Interviews are stressful. You need to prepare paperwork, select the right attire, research everything about the company and the interviewer, and actually find the location. So a virtual interview has zero stress, right? Not necessarily! A virtual job interview requires the same level of professionalism, but with a different set of variables to keep in mind.
Our advice for avoiding virtual snafus and making a great impression:
Test Your Technology
The minute you agree to a virtual interview, test your technology to ensure you’re set up properly. Check your internet connectivity, confirm which platform will be used (Google Hangouts, Skype, Zoom?), and confirm your camera and microphone are working. Then on the day of, test your equipment and internet connection again!
Position the computer so your eyes are positioned to look straight ahead at the screen and not downward, as they may look like they’re closed. This might mean you’ll have to prop up your computer on something to raise it up a little higher.
Set the Scene and Minimize Distractions
While testing your technology, determine where you will sit to take the interview. Find a room with optimal lighting (preferably near a window), and with a wall behind you to guarantee you’re the focal point of the conversation. Be sure to tidy up your surroundings!
Once settled, eliminate all distractions. Turn off the TV; silence your cell phone, and close any nearby windows to muffle neighborhood traffic. If you have a pet, try to make sure it’s in another room as to not cause a distraction.
Sit Down Prepared
You want to be focused and ready to answer any interview questions without the help of the internet. Same as an in-person interview, do your research on the company ahead of time, and jot down notes for easy reference. Still print out a copy of your resume, so that you don’t forget key talking points. Just like an in-person interview, come prepared with answers to common interview questions, such as:
- Why are you interested in this role?
- What do you know about our company?
- What are your biggest strengths/weaknesses?
- What do you consider to be your biggest professional achievement?
- Tell me about a challenge at work and how you dealt with it.
- What are you looking for in a new position?
- Why are you leaving your current role?
You should also be prepared to answer, “Do you have any questions for me?” Interview questions you might ask an employer include:
- What does a typical day in the life of this role look like?
- What are the company’s goals this quarter?
- How would you describe the ideal candidate for this position?
- Where does this role sit in the organization, and what other groups will I be working with?
Practice, Don’t Memorize
You don’t want to sound robotic throughout your interview when answering or asking questions, or giving your elevator pitch. Sure, you’re able to have your notes, questions and talking points written in front of you, but you still want to sound natural.
It’s important to keep things simple. Don’t feel like you have to give a long-winded answer if the question doesn’t warrant it. Being clear and concise is one of the most important things in a job interview, virtual or in-person.
Monitor Your Body Language
On video, you can’t firmly shake a hiring manager’s hand nor easily exude enthusiasm. However, you should still monitor your body language. Virtually, the main way to communicate confidence is to sit up straight, smile, and keep the camera at eye level. Research shows that employers are more likely to remember what you say if you maintain eye contact, so keep your focus on the camera when talking, not on the image of the hiring manager.
Yes, You Still Need to Dress the Part
Attire is one of the most frequently overlooked video interview tips. Even though an online interview usually means the interviewer won’t see anything from the waist down, it doesn’t mean you should only dress up the upper half of your body! You may need to stand up to grab something in the middle of the interview, which would reveal your mismatched bottoms.
Dress as you would for an in-person interview. For men, that might mean a button-up shirt, blazer, and khakis. Women should consider a dress or skirt and blouse. Consider viewing yourself through your webcam to make sure your outfit looks professional on camera as well.
Professional clothing will show you’re serious about the position, but there are personal benefits, as well. Studies show that people feel authoritative, trustworthy, and competent when dressed professionally.
Preparing for a virtual job interview? Download these tips as a printable cheat sheet to keep handy ahead of your next interview!
Thank you reaching out to me regaurding virtual employment opportunities. I look forward to working with you
Thanks for reading, Linda! You can access our latest career opportunities at any time at: Careers.Medixteam.com
Thanks. This great information to ace my interview. I appreciate your help
Happy to hear the information is helpful, Alejandro! Thanks for being a reader, and best of luck in your interview!
I appreciate the option for visual interviews. I believe though that I mentioned on initial contact that I am not equiped for this type of inerview at this time. I currently operate only with my cell phone.
I thank you for your notification.
Truly yours
Hans
Thank you for this information, Hans! I’ve shared this follow-up with your recruiter to ensure your capabilities are on file. Our team will be in touch with you directly with specific details available job opportunities, and the best way to connect with employers. Have a great day!
Thanks for the opportunity
Thanks for that opportunity
Thank you for this opportunity to be considered as a candidate to work for Northwestern Hospital.
Ramona Parker
(773) 563-6985
mmalloy521@gmail.com
Have A Blessed Day
Great to hear from you Ramona! Your Medix recruiter will be in touch with any additional details about the current opportunity. Thank you!
Helpful tips and reminders!
We’re glad you found the article helpful, Kelsie!
Can i retrieve a phone call?
Hi Cynthia! Your Medix recruiter has been informed of your outreach, and will be in touch as soon as possible. Thank you for contacting our team today!
I am available all day Thursday, Friday I work all day.
Thank you for sharing this information, Elizabeth! A member of our recruiting team will be in touch with the latest job information, and our full listing of career opportunities can be accessed at any time by visiting: Careers.Medixteam.com
I am interested in a role with your team, please let me know how to proceed. Thank you.
Thank you for getting in touch today, Yourry, and for your interest in working with the Medix team! Our available job opportunites can be accessed at any time by visiting Careers.Medixteam.com
Thank you for this great opportunity to be considered for the position. I hope to hear from you soon and excited about this future career.
Great hearing from you, Dale! Our recruiting team is here to help as your career progresses, and our talent community can be accessed at any time by visiting Careers.Medixteam.com. Thanks for reading!
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to me regarding virtual employment! I look forward to working with you.
Heather Osias
206-249-3622
heatherosias48@gmail.com
Thanks for reading, Heather! We appreciate the opportunity to positively impact your career.
Thank You Andrew
This was amazing information.
This will be my first hire-view.
This was a great way to get an understanding of the process.
I appreciate your time
T W
Virtual interviews come with their own unique challenges, but being prepared makes a huge difference, Tracy! Thank you for reaching out to our team today!
Thanks for sharing this great information as a reminder. I’ll do just that for career opportunity in Medix
Happy to help, Ann! It pays to be prepared for a job interview – whether its virtual or in-person. Thanks for commenting!
Thank you this is very helpful!
You’re welcome, Brianna! Thanks for reading!
Thank you Andrew. This article is informative and helpful. Information is concise and gives me a great impression that Medix wants to help others be successful.
Thank you and God bless!
Annette R.
You’re welcome, Annette! Thank you for the kind words, and we’re happy to hear the information has been helpful. Have a great day!
Hi Andrew, thank you so much for this valuable information! I am impressed that the Medix team is reaching out to help prospective employees especially during these unprecedented times.
Julianne Morse
You’re very welcome, Julianne! We’re here to support our job seekers as the hiring environment changes, and always strive to live by our core purpose: positively impacting lives. Thanks for reading!
Thanks a lot to be considered as candidate for opportunities at Medix.
Thanks for reading, Edmundo! For our latest career opportunities, check out Careers.Medixteam.com.
Hello this information is very helpful. Do you hire virtual help in the state of Alabama? I was working with a recruiter in Tennessee for an office position but I’m in the process of relocating. (256) 472-8379 I am interested and available.
Hi Leslie! Thanks for reaching out. Be sure to create a profile on Careers.Medixteam.com so that you can review and apply to all of our available jobs in one place. Then, a Medix teammate will be in touch to discuss your career goals and any opportunities that might match. I hope this helps!
Thank you so much Andrew! Medix is a great agency to work for and I am especially glad to be a part of your team during this time of uncertainty.
We appreciate you, Toye! Thanks for reading and for locking arms with our team to positively impact lives!
Thanks for the tips Andrew, I will definitely make use of it! I’m extremely grateful to work for such an awesome team at Medix. Even in these unprecedented times, you guys have always managed to keep us informed…kudos to you all! 🙂
Anytime, Uzma! We’re glad to hear you find the information useful. We’re dedicated to supporting our talent throughout their careers, and appreciate your comments!
Thank you very much for this information. It will be very helpful for virtual interviews.
You’re welcome, Norma!
Thanks your company for getting back in touch with me I appreciate it I would love to be a part of this team I understand basic math I understand teamwork.
Great to hear from you, Marilyn! To learn more about current job opportunities, please reach out to your Medix representative directly, or check out our career page at: Careers.Medixteam.com. Thank you!
Thank you for the helpful tips. I am interested in a role with your team, please let me know how to proceed. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Sharnell, and we hope they come in handy! To learn more about our latest opportunities that match your skills and career goals, please reach out to your Medix representative directly or review our full listing of jobs at: Careers.Medixteam.com.
Thanks for the option of the virtual interview but unfortunately I do not have the necessary equipment for it, I do not have a camera and microphone on my desktop and my laptop only has a cell phone. Another alternative would be to do the interview on WhatsApp (video)
On the other hand, I’m only interested in working part time as Pharmacy Technician, I don’t know if this interview is about this position because I fill several at the same time
Great point, Maria! Our team understands that every job seeker has different levels of access to the tools necessary to facilitate virtual job interviews. Our recruiters are here to support your search, and will coordinate with our clients to ensure you’re able to join an interview in the ways that work best for your situation. If you’re interested in learning more about our latest job opportunities, I encourage you to check out our career site at Careers.Medixteam.com for more information. Thanks for reaching out to our team!
Hi!
Yes, I am available today before 3:00 pm
Thank You
Omayra
Hi Omayra! Thanks for these details. While we’re happy to share job interview tips and advice through our blog, any scheduling of specific appointment times for interviews with our client opportunities would need to be done through your Medix recruiter. I’m making a note in your profile to let our team know you reached out via our website today. Thanks again!