The year 2021 dawned upon the working class with a new trend of “remote working”. As more and more companies are bracing up to steady their pace and adopt the new “normal”, terms like Zoom, skype, Meet allowing video interviews have proven to be a bliss for the hiring teams.
Here is how you can turn this buzzing trend of video interviewing to your advantage and gain the most out of it.
Check for Proper Tech
Video interviews need to be as flawless as in-person interviews so ensure that you maintain connection with the interviewer throughout the call. Ensure that you have the proper technology for an uninterrupted experience which may require:
- An internet connection with speed of at least 0.7-1 Mbps and for high-definition video calls, you require internet bandwidth of 2-3 Mbps.
- Screen which can either be a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone with proper applications and plug-ins installed.
- A webcam attached to your desktop or the smartphone camera with an ability to display your facial expressions, roughly of resolution 720x 1280p or higher.
- Headphones with proper voice control functionalities
Check for these tech aspects thoroughly to avoid unnecessary glitches in the middle of the video interview.
Personality and attire still matter
Dress properly and professionally in order to make an everlasting impression. We usually see people being informal in video interviews and showing up in their normal attire which is a big mistake. Even though in-video, it is still an interview and you need to behave and dress-up like one. Choose a camera-loving attire which is not too gawdy for the camera and looks professional. Set the camera angle in a proper direction displaying the upper part of your body, with your face a little over the centre of the screen.
Tip: Sit confidently, sit up straight, and avoid using your hand too much for gestures.
Light up your face yet avoid glare
While choosing a position to place your smartphone camera or laptop, the lighting needs to be taken into account. Sitting in a place wherein the light source is falling behind you will end up dimming the light on your face and produce a dark and dizzy frame. Sitting adjacent to a well-lit window or a lamp beside the table will render ample amount of light onto your face for greater visibility.
For the ones donning glasses or jewellery, keep the glare away by adjusting the light source before the final call or turning your camera and screen towards a position that keeps that extra shine away from the reflective objects.
Connect better with eye contact
With better quality webcams and cameras available, the video interview experience is as real as it can get. It gives the vibe of an actual interview room and you, too, should present and act like you are in one. But you cannot shake your hands at the start of an interview in this case, so opt for establishing a digital connection. Make eye contact with the interviewer right from the start for that natural connect.
Remember to keep the screen displaying the interview close to the camera lens or webcam so it feels like you are looking into the camera and into the eyes of the interviewer and smile while in conversation. Looking elsewhere, like in any other normal conversation, is a solid sign of disinterest and absent-mindedness.
Opt for a decent background
Going for an artificial background by choosing different coloured screens is a big no-no unless you are video-calling sitting on the branch of a tree and absolutely have to. It looks artificial and highly unprofessional. Instead, go for a clean(mess-free) corner of the house and keep things natural. It is said that homes are a reflection of your personality so wear that back set-up as a crown. It can even be kept subtle such as a neutral-coloured wall, anything that is free of low and free from distractions.
Be an early bird
Punctuality is a cherished trait within work culture, and you don’t want to forge a first unpleasant impression. Log-in before 10 minutes of the scheduled interview and check the sound, camera angle and internet one last time. While at it, you’ll also have ample of time to adjust your screen and distance from the laptop for that perfect frame.
Maintain a conversational pace
Remember to speak in a normal pace while talking in a video call. Especially if you are someone with a fast talk pace, it is essential to slow down for better sound clarity. This is due to the fact that video calls experience a lag and when you talk very fast (like normal conversational tone), the interviewer might not understand a word you say and may ask you to repeat.
