Video Interview Skills You Need to Know was originally published by the American Marketing Association.
With companies maximizing their budgets in this economy, some job seekers may find themselves being asked to conduct a video interview. This format allows the company to keep HR personnel and hiring managers in the office and still have a personal experience of seeing the candidate answer questions. Here are some best practices to this newer form of interviewing:
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Dress for the Interview
Wear a suit or equally appropriate interview attire for your industry and the position you are applying for and be as professional as you would if you were meeting them in person. Having a video interview is a convenience to the interviewer and is not a convenience to you as the candidate. The reality is that you need to still dress for the occasion as if you were going to the corporate headquarters.
Position Yourself in a Room With a Neutral Background
Some candidates will conduct a Skype, WebEx or GoToMeeting interview with their kitchen or bedroom in the background. This could be distracting to the interviewer. Try to find a blank wall that will keep the person focused on what you are saying.
Practice With a Friend
Make sure you have functionality with your webcam and the system the employer is using. Don’t wait until 10 minutes before the interview to download WebEx or GoToMeeting or whatever system they use. Ask what program they are using and download it in advance.
Get online with someone you trust to be candid with you and practice your tone and level of speech. This person can also help you determine if there are any other bad habits you may have such as wandering eye contact, overuse of your hands, or unnecessary words like “um” and “you know.”
Check Your Volume
Get a separate microphone if you need to. Some people know that they talk quietly and the interview process is not the time to be the soft-spoken person, especially via computer. Detachable microphones are very affordable and can make the most soft spoken person sound confident and interview appropriate.
Practice Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
Have any supporting documents prepared and in front of you as a reference as well. Candidates that can share information during the interview and then offer to send it to the interviewer will have an advantage during the interview process.
Stacie Garlieb is the owner of Successful Impressions, a career search resources and guidance service.
The American Marketing Association is the pre-eminent force in marketing for best and next practices, thought leadership and valued relationships, across the entire discipline of marketing. Its online publications include posts on industry trends, career advice and more.
