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Guest post by Lucy Wyndham
Welcome to the age of the millennials where remote work reigns supreme and the chances of meeting your boss are quite minimal. In fact, studies reveal that around 70% of people across the world work remotely at least once a week. For years, schools and employment agencies have been prepping would-be job seekers on how to ace their interview. But here’s the sticky bit, an online interview is nothing like that and knowing what to expect lies at the heart of being successful.
Know The Difference
One of the most fundamental differences between being interviewed in person and online, is that there is no ability for the interviewer to gauge the responses of the interviewee with body language. Although they may be able to see some of it, it’s not enough to make a true assessment. This is an important factor for interviewees, as setting the interviewer at ease purely by being calm and confident used to be a major trump card. During the online interview, this is not conveyed. It’s critical that the interviewee leverages their skills and experience to compensate for this crucial part of the interview process.
Be Prepared And Block Out That Time
Although the online interview process might seem simple and informal, there is a lot more prep work to do. For the interviewee, this means downloading the software to ensure their device is compatible, checking out the angle of their camera and whether lighting and sound are sufficient, and more. The area needs to be clean and clutter free and interviewees should have their questions ready to ensure that they don’t have to scurry about or leave sight of the screen.
A copy of their resume and cover letter should also be available in order to refer to if there are any questions by the interviewer. Those who happen to have additional credentials such as degrees and certifications should keep the information on hand too, as well as recommendations from others. During the interview process, it’s important that all background noises are filtered out and that other home or office occupants are notified that that portion is off limits.
Be Ready To Demonstrate
Those who are able to demonstrate their skills, such as graphic designers, web designers, and coders should be ready to demonstrate their skills on the spot, as technology makes this possible during the interview. Ensure that all the skills listed on the CV are actual skills that can be demonstrated if required. While this may seem like a daunting on-the-spot requirement, it tells the interviewer who can think on their feet and work accurately under pressure. If this part of the interview is not successful, it might be to the interviewee’s benefit as the environment might just be too stressful.
The generic online interview tips still apply, such as doing your hair, wearing proper attire, and cleaning the area around the desk. Preparing for the interview is an essential component of a successful interview.