6 ways to succeed in an online interview post COVID-19

The country might be moving out of lockdown, but restrictions on meeting people face-to-face are still in place. Many companies are planning to continue with work from home measures for the foreseeable future, which means that all interviews are likely to take place over video chat. 

This can be a daunting prospect for many people. An interview setting is stressful enough without having to worry about technology getting in the way. If you’re preparing for an online job interview post-COVID, consider these essential tips.

1. Prepare your environment

If you don’t have a home office, consider using a bedroom over a communal living space. This will allow you to close the door and remove any distractions. Check that your background looks professional and make sure you have everything you need within reach. One advantage of an online job interview over video chat is that you can take control of your space to make it more comforting or inspiring.

The most important thing to keep your stress levels down is to make sure you won’t be interrupted. Keep pets distracted with treats, instruct older children to stay away from the room, and try to find childcare for younger children. This will allow you to focus on the task at hand. 

2. Get into the right mindset

You might be interviewing for the job from your bedroom, but you need to make sure you get in the same mindset as a face-to-face interview. This means getting fully dressed, and not just focussing on your top half. Before your interview, adopt a power pose for two minutes and give your brain a much-needed confidence boost. 

Learning how to succeed in an interview is as much about mindset as anything else. You have a distinct advantage in a video call because you control all of the variables. You can make your surroundings comfortable and make sure you have lots of inspiring things in your sightline. You can also have all of the notes you need to make sure you give a confident interview. 

3. Check your equipment

Before your interview, check your camera and microphone to make sure everything is working as expected. This will also give you a chance to check the lighting to make sure they can see your face clearly. Make sure you place your camera at eye level so the interviewer isn’t looking up your nose. 

Run a test call so you can see how you look and how you sound. An echo can make it very difficult for you to be understood. Headphones can be useful if you are experiencing an echo on the line. If you live with other people, you should request that they avoid streaming for the duration of your call so that it doesn’t slow down your internet connection. 

4. Build rapport

These are truly unprecedented times, so don’t be afraid to use this to build rapport. Video interviews are strange for everyone, so use this to your advantage. You will likely be much less nervous in an interview setting, but try not to get too casual or complacent in your approach. There is a fine line between relaxed and unprofessional. 

5. Don’t forget body language

Your body language is still on display, so don’t forget this important bit of interview etiquette. You might be in your own home, but you should still sit up straight and avoid fidgeting. If you are prone to clicking pens or tapping on the table, this could seriously affect the quality of the audio. 

Many video conferencing suites are set up to allow different people to engage in conversation. This means the person speaking the loudest will be amplified while all others will have their volume reduced. If you are tapping or clicking, you could pull focus on yourself and make it impossible for anyone else to hear.

6. Follow up

It might be a digital meeting, and it might feel a lot more informal, but you should still take the time to follow up. If your interview is at the start of the day, follow up before the end of the day. And if your interview is later in the day, follow up the morning of the next working day. This will ensure your email lands in the hiring manager’s inbox when they arrive at their desk.