With video calls so much part of our everyday lives, it’s easy to forget how important it is to present yourself professionally when you’re being interviewed for a job online. 

Since March 2020, we have spent a lot of time talking to people over video. We quickly adapted our normal process and now register new candidates and shortlist people for roles by interviewing them via Zoom or Skype.

We’ve embraced this new way of getting to know people as it does have the advantages of allowing us to see more people than ever before and speed up the process for those all-important urgent temporary assignments.

Many of our clients are still conducting interviews by video too, so if you want to set yourself up for success, it’s worth taking some time to make sure you present yourself at your best.

Here are our top 10 tips to help make sure you get the dream job you’ve been looking for:

1.   Let your personality shine through

It’s much harder to engage someone you’re talking to over Zoom than it is if you’re in the same room. With no opportunity to shake hands, chat or have a coffee, you need to work harder to make sure your personality comes across.

If you are naturally quietly spoken or reserved, you may need to be more enthusiastic than you would be face-to-face to avoid appearing disinterested or bored. 

But do remember this is an interview not a chat with your mates, so don’t overdo it!

Tracy Welch, Business Manager at Priority Appointments, has been interviewing candidates for over 20 years, so she knows a thing or two about what goes into giving a good interview - online or face-to-face. 

Her advice is, “Online interviews can be quite intense especially when you’re trying to maintain eye contact, but - even though you’re having to concentrate hard - do make sure you remember to smile!”

2.   Pick your location 

It’s well worth putting some thought into where you’ll be sitting for interviews and make sure that the background is tidy and free from distractions.

Once you’ve chosen the best location, try to stay put during the interview as it is very hard for the interviewer to concentrate on what you’re saying if you move around, plus you are more likely to get interruptions to the signal. 

As Industrial Talent Consultant Donna Stoyle explained, “You can present yourself at your best when you are seated at a desk or table and giving all your attention to the interviewer. If you start moving around, the view can become quite disorientating and we’d rather look at you while you’re talking.

She also says, “Make sure your laptop or phone is on a flat, stable surface so the interviewer doesn’t end up feeling sea-sick every time you move!”

3.   Keep it professional

Even if you are just having an initial conversation with one of our recruitment team, you still need to be professional on video calls. Emma Allen, Manager of our Office & Commercial says that behaving in a businesslike way is key when the team is deciding whether to put someone on a shortlist. 

She says, “I spoke to one candidate who sat on a sofa with their feet up, and another who was in bed with their bare feet on show. Yuk! Interviewees who are sat at a table and dressed appropriately make a great first impression.”

4.   Check your tech

Lights, Camera, Action! No-one expects you to have a studio-quality set-up at home, but whether you are using a laptop with a webcam or just your smartphone, spend some time making sure everything works well before your interview.

If you know that your wi-fi or mobile signal is a bit erratic at home, check where the best connection is to avoid the chance of it crashing in the middle of an interview. 

Luke Arnott, Manager of our Industrial & Technical Division recalls hearing about one interview where the connection had gone down multiple times, to the point where eventually, the very busy employer gave up and left the call. “Check which area in your house has the best connection, or if all else fails, a top tip is to test the connection in your car and conduct your interview from there!” 

Think about the position of your laptop or phone too. There is nothing more off-putting for an interviewer than looking up your nose because you’ve positioned the camera too far down, so make sure the camera is at eye level so the interviewer sees you at your best angle.

Headphones or earphones are useful if you have them as they mean you’ll be less distracted by anything happening around you, and the interviewer won’t hear as much background noise if the kids decide to come in halfway through.

It’s also a good idea to put a few lights on or sit facing a window so that your face is easy to see. Try to avoid having a bright light behind you as this means that the interviewer will only see your silhouette!

And make sure you’ve prepared your kit and double-checked that your laptop or phone is fully charged. 
 

5.   Reduce distractions (but don’t worry about the dog)

Everyone understands that our homes have now become our workplaces, schools and cafés all under one roof, so it can be hard to ensure there are no interruptions to your interview. 

By planning ahead, you can hopefully reduce distractions as much as possible so that you can focus fully on the conversation with us or your future employer. 

If you have kids who are learning from home, it’s probably best to try and set a time for the interview when they are less likely to need your support.

Don’t book a call for a time when you know you have a Tesco order arriving, but, if there is an unavoidable interruption, just excuse yourself for a moment, put the mic on mute and deal with it as quickly as you can. 

Priority Appointments Talent Consultant Liam Deabill says, “If you have a dog that may bark or a young child that is likely to cry, be up front and let the interviewer know so you’ll be less flustered if it does happen - and we love kids and dogs so won’t mind interruptions!”

6.   Dress to impress 

Just as you would for a face-to-face interview, you should definitely dress smartly, although it is worth keeping jewellery and clothing low-key so they don’t steal the show. If it’s a registration meeting with us, smart casual is fine.

If you’re at work when you have your preliminary interview, then of course you’ll be in your work clothes, but you still need to consider the practicalities. Resource and Training Consultant Jo Brown once interviewed a candidate who chose to take the call at a noisy workstation wearing a welding shield, which of course meant she wasn’t able to hear or see him at his best. 

So take the time to brush your hair, put on something clean and tidy (on your top half at least!) and make sure you give the interview your full attention. 

7.   Use being online to your advantage

It’s worth remembering that there are upsides to having interviews online. For example, you can have a few reminders jotted down of what you want to say, or questions to ask at the end of your interview for example. However, make sure you’re not distracted by these and that the interviewer remains the focus of your attention.

Another advantage is that, if you’re still going out to work, you can arrange to have interviews in your car during your lunch break, rather than taking time away from your current job.

8.   Practise using the platform

Get familiar with the platform that is going to be used for your interview. You may spend hours a day on Teams, but if the interview is on Zoom, you need to test it out beforehand. 

Emma Allen’s advice is, “Practise a call with a friend so you can see what your camera and sound quality is like and where the buttons to unmute yourself or change the layout of the screen are.”

There is nothing more disconcerting than not being able to see your interviewer because you have a setting wrong somewhere!

You may need to install an app to use the platform that the interviewer has suggested, and again it pays to do this in plenty of time so you can make sure it’s working properly. 

9.   Take your time

Allow enough time for the call. If we, or your potential employer, ask you to attend an interview when you know you need to get lunch for your kids for example, ask if it’s possible to schedule the call a little earlier or later. 

Be in your chosen location well ahead of the start time - just as you would with an in-person interview (and make sure you’ve been to the bathroom beforehand so you don’t get caught short!)

Have a glass of water to hand. As well as being useful in case your mouth becomes dry or you have a tickle in your throat, taking a sip of water can also give you a precious few seconds to think about exactly how you want to answer a particular question.

10.   Take notes

Ideally, it’s best if you can be sitting at a table, as this will mean you will be sitting upright and can have a notepad to hand to jot down important pieces of information or topics that you will want to come back to at the end of the interview.

The most important thing of all is to establish a rapport with the interviewer, whether that’s one of us, or a prospective employer.

Be yourself, relax as much as you can and enjoy the process! 

For more advice, download our guide on How to Wow at Interviews or call one of our helpful, friendly team on 01256 334575.