Video interviewing is quickly becoming a favorite medium for
employers to connect with potential candidates. Knowing how to conduct
or participate in a video interview and have everything go smoothly,
however, takes some preparation.
Here are a few tips to help you do your best:
1. Make a Good Connection
- Before you can make a good connection with an employer during an
interview, you must first ensure that your internet connection is up to
par. Conduct the interview somewhere where you will have a steady
internet connection with decent speeds. Stuttering video, skipping
audio, or worse, a connection that drops out altogether, are all
symptoms of slow internet speeds and might cut your chances of acing the
interview painfully short.
2. Location, Location, Location
– Where you decide to set up your webcam and conduct the interview
plays a huge role in the quality of your overall presentation. Try to
choose a quiet area with sufficient lighting and make sure what’s behind
you isn’t distracting to the interviewer. If you will be conducting the
interview from home, make sure any fellow cohabitants are aware of what
you’re doing and won’t have to enter the room during the interview.
Having a spouse or roommate dash across the background is not only
awkward for you and the interviewer, but comes across as unprofessional.
Finally, don’t forget to secure all pets and children in another part
of the house with supervision to avoid any additional distractions.
3. Test All Tech
– Several days before the interview, test your webcam, microphone, and
computer to ensure everything is working correctly. Familiarize yourself
with volume controls and any settings that might improve the quality of
your interview. If you’re purchasing a webcam for the first time, look
for one with HD capabilities and a quality built-in microphone. Prices
on webcams and microphones have become very reasonable in recent years,
so spending a couple extra dollars to avoid grainy video and choppy
audio during your interview will certainly pay off and give your
presentation a professional flare.
4. Dress Your Best –
Although the interviewer will likely only see you from the waist up,
dress in full professional attire as if you were meeting them in person.
Opting for pajama pants in place of traditional garb may seem like a
great idea, but you never know when you may have to stand up or retrieve
something from the other side of the room that would reveal your entire
outfit.
5. Don’t Interview from Work – It may
seem tempting to interview from your office at work, but doing so
communicates to your interviewer a lack of respect for your current
employer. You also run the risk of a supervisor or fellow employee
interrupting the interview, which can not only diminish your chances of
landing the job, but cause conflict in your current employment
situation.
6. Practice Truly Makes Perfect –
Talking into a camera is very different than speaking with someone in
person. Practice looking directly at the camera when you speak so that
the interviewer can see your eyes. Try to avoid looking down at the
screen or around the room when speaking, as doing so could communicate
disinterest or disengagement from the task at hand.
As
with any interview, prepare yourself ahead of time to answer questions
in a concise manner that highlights your accomplishments and addresses
how you would be of benefit to the employer. Although a Skype
or FaceTime video interview can be very different from a traditional
in-person meeting, following the tips outlined above can help make the
process go smoothly and allow you to make a great first impression.
ETS Vision is a Vision Recruiting firm specializing in finding and
placing Optometrists, Ophthalmologists,, and Vision Staff
throughout the United States. www.etsvision.com
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