The online job interview has grown in popularity and is now displacing the telephone interview, as you can simply connect with a live image to get a better impression of the applicants.
An online interview has the great advantage that you save yourself the journey and departure and that you are in your own, familiar environment during the interview.
In connection with this, however, online interviews also bring with them some special challenges that one should know and take into account.
Preparation for the online interview
Dimension the time required for the job interview generously and avoid appointments immediately afterward so as not to put yourself under pressure.
There are now a lot of software solutions that are suitable for the use of online interviews.
Recruiters usually have several different software solutions in use to be able to react to the specifications and different circumstances of their customers.
You will probably be sent the corresponding download link with the invitation to the online interview to install the required software on your computer.
If you have a choice or can make a suggestion, be sure to select the software that you have already installed on your computer and that you are already familiar with.
If this is not possible, you should install and test the software in advance, to identify any problems with the installation in good time.
If you are completely unfamiliar with the software, it makes sense to deal with it in good time and to find out more on the manufacturer’s website so that you don’t only get to know the controls during the interview.
Camera position and settings
Try to establish and maintain eye contact as often as possible in the online interview. Position your camera at eye level so that you can always look directly into the camera.
Move the video image on the screen as close as possible to the edge of the camera so that there is a very small angle between the camera lens and the person’s head. The smaller the angle, the better you can recognize the facial expressions of your conversation partner and look into the camera at the same time.
An external camera is usually technically better than the camera built into the device. If you want to use the built-in camera of your laptop, you have to bring your laptop to the right height.
Only if you look straight ahead into the camera does the impression arise on the other side that you are eye contact. By placing the camera at eye level, you also avoid distortions and you avoid looking up or down at your conversation partner.
Always remind yourself that you are not looking at the video of the person you are talking to all the time, as this will prevent eye contact.
Look straight into the camera as often as possible! Check the quality of your camera, clean the lens and optimize the settings. Select the highest resolution and test the microphone and speakers at the same time.
Check audio settings
If possible, try to attend the interview without headphones. Because every additional device distracts from you and can thus influence the impression. Ideally, use the built-in microphone and speakers.
You must test both in advance, to ensure that you can be understood on the other side and that there is no feedback from the speakers. As a rule, the software tries to filter the sound from the loudspeakers from the microphone, but it does not always work satisfactorily.
Have a headset ready in case of an emergency so that you can react quickly to problems with the sound. If it is a wireless headset, make sure that the battery is fully charged.
Choose the right lighting
Choose a place with enough daylight for your video interview. If this is not possible or the daylight is too low, you should also use a lamp with diffuse light.
You can achieve diffuse light through a lampshade or stick some baking paper over the light source to diffuse the light rays. This is a very cheap and efficient method. The light source should emit a warm light and be positioned from the front or just to the side.
Under no circumstances should the light shine directly from above or below onto your face to avoid unsightly shadows.
If you have darkened the windows or if the job interview is taking place late at night, you must also illuminate the room, otherwise, your presentation against a black background will look too theatrical.
Lighting from behind or a bright window in the background means that you are only perceived as a dark silhouette. In this case, an additional light source must also be inserted from the front to rectify the problem.
Choose a suitable place in your apartment, where you are undisturbed and feel good, and are not cramped. It does not have to be the space that you use for your home office activities. Try to avoid disturbing noises and close the windows to minimize the surrounding noise.
Inform all of your roommates about the planned length of the job interview and ask them in good time to remain absolutely calm during the interview.
Stick a note on the outside of your room door to prevent unintentional entry. Ask your roommates to look after the children and pets, and turn off your cell phone, but do not turn it off. If you cannot be reached in the online meeting for technical reasons, they will try to contact you by phone.
Check the background of your video and remove all personal items. The background is always involuntarily perceived and can be very distracting from you. A full bookshelf gives a well-read impression but also tempts you to read the title on the spine of the book.
Some problem areas that cannot be removed from the background can perhaps be covered with plants or other objects. Some video conferencing solutions offer the option of blurring the background or adding a background from a collection of templates.
In such cases, however, it is obvious that the image has been changed and it also looks a bit strange. The edge of the face is often not clearly recognized by the software, which creates a blurring effect.
Check Internet settings
Check the availability of your internet line and make sure that nobody in your household is putting additional strain on the line at the time of the job interview.
Internet lines are usually designed in such a way that the data upload is much smaller than the data download. There is a lot of data for the upload during an online interview.
If everyone in your household keeps the line free, the risk of latency and poor transmission is significantly reduced.
Simulate and analyze the conversation situation
Try to rehearse a job interview with someone you trust several times.
Of course, also online and over a spatial distance to get a meaningful result.
The simulation enables you to identify and correct technical problems during the transfer early on. It is also very helpful to run through the interview situation several times to get more certainty.
Your sparring partner can provide you with additional support through their feedback and point out the potential for improvement. If the software used allows it, ask your conversation partner to record the interview and send it to you. This allows you to analyze the result and see for yourself how you look in the video.
Last activities before the interview
Close all applications and all browser windows on your computer that you do not need during the job interview to keep the load on your computer low.
Make sure that your operating system is not performing any system updates in the background during the call. If you talk through a microphone built into the laptop, the computer should start the fan as infrequently as possible.
A low CPU load is very helpful here. During the interview, wear appropriate clothing appropriate to the job and dress completely from top to bottom, including the appropriate shoes.
In this way, you convey to your subconscious that you have a professional appearance despite the private and familiar environment and increase your self-confidence.
If you have to get up for whatever reason to get something, you will be glad that you are fully and correctly dressed. Have your prepared questions, pens, and paper ready for notes.
Avoid typing on the computer during the conversation, because it looks much more professional if you take your notes by hand and at the same time allow you to think briefly.
Put a drink aside. This means that you always have the opportunity to take a short pause for reflection with a sip.
Read the job advertisement, your cover letter, and your CV again to get all the facts in mind. Be punctual and online five to ten minutes before the appointment with the meeting software. There aren’t many good explanations in the home office why you didn’t make it to be on time. Being unpunctual is very often interpreted as a lack of interest or sloppiness.
Wait until the person you are talking to establishes the connection and the conversation begins. Don’t get impatient too soon and only contact the person after the start has been overrun for at least 10 minutes without notice.
What to consider during the online interview
Make sure you are sitting well, comfortably, and upright. If the conversation is being recorded, please for a copy of the recording. Pay attention to a clear and understandable pronunciation during the conversation and allow yourself enough time with your answers.
In stressful situations, it is very easy to speak faster, but that is always at the cost of sovereignty. Stay focused, clear on the subject, and charming.
Use all the arguments that you have prepared to present yourself as the ideal candidate. You must inform yourself about the requirements of the job, the industry, and competitors before the interview to put your competence and motivation in the right light. During the preparation, try to find out as much as possible about the company and let this knowledge flow into the conversation.
The online interview has an advantage
During a video conversation, it is possible to read the most important points or facts from a cheat sheet unnoticed as an aid by positioning the sheet in an area behind the camera. But don’t overdo it and don’t let it show you that you are using an aid.
