Some people are relieved to find out their next job interview won’t be held in-person. Some become that much more petrified. Some take it as an excuse to not wear any pants.
Others, though, use the occasion as a chance to get a leg-up in their interview — a chance to use new media tools to separate themselves from the competition by being extra prepared. And, aside from being fully clothed in case you’re asked to stand up in video interviews (which does happen), there are many ways to do this. Here are a few of them:
Be extra attentive Don’t fall victim to approaching phone or video interviews with a more relaxed attitude. Instead, understand that being in a different location than your interviewer will require you to be even more alert. Be ready to anticipate lag time in your responses so that you don’t interrupt, observe interviewers’ facial expressions and body language, and look up files or answers your interview may expect you to have access to.
Check 1, 2 Unfortunately, just because your technology works most of the time doesn’t mean it will when you need it most. To combat technical difficulties, ask your interviewer which video software you’ll need and test it with a few calls to a friend. Also make sure that you know where you’ll do the interview so that you can test the reception or Wi-Fi connection.
Make a cheat sheet Phone and video interviews are here to stay. So you may as well take advantage of your so-called “invisibility” — the fact that interviewers can’t see your full environment. Before the interview, jot down a few notes about the company, what you would say to certain questions, and even an annotated resume so that you know exactly how you want to explain your skills.
Choose a fit environment Don’t just assume that you can do your interview in your room or usual workspace. Instead make sure that your interview area will provide a professional background, good lighting, and that your roommates or family will know when you need a certain space so that there isn’t any background movement or noise, which can turn off employers.
Follow-up With a firm handshake and other body language techniques out the window, it can be hard to stand out in remote interviews. That’s why following up your with your interviewer is so vital. Be sure to thank your interviewer for the opportunity following your meeting and also note that you’d welcome the chance to meet in person to make your enthusiasm felt, rather than just becoming another resume in the stack.
Need interview help? Ask ACI on Twitter at @ACISpecBenefits or on facebook, Google+, Pinterest, or YouTube. Also feel free to contact ACI Specialty Benefits at (800) 932-0034, or email info@acispecialtybenefits.com
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