How to Ace Your Next Virtual Job Interview

Tips, insights, and resources to set you up for success!

The new name of the game in the age of hiring during a pandemic is virtual job interviews, via Skype, WebEx, Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, you name it.

These can be daunting.

Thus, how do you prepare for and make sure your online interview goes smoothly so that you can land the job?

Here are the steps to take:

1. Test your technology beforehand.
2. Wear appropriate professional attire.
3. Prepare, prepare, prepare!
4. Consider your interview location & limit distractions.
5. Prepare questions to ask your potential employer.
6. Follow up with your interviewer.

1) Test your technology beforehand

• Check your internet speed to ensure that it can handle a video conference.
• Give your video conferencing technologies a test run. Does your laptop or computer have a webcam, audio? What is their quality? Consider an auxiliary webcam for higher image quality. Test these with a friend before your interview to make sure it works the way you expect.
• Ensure you know what software program the interview will require. Pre-install it! Try it out. Then, log onto the interview early to make sure you can connect properly.

2) Wear appropriate professional attire

No, you can’t wear your Disney pajama pants with your professional top. What if your cat decides to walk across the keyboard, or you need to turn on the light? That would be embarrassing if they saw those pyjama pants.

Go for comfortable semi-formal or casual pants. Dress for the interview online as you would in person!

3) Prepare, prepare, prepare!

• Preparation for an online interview should be primarily the same as a formal in-person interview.
• Take time ahead of the interview to research the organization interviewing you. Why do you want to work for them? Why do you think you’re a good fit for them? Look up the organization on Glassdoor & LinkedIn.
• Lookup lists of the most common standard, behavioural, and technical questions for your field. Figure out the top 20 interview questions and write out how you would answer them. This practice will help you think through your potential responses, process your story, and enable you to be more confident in answering these questions during an interview. Here are some example interview questions to consider:

- Tell me about yourself.
- Tell me about a time when you handled a challenging situation.
- Have you ever made a mistake? How did you handle it?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Why do you want this job?
- Why are you a good fit for this position? / Why should we hire you?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What makes you unique?
- How do you handle stress?
- What is your greatest accomplishment?
- What is your dream job?
- If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
- Tell me about your proudest personal accomplishment.
- Check Glassdoor & LinkedIn to see if there are any company specific questions that you might be able to prepare for.
- If you know anyone at the organization, ask them about their interview experience and see if they have any recommendations for how you, too, can be prepared for a successful interview!

• Practice interviewing! Ask a career coach, friend, or family member to interview you. Ask them for feedback. Can you improve your explanations, delivery, or body language? Another option is to record yourself answering questions and watch it back. Embrace the feedback; it just makes you stronger!
• If you have the names of those who are interviewing you, research them! Look on LinkedIn or the organization’s website for information about the individuals interviewing you. Here’s what to look for:

- What has their career journey looked like?
- What kind of role do they have at the organization?
- Look at their recommendations, skills, & experience. What areas of knowledge do they seem focused on?
- What is important to them?

• Look again at the position description you applied for, what skills are they asking for, what would your responsibilities be? Not having previous experience in these areas is okay, but if you do, be prepared to get into their technical details!

4) Consider your interview location and limit distractions

• Find a quiet location with few distractions with a neutral or natural background. A clean and simple background will ensure your interviewer focuses on you.
• Before your interview, turn on your webcam and look at what the background might be in various spots. What impression does your background say about you? Does raising your laptop a foot from a table’s surface give you a better angle? Is the lighting harsh, back-lit, or neutral?
• Make sure to communicate with any others sharing your living space about your interview to ensure they respect your space. Consider placing any pets in another room during your interview to prevent surprise appearances.

5) Prepare questions to ask your potential employer

Ready questions for the end of your interview to ask your employer. Learn more about the organization, demonstrate your interest, and show you’re engaged. Some examples of end-of-interview questions that you can ask include:

- What are your favorite parts about working here?
- What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel here? How do you think I compare?
- What career development opportunities are available?
- How would you describe the company's culture?
- How do you evaluate success here?
- What do you think distinguishes this company from its competitors?
- What are some challenges that the company is facing?
- What is the work-life balance like at this organization?
- Is there anything that we haven't covered that you think is important to know about working here?
- What are the next steps?
- What is their development process? What best practices do they use?

6) Follow up with your interviewer

After your interview, send a follow-up email to those who interviewed you.

Thank your interviewers for your time, express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to have been interviewed, and let them know you’re available if they have any additional questions.

Summary

Prepare for success in your interview by testing your technology, dressing appropriately, preparing, setting up a distraction-free interviewing location, preparing questions, and following up afterwards. Be confident for yourself and shoot for the stars.

I wish you the best in your interviewing process. I hope these tips help you land your dream job!