Digital Impressions: Smart Ways To Ace Your Virtual Job Interview

In the old days of job searching, focusing on how to ace your phone interview was the way to go. Today’s world is significantly different. In fact, nearly 90% of employers prefer virtual interviews, according to Handshake. So if you’ve got an upcoming digital interview, it’s critical that you know how to ace it. Thankfully, there are smart ways you can do so.

Test Out Your Gadgets And Connectivity Beforehand

The first step in a successful virtual job interview is ensuring that it can be conducted in the first place. Bad cameras and poor internet connectivity are some top mistakes a lot of applicants make, according to Swati Srivastava. So checking that your gadget and your connectivity can run high-quality live video exchanges is crucial if you want to successfully engage your intended audience. Run a diagnostic on your internet connection, and have a friend test out a video call with you on the medium the interviewer wants to use. That way, you can be assured that everything is working and you can do any tweaks before the interview.

Prep Your Environment

The background that you use in your digital job interview can say a lot about you, according to FlexJobs. So you must prepare your environment before your interview. If there’s any clutter that can be visible to the interviewer, make sure that you clear that out beforehand. Also, make sure that you can conduct the interview in a part of your home that does not have a lot of environmental noise. It does not leave a good impression when you and your interviewer cannot hear or understand what the other is saying.

Ask Questions Before The End

If you want to leave a strong impression, asking questions at the end of the interview will do the trick, says Paul Wolfe of Indeed. The questions must be relevant to the company and the position you’re seeking, such as questions relating to what the company culture is like. You can also ask how the position you’re seeking has changed over time. Not only will it show that you are truly interested in the position, but it gives you a strong look into what you’re getting into.

“Where you are when you have your telephone interview is as important as how well you prepare. Ensure you are in a quiet location (no dogs barking or babies crying). While you may think you have a great location, do a dry run and visit the location at the same time of day as the telephone interview. This will allow you to check out everything prior to your call.” – 7 Tips for Successful Telephone Interviews

Despite the change in mediums, the endgame is still all about the impression that you leave. A positive and strong impression can give you a significant boost at being considered for the position you’re applying for. So don’t forget that understanding how a virtual interview works and what you can do to directly affect its outcome is a great way of ensuring your success.