Eight tips to prepare for a virtual interview

1. First of all, it is still a “real” interview and should be treated as such. There is a person on the other end who will make an executive decision about your qualifications for the job, so assume it is no different than if you had met this person in person.
2. Dress to impress! Even if they can’t see your feet, dressing from head to toe in at least business casual appeal is the first way to not only look professional when the camera is triggered, but to help you adopt the right mindset. You will be amazed how you will feel like you can conquer the world when you WATCH how you can!
3. Find a quiet and professional place for the interview. If you have a home office, this is perfect. Otherwise, most libraries offer free conference rooms, which you can reserve for yourself during the interview. There is nothing less professional than children, pets, or other household distractions that infringe on your interview experience and greatly affect your appearance of professionalism. If you can’t get away from the house, take a seat at the dining room table or living room and make sure everyone in the house knows that you need some privacy during the allotted time.
4. Test the interview system in question before the interview. The day or night before, log in and familiarize yourself if it’s a program you’ve never used. Even if it’s something you use frequently, like FaceTime, check to make sure you have the correct contact information.
5. Pay close attention to the time zone in which the interviews are conducted. This is VERY important. With the advent of virtual interviews, corporations have opened up to a huge network of people around the world, and while they are advantageous, it also means that they operate in a different time zone than their own. No one wants to get off on the wrong foot because they missed the interview or were late because they weren’t sure of the time zone. If it is not clarified anywhere in a confirmation of any kind, contact your recruiter or interviewer, they will be happy to provide you with the information and will be glad that you have been proactive.
6. Try to use a laptop or desktop if possible, but if you have to use a smartphone, set up a tripod system beforehand, so your hands are free for the interview. You can even use a stack of books. What you don’t want to do is hold the phone during the interview; This is a professional meeting, not a FaceTime chat with your grandmother.
7. Like any interview, make sure you have studied the company and the position you want to fill. Look them up on Google. See if they have had any news lately. Did you recently merge with someone? Or maybe they did a rebrand not long ago. At the very least, know the goods and / or services they offer and be prepared to tell them how you could help them in this niche if they hired you.
8. Prepare questions. Most of the time, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions, and if you’ve answered all of them, it’s okay to tell them. However, this is your chance to have their undivided attention, and ESPECIALLY if you are offered a job immediately afterward. You’ll want to have compiled a list of everything you might have wanted to know, rather than bombarding the interviewer’s inbox with emails less than 24 hours after they’ve booked time to be available just to you.

With these tips, you will be well on your way to not only succeeding in that interview, but a host of job offers! Break a leg and above all be yourself and let your personality shine!