1. Check in beforehand and ensure you are looking at the camera instead of the screen
Contact the interviewer a day before the interview to confirm who will initiate the virtual interview.
It can be very tempting to look at yourself or the interviewer during a virtual interview; however, looking directly at the camera is the only way to maintain eye contact with the interviewer.
Master the “Digital Handshake”: Just like in-person interviews, first impressions are everything. The first five seconds can make or break the digital interview. It is in those few seconds when the hiring manager sees you, and you see the hiring manager, that digital chemistry is fostered. That is when the person thinks, ‘I like what I see, I want to engage in this digital conversation.
2. Dress the part
When it comes to attire, treat the virtual interview like an in-person one and dress professionally from head to toe (or at least from head to waist!). A professional dress code with virtual interviews is expected, not excused.
3. Practice makes perfect
Doing a run-through interview with a friend beforehand is helpful because your first few virtual interviews are likely to feel awkward, especially if you have to retrain yourself to monitor the camera and not the screen. Play around with everything beforehand so that when it is time for the interview, you may shine without being distracted by the program.
4. Use notes
Do not be afraid to use paper to take notes, and keep a copy of your resume handy when you interview. A benefit of a virtual interview is that you can have a cheat sheet in front of you, so you do not have to remember everything.
5. Ensure the interviewer is engaged and follow up
Stop every once in a while and make sure your interviewer is engaged while you talk. Being cognizant of the interviewer’s interest level is vital in a virtual interview, since they may have interesting pop-up notifications that may distract them.
A thank-you email or note is just as important after a virtual interview as it is in an in-person interview.
