How to Ace a Virtual Interview

At some point in your professional life, you will be asked to complete a virtual interview. It’s a great tool that still provides face-to-face contact. As some might imagine, virtual interviews are essential in times of travel and timing issues. They might sound daunting, but just taking a few minutes to prepare will ensure a successful interview.

1. Prep your tech ahead of time

Wifi. Microphone. Speaker.

Testing your technology prior to the interview is the most important thing you can do to ensure a smooth process. This also shows that you’re prepared and taking the opportunity seriously. Speaking from personal experience, headphones help with echos and background noise.

If you have a Mac, just open the photo booth app and test your sound and video quality. Most video conferencing sites also have a testing function. 

2. Join in 5 minutes early

There’s no need to jump on the virtual interview an hour early. If you’ve prepped your technology ahead of time, you can simply log in 5 minutes before to do one final test. Oh, and fix your hair. You can’t always see yourself during the interview!

3. Have a backup plan

Did your sound cut out? Shaky WiFi? Keep your phone nearby as a backup. You never know when you might need to turn the virtual interview into a call, or just use FaceTime capabilities if accessible. Tech issues happen often, but creativity goes a long way when it comes to an important interview. 

4. Clean your space

Do your best to find a clean and secure space to conduct your interview. Remember, the recruiter wants to focus on you — not your signed Aerosmith poster or a pile of clothes. 

5. Dress the part

The recruiter might only see the shirt you're wearing, but dressing the full part is highly recommended. You never know when you might have to stand up to grab a copy of your resume. The last thing they want to see is you with a suit jacket and superman pajama pants. Dress the same way you would for an in-person interview. 

6. Practice!

Turn on your camera and practice running through your resume and standard interview questions. Video calling a friend to review answers is a great idea, too. This will help you feel more comfortable when talking in this format. 

7. Focus your attention

It is so easy to get distracted by even the smallest popup on your screen. Minimize all other windows except for your resume. It’s important to maintain as much attention to the interviewer as possible. 

Lastly, remember to relax and have fun! Crack a few (appropriate) jokes and enjoy the process. Interviewing doesn’t always need to feel so rigorous. Preparing yourself and remaining calm will help you get one step closer to your career. 

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Nina works with jobseekers and businesses to tell their best stories by ghostwriting resumes, cover letters and website content. Connect with Nina and visit duolevel.com for more helpful tips to ace your interviews and grow professionally. 

Originally posted on duolevel.com