Video Interview Tips and Tricks

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With today’s shift to more remote working options and reliance on technology within the interview process, new skills need to be developed by candidates that are seeking to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it’s safety concerns, ease of scheduling, reduced travel, or any other multitude of reasons - video interviews are one of the first steps in the process for roles across all industries. But there is more to it than you think! 

Consider the goals of your typical interview: you want to make a good impression, you want to seem prepared and knowledgeable, and you want to stand out among the other candidates in the pipeline. With video interviews, all these goals remain the same, but the strategy for accomplishing them has shifted. Blue Signal has expertly gathered some tips and tricks on the subject to help you navigate these nuances within the web conferencing world. Here are some ways that despite the change of setting, you can stand above the rest in your next video interview. 

 

1. Plan Ahead

Download the application you are using for the conference call as soon as you get the invite. Make sure to set up your username, account information, and settings to professional standards - such as using both first and last name in your username so when you appear on the screen, they don’t have to wonder who soccerlover32 is. 

Test out the technology immediately to make sure your camera, microphone, and connection are working properly. Set up a practice interview with a friend, colleague, or your recruiter to see what using the system will be like. Record this first practice run to reference later - and see how your posture, background, eye contact, and other aspects could be improved. Just as professional athletes review old game footage, it would be useful for you to see your areas of improvement beforehand. 

Review the “Resources” section below for insightful links on best practices as well as tips and tricks for some of the most popular web conferencing software and sites. 

 

2. Do Your Homework

Review the job description as well as the company’s website. Familiarize yourself with their products, services, culture, and some of their employee structure. Looking at their LinkedIn page can be a great indicator of who you might be speaking with, who may be on your future team, and what your career progression might look like once you land the job. And, if you do happen to know the names of each of your interviewers, look them up and review their profiles to get a sense of their qualifications, leadership style, and what they might be looking for. If you notice other people on their page with titles similar to the role you are interviewing for, review their profiles to get a sense of what works for the role as far as background, experience, and culture fit. You’ll gain a better sense of what they are looking for by seeing what’s working for them today. 

 

3. Be Prepared to Share

Interviewers may ask to see your portfolio, examples of your work, or other relevant documents you will want to have on hand. Create an updated folder of supporting documents and make sure it is easily accessible. Closeout all other applications, windows, and files, and make sure your background is appropriate. While a picture of you drinking beer with your friends may be a conversation starter, that’s not the conversation you want to start with. 

The advantage? They will be able to see your shared screen but not your actual desk. Utilize notes in order to keep track of what you would like to highlight. Be careful not to appear distracted, and maintain eye contact to the best of your ability - but use your home-court advantage to the best of your ability. 

 

4. Be Present

Just as candidates are seeking to adjust to new practices with video interviews, so are the interviewers. Without being able to really meet you in person, they will have to rely heavily on your body language and professional presence, but now through a limited view. Continue to dress as you would for an interview. Keep in mind what is behind you - and make sure your background is either a plain wall or something non-distracting. Sit up straight and maintain good posture, just as you would if you were across the desk from them. Make sure to stay engaged with the conversation by nodding, smiling, and maintaining eye contact. Try not to use your hands to speak, don’t fidget with your desk/computer, and never check your phone. Even though they aren’t physically in the room - they can still see you and sense when you are tuning out! 

 

Resources

Below are several links to tips and tricks for some of the most popular web conferencing and video chat sites, listed by site name. Happy interviewing! 

From a TrustRadius study.

With this shift in practice from in-person to virtual interviews, we will certainly have to learn as we adapt. However, if you want to stand out among other contenders, these steps are a good start. Limiting technical difficulties by being prepared, knowing your stuff, and staying engaged will help you accomplish just that! Even if you’ve had hundreds of interviews during the course of your career, there are always ways to improve, especially as the game keeps changing! Contact one of our recruiting professionals today to start working with a career coach that knows how to navigate these changes, and can help you land your dream role! 

How to Stand Out in your Next Zoom Interview

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Consider the goals of your typical interview: you want to make a good impression, you want to seem prepared and knowledgeable, and you want to stand out among the other candidates in the pipeline. With video interviews, all these goals remain the same, but the strategy for accomplishing them has shifted. Here are some ways that despite the change of setting, you can stand above the rest in your next Zoom interview. 

1. Plan Ahead

Download the application you are using for the conference call as soon as you get the invite. Make sure to set up your username, account information, and settings to professional standards - such as using both first and last name in your username so when you appear on the screen, they don’t have to wonder who soccerlover32 is.

Test out the technology immediately to make sure your camera, microphone, and connection are working properly. Set up a practice interview with a friend, colleague, or your recruiter to see what using the system will be like. Record this first practice run to reference later - and see how your posture, background, eye contact, and other aspects could be improved. Just as professional athletes review old game footage, it would be useful for you to see your areas of improvement beforehand. 

2. Do your Homework

Review the job description as well as the company’s website. Familiarize yourself with their products, services, culture, and some of their employee structure. Looking at their LinkedIn page can be a great indicator of who you might be speaking with, who may be on your future team, and what your career progression might look like once you land the job. And, if you do happen to know the names of each of your interviewers, look them up and review their profiles to get a sense of their qualifications, leadership style, and what they might be looking for. If you notice other people on their page with titles similar to the role you are interviewing for, review their profiles to get a sense of what works for the role as far as background, experience, and culture fit. You’ll gain a better sense of what they are looking for by seeing what’s working for them today. 

3. Be Prepared to Share

Interviewers may ask to see your portfolio, examples of your work, or other relevant documents you will want to have on hand. Create an updated folder of supporting documents and make sure it is easily accessible. Closeout all other applications, windows, and files, and make sure your background is appropriate. While a picture of you drinking beer with your friends may be a conversation starter, that’s not the conversation you want to start with. 

The advantage? They will be able to see your shared screen but not your actual desk. Utilize notes in order to keep track of what you would like to highlight. Be careful not to appear distracted, and maintain eye contact to the best of your ability - but use your home-court advantage to the best of your ability. 

4. Be Present

Just as candidates are seeking to adjust to new practices with video interviews, so are the interviewers. Without being able to really meet you in person, they will have to rely heavily on your body language and professional presence, but now through a limited view. Continue to dress as you would for an interview. Keep in mind what is behind you - and make sure your background is either a plain wall or something non-distracting. Sit up straight and maintain good posture, just as you would if you were across the desk from them. Make sure to stay engaged with the conversation by nodding, smiling, and maintaining eye contact. Try not to use your hands to speak, don’t fidget with your desk/computer, and never check your phone. Even though they aren’t physically in the room - they can still see you and sense when you are tuning out! 

With this shift in practice from in-person to virtual interviews, we will certainly have to learn as we adapt. However, if you want to stand out among other contenders, these steps are a good start. Limiting technical difficulties by being prepared, knowing your stuff, and staying engaged will help you accomplish just that! Even if you’ve had hundreds of interviews during the course of your career, there are always ways to improve, especially as the game keeps changing!

Contact one of our recruiting professionals today at (480) 939-3200 to start working with a career coach that knows how to navigate these changes, and can help you land your dream role! 

5 Tips for Hiring without Meeting In Person

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Despite the havoc COVID-19 has wreaked on the stock market, major industries, and some smaller businesses – many companies are still hiring. However, this presents its own unique set of problems, as hiring managers search to find safe ways to conduct interviews. Today’s technology allows people to communicate without meeting face to face, but many are convinced this is not a perfect alternative. When hiring over video conference, how can you be sure you are still making an effective judgement call on someone’s cultural fit, abilities, dedication, and overall employability? Without making a much more dangerous (and in some states illegal) risk by conducting a face-to-face interview, here are some ways to ensure that you make an effective hire without meeting in person.

Ask the Right Questions

If they are as solid of a candidate as their resume leads you to believe, then they probably prepared for this interview with the typical questions. Make sure you get them thinking, catch them outside their prepared scripts, and challenge their knowledge. Avoid the “What is your biggest weakness?” and instead ask something like, “What is the biggest misinterpretation people have about you?” Try to get them to answer in an honest way, rather than trying to turn negatives into positives. This question in particular tests their self-awareness. Zappo’s Chief Executive, Tony Hsieh believes, “If someone is self-aware, then they can always continue to grow. If they’re not self-aware, I think it’s harder for them to evolve or adapt beyond who they already are.”

Ask the Right Qs (1)
Read the Signs

Read the Signs

Whatever you ask – watch their responses. Literally, watch. If they seem to be reading off notes, are not making eye contact, check their phone offscreen, or stare off blankly when you are explaining something – make note of it. When interviewing online, people tend to be more comfortable than they would stepping into a CEO’s office, sitting across the desk from their potential management. However, this should be no different. Make sure they don’t act too comfortable and are truly serious about the role and opportunity. Know that whoever you hire might have to be working from home as well. When people interview, they are on their best behavior. If their “best behavior” is acting distracted, you can bet when you aren’t watching that the distraction will be worse.

Utilize References

This should be standard in most cases, but when your test of character is limited to a video chat, it can be particularly beneficial to speak to someone who has already worked with your candidate. A candidate can speak to their own previous responsibilities, use this time with their references to uncover how this person works with others. Some key questions could include:

  • “What management style does this person respond well to?”
  • “Tell me about a time this person was agitated. What was the circumstance? How did they handle it?”
  • “Let’s say this person is working with a group on a project – what role do they play? Are they a leader? A follower?”
  • “On their best day, what about this person stands out the most?”
Utilize References

Test their Skills

Get creative when testing their hard skills and experience. Asking yes or no questions about systems they have used and responsibilities they have held give little to no insight about what they can accomplish. Instead, give them an opportunity to apply this knowledge. Research has consistently shown that one of the best predictors of job performance is a work sample, says Fast Company. If applicable, give them a take home project to complete. Assign them a search project, a writing prompt, or other task that applies to some aspects of the role they are looking to fill. Or, in lieu of something they can put together themselves, administer skill assessments like those offered for free on Indeed.

Test their Skills

Don’t use this as a pass/fail course, but more of an assessment of their interest and their overall versatility. Passive candidates that are not serious about the role will either take a long time coming up with the answers they think you’ll want to hear, or may not complete the “homework” at all. That weeds out several people you wouldn’t want to hire straight away. Or, if they turn it around quickly, with fresh ideas outside the format you pictured, think about the value they could bring with more thorough instruction and real-life application.

Collab on Compatibility

Collaborate on Compatibility

Rather than relying on soft skill questions like, “What is your communication style?” – test their culture fit by putting them in front of your team. Utilize the skills of those you already have to get a better read on a candidate – after all, they could very well be teammates someday. Have someone junior to their position conduct an interview and see how they treat them. Put them on a conference call with several managers and watch how they handle pressure. Throw a curve ball and have them talk to someone outside the department they would work in to see how they collaborate cross-functionally. Get feedback from the team on their read of the person and try to assess how they would fit into the culture. No one knows what it’s like in that position quite like the team already in the job today – utilize that knowledge in a way you can capitalize on.

Interviewing online does not inhibit your ability to assess candidates. Remember that there are no real rules if you know what to look for and use your instincts. Operate outside the transactional model of the standard Q&A format to ensure that whoever you are hiring is not only qualified, but excited about your open position. For more tips about hiring, candidate retention, culture adoption, or even interviewing over video conference – contact Blue Signal’s tenured recruiting team to support your next search, and partner with you in supporting your workforce.

Best Practices for Video Interviews in the Midst of COVID-19

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Amid the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus - also referred to as COVID-19 - many organizations are opting to go remote in order to slow the spread among their employees, students, and travelers. Companies like Twitter, Microsoft, and Apple are heading up the shift. So far, school districts, professional sports leagues, food service companies, and nearly every other industry has been affected. 

The good news? With today’s technology, this doesn’t necessarily have to halt business operations like interviewing and hiring. In order to prepare yourself for the change in scenery, we have compiled some key strategies for video conference interviews. 

Use a reliable computer, not a mobile device.

Use a laptop or desktop computer; avoid using phones or tablets for a video conferencing call. Test the internet connection, speakers, microphone, and software. Use a high-quality webcam and a headset, if possible; headsets reduce background noise and improve audibility for both interviewer and candidate.

Use a Computer, Not a Mobile Device

Test out the technology.

Become familiar with the video call software in advance, under the same circumstances as the interview. Companies may use Skype, Google Hangouts, Facetime, or another platform. Download the interviewer’s preferred software and allow plenty of time to practice using it. The username (e.g. jonsmith1), display name (e.g. Jonathan Smith), and profile image should all be simple and professional.

Skype interview tips

Skype Icons

Although the conversation is the most important aspect of the interview, technical issues and poor sound quality can lead interviewers to subconsciously form a negative impression. Use a fast, reliable internet connection. If a technical issue arises during the interview, address it immediately rather than risk a miscommunication.

Check for software updates and close all other programs.

Some computers automatically restart when they install updates. Do not chance the computer unexpectedly restarting in the middle of the conversation! Before the interview, install any updates and make sure that no automatic restarts are scheduled. Close every other program other than Skype during the conversation, especially ones that generate noise, pop-ups, or notifications. Candidates should send a clear signal that the interviewer has their undivided attention.

Do a mock interview.

Do a Mock Interview

Practice with a friend or Blue Signal recruiter to gather feedback and make adjustments. Nuances that are otherwise unnoticed can stand out during a video call. Give the friend practice questions to read, and have them evaluate body language, expression, voice, and the content of the response. Check for distracting behaviors, such as staring down at the keyboard, fidgeting, the use of filler words such as “um,” or distracting hand gestures. All of these behaviors are harder to moderate when the audience is on a screen instead of in the room.

This is also a good time to practice a confident, enthusiastic delivery of responses. Record answers, if possible, and gauge whether they need revision before the interview. The interviewer only has one chance to hear the answer to a question!

Create a desktop folder of reference documents.

Some reference documents and notes can help to move the conversation forward. For instance, supporting documents such as sales figures may be handy to have during the conversation. Save documents to a new, dedicated folder on your desktop. During the adrenaline-filled moments of the interview, this will avoid a frantic search to find a key piece of information.

Use notes.

Aside from a desktop folder of helpful documents, keep a separate printed set of notes. This includes a resume copy, a quick reference sheet of company research, the job description, and any other key facts. Keep notes organized and easy to read; large blocks of text are difficult to glance through quickly and may result in the candidate frantically shuffling through pages or losing focus as they look for the fact they were trying to find.

One advantage of Skype interviews is the ability to use notes. Keep them out of view of the webcam and avoid shuffling them or reading off of them during the interview. Conduct the same level of research that would be appropriate for an in-person interview.

Put the camera at eye-level or higher.

Looking down into the camera creates an illusion of a double-chin, while looking up into a camera emphasizes confidence and compliments cheekbones and jawlines. If necessary, raise the level of the laptop by placing it on a box or stack of books (make sure they are sturdy, first). Before the videoconference, test out the camera and adjust it to the optimal height, angle, and distance.

Maintain eye contact with the camera, not the face on the screen. Be certain that the camera is at the top of the laptop to make this more natural. Looking directly at the camera gives the illusion of making eye contact with the interviewer while looking at the screen gives the impression of looking away from the interviewer’s eyes.

Choose an appropriate background.

A bare, solid-colored wall makes the best background. No controversial or confidential material should be in view of the camera. The interviewer will want a clear, unobstructed view of the candidate’s face and shoulders. When in doubt, sit farther back.

During the interview, the goal is for the interviewer to focus on the conversation, not the surroundings. If the background is distracting, it will detract from the content of the conversation. Well-lit rooms are preferable, but avoid very bright lights and sitting close to a window. Sunlight can cause a glare that makes it difficult for the camera to adjust to show the candidate’s face.

Dress for success.

Candidates should prepare their appearance as they would for a face-to-face interview. Keep body language neutral and positive, and avoid fidgeting. Body language is more difficult to read over a video call, so smile and engage the interviewer clearly.

Dress for Success

Smile, smile, smile.

Smiling has countless positive benefits. It is scientifically proven to calm nerves and lower stress hormones in the bloodstream. Smiling conveys openness, attentiveness, and interest. Enthusiasm is contagious, and it will encourage the interviewer to engage and show interest in the conversation.

This market adoption of work-from-home alternatives may signify a shift in the way the world goes to work, and is especially beneficial during the trying times of a health crisis like the Coronavirus. Whether temporarily operating from your home desk - like for an interview - or making your home office your own personal HQ long-term, the above tips are applicable for all WFH situations. Stay healthy out there! And for further professional hygiene checkups, reach out to one of our qualified Blue Signal recruiters. 

To download further interview tips and information, follow this link to our comprehensive interview guide.