How to Ace Your Virtual Interview
So, you have an virtual interview.
Congrats! Time to show your prospective employer that you haven’t been languishing on your couch for the past three months (even if you have been). Lifting yourself out of the COVID19 blues and into that business formal attire can be a monumental task, especially if you’re out of practice with interviewing. These simple tips will help you successfully interview for the job you want.
Brush up on your interviewing skills
High-stakes interviews are one most nerve-wracking things you can do. The best way to alleviate that stress? Come very prepared. If you want to make an extra great impression, consider an interview coach. Services like Top Interview create custom interview questions and provide detailed feedback and advice so you can make the best impression once it’s time to hop on Zoom.
Dress for the job you want
Have you ever heard the phrase, “business on top, party on the bottom?” It’s the new work from home uniform, and it involves people wearing looking professional from the head down to the waist, with pajama bottoms and fuzzy socks hiding just below their webcam’s view. While this can be tempting to recreate for your virtual interview, studies have shown that dressing for the job you want can actually lead to better confidence and the ability to think abstractly. You may benefit from ditching the pajama pants and dressing to impress from head to toe.
Choose the right background
Sure, you can slap a virtual background behind you, but nothing beats a well-lit, clean, and modern backdrop to make the best impression on your interviewer. Especially if you’re interviewing with a top company or a position with a lot of responsibilities, you’ll want to drop into your local coworking space to use an open meeting room or private office. Many of these spaces are available for hourly or daily rates, and will not only put you in the professional mindset but will also let your interviewer know you mean business. With AirPlay, HDMI, and conference calling, you’ll have all the tech you need to comfortably and confidently ace your interview.
Don’t forget the follow-up
This step is so important! Send individual “thank you” emails to your interviewers briefly reiterating your interest in the position and why you would be a good fit. Follow up within two weeks if you haven’t heard back from the company but avoid an impatient tone. Be patient but persistent. You got this!
