How do I make a good first impression on a VIRTUAL job interview?

Answer 1

Many of the rules that apply for in-person interviews have not changed for online interviews, such as:

1. be prepared (know your resume, practice typical interview questions, research the company online, develop questions you want to ask, anticipate questions they might ask, etc.)
2. be punctual
3. look appropriate (hair, make-up/ beard, clothes)
4. smile, have a positive attitude, be interested and engaged
5. answer questions and ask questions yourself with confidence
6. pay attention to the names and titles of the people who are interviewing you
7. be prepared to discuss the next steps
8. follow up with a thank you email

However, there are also a few things that are different during an online interview. Therefore, you should:

1. make sure you know the platform that was suggested for the interview (Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting, etc.) and make yourself familiar with how to use it, especially if you are not that great with this type of technology
2. use a headset for ideal sound and comprehensibility; headsets have very good microphones that can focus on the speaker's voice and cancel out background noises
3. use an appropriate background (white wall with a picture frame, etc.) or use a digital/ virtual background
4. have your resume, cover letter, job description, questions and answers ready in front of you or even open on your screen; they cannot tell whether you are looking at them or a document on screen
5. talk to other family members or room mates you share a living space with and ask them not to enter the room, make loud noises, or disrupt your interview in any way
6. close the door and try to be in a comfortable environment
7. have a glass of water on your desk (no coffee mugs, bottles, etc.)

Answer 2

Present a consistent self by your words and image you show.

Speak clearly and use precise examples.

Be yourself.

Allow time for the interviewer to ask his/her questions.

Answer 3

Timely question for sure! With so much of our lives transitioning to virtual gatherings, more and more organizations are moving parts of their hiring practices online.

The short answer to this question is to do the same things you would do to earn a good first impression at an in-person interview:

1. Dress professionally
2. Arrive early
3. Come prepared with knowledge of the organization and interviewers
4. Ask thoughtful questions

While hand shakes and office tours may be lost in an online interview, you have the unique opportunity to control your own setting while still managing the ability to leave others impressed.

Settings under your control are:

1. Desk/background - by having an organized, clean, quiet environment (even if it’s the library), you can communicate reliability.
2. Preparation skills - by asking for a test connection before your scheduled interview you can communicate trustworthiness.
3. Dress & communication - by taking the time dress appropriately and offering routine “eye” contact to the camera, you can communicate professionalism.

Leaving a good first impression is crucial to job interview success and can still be accomplished via a virtual meeting.

For more virtual job interview tips, check out this resource:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2020/06/04/virtual-interview-tips-to-land-you-thejob-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/#7822d1d41bdc