but that you were also able something new to the company. I will be borrowing this idea :) Thanks for sharing.
See other replies
Karisa KarmaliFounder of Self-Love and Fitness
1.46k
11/30/20 at 11:32PM UTC
Mindset, lighting, and speak slowly yet clearly, audio issues happen.
Erin RheinschildExperience Management | People | Operations
34
11/30/20 at 10:32PM UTC
Is there a consensus on using a earbuds with a microphone? I have noticed none of my interviewers use them, and then I feel out of step with them if I do. I don't notice a difference in audio quality unless I'm in a room with other people or distractions, which I would not be for an interview.
Amber MedelArt Director in the San Francisco Bay Area
60
12/01/20 at 9:20PM UTC
I have some high-quality, comfortable wireless earbuds and I've found it helps a lot with sound quality and preventing echo. They're generally not visible under my hair, so nobody else in the meeting would know I was using them. I agree that wires would look a little funny if others aren't using them.
Elise LuddyNonprofit and Corporate Events Manager
34
12/01/20 at 2:23PM UTC
I go back and forth with them. I feel like it's more engagement on both the interviewer and the interviewee (or just in general too), so you feel and possibly they feel that you're listening to what they're saying without outside/background noise. I wonder if they have someone else listening in off-camera to your answers. I've had in-person interviews where there's another person in the room (sometimes a HR rep, sometimes not) just there to take notes and listen. I don't see why they wouldn't do that for online interviews too. Overall, I would do what you're most comfortable with, in terms of the earbuds.
Sara Shapiro-Plevan
80
12/01/20 at 4:20PM UTC
I use them sometimes and sometimes not (for other kinds of meetings). It depends on how much ambient noise there is, and how much I am concerned about being heard. I just hate earbuds and think that I do my best work without...
Stacey M. WoodsSVP, HR Operations in Charlotte, North Carolina
17
11/30/20 at 6:59PM UTC
1- dress professionally. Even if the recruiter or hiring manager shares they are a casual company, look the part.
2- ensure you have more than one mode available to connect to the meeting in case the connection drops (I.e. cell phone hot spot).
3- as I’ve conducted interviews, I connect via phone audio instead of computer audio. Often times, feedback and voice echos prove to be incredibly distracting.
4- ensure hair is properly groomed.
5- make eye contact and still do your research on the company. Ask questions that are important to you given the existing environment. Hope this helps!
Madeline SchwarzCommunication + Career Coach for Introverts
27
11/30/20 at 6:55PM UTC
Mindset is everything whether you're interviewing in person or on zoom. So in addition to all the great tech tips, spend some time examining your thoughts. You can think it's weird and stressful or that meeting on zoom is most normal thing in the world, a chance to think on your feet and exchange information.
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