Online Job Interviews: Tips For Outstanding Success

The most common mistakes during an online interview and how to avoid them

Almost everyone has been on an interview where they messed up. It’s common to feel nervous and make a mistake or two. But what if your entire interview is entirely online? What else would you need to be aware?

In this post, we will focus on the most common online interview mistakes and how to avoid them. We’ll also give you some tips for performing well in your next online interview!

Prepare (sorry, there are no shortcuts)

One common online interview mistake is not preparing or rehearsing enough. Just like in-person interviews, you need to be prepared to answer common questions and questions specific to the company and role you’re interviewing for. It would help if you also took some time to practice your answers, so you’re not caught off guard when the time comes.

Your checklist prior to the interview

• Have a backup device — if you use your laptop, install Teams/Zoom on your mobile and keep a backup device
• Check your internet and ensure connections are OK. Have a backup (I usually use my mobile hotspot as an instant backup)
• Use App versions if you meet on Zoom / Teams. The App versions are richer in functionalities like noise suppression, background, etc. Web versions seem to have slightly duller audio and video quality than the App versions.
• Turn off notifications: Your devices are designed to lure you in and keep you addicted. Please turn it off. If you necessarily have to check notifications, give a heads up to the interviewer — everyone will understand if you are expecting a call from a hospital or have to answer the door!
• Test your audio/video devices before. Don’t let interviewers be the ones to test these with you. You lose precious time. Spend every minute towards selling yourself as their dream candidate instead of explaining why you have to change your headset.
• Login into the meeting a minute or two earlier. If things can go wrong, they usually will. Save yourself the stress give an extra minute to sort out these practicalities.

Video:

• Keep your video ON even if the interviewer didn’t ask. You want them to remember you! Your face is easier to remember than your voice (unless you are John Lennon or Elvis Presley).
• Wear something decent! Depending on the role you are interviewing for, the appropriate attire may change.
• Have decent lighting, and test it before the interview. You want the interviewers to see you, not just one of your 50 shades.
• Preset your Zooms/Teams background if you do not want to expose your chaotic dining room.

The camera is on the top of your laptop/mobile: Spend enough time looking at the camera, not just the middle of the screen. It is hard to stay aware of this during a conversation, but put a smiley next to the camera to remind you — seeing the camera, and smile! It’s important to remember to look into the camera and make eye contact so the person you’re talking to feels like you’re engaged in the conversation.

Make yourself a coffee (or at least water): You are human. You are allowed to drink something from time to time. And it also allows you a few seconds of a break when needed.

Audio

• Use a good quality audio device — be it your laptop’s speak/mic or an external headset.
• You guessed it! — Have a backup!
• Learn where the mute button is and learn how to use it.! ‘Sorry, I forgot to mute/unmute’ is one of the most common phrases of this decade.

You would think that everything on this list is obvious. I wish it was, but..

Conclusion:

So there you have it! The most common online interview mistakes and how to avoid them. Avoiding common online interview mistakes is key to impressing your interviewer and landing the job. With these tips, you’ll be confident to ace your next online interview!

I offer personal coaching sessions. Check out here!

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