The ICT Job Hunter Blog

Interviewing can be expensive activity for employers, especially if they are the ones who are footing the bill to fly candidates in from afar.  Modern technology, in the form of video conferencing, of course offers a much cheaper alternative, albeit that it puts the fear of God into most jobseekers.  Today’s post, which is an excerpt from my book entitled ‘Job Search Ninja – Tips On Acing The Interview’, provides some useful advice on how to handle being in front of the camera.

Video conferencing is another form of interviewing which is becoming increasingly popular with employers, especially as it saves both time and money.  Despite the equipment and technology involved, however, the objective of the interview is exactly the same as in a face-to-face meeting, and all the same principles concerning preparation, dress code, body language and so on still apply.

Here are a few tips to bear in mind if you know that you have a video conferencing interview ahead of you:

1.  Arrive at the interview in plenty of time to make sure that you have a chance to get to grips with the equipment being used.  The better you understand it, the more comfortable and confident you will feel. 

2.  Set up the room or table in the way that you would like it, but do not clutter up the desk with lots of pieces of paper as this may be distracting to the interviewer.   

3.  Make sure that you know who is available to offer technical assistance in case there is a problem with the equipment or the reception during the course of the interview.  Check with the interviewer right at the start that he can see and hear you clearly.

4.  Set up the camera so that it focuses directly on you – ideally you will want to achieve a head/shoulders/desk shot – and make sure that the microphone is close to you.  Beware of shuffling papers or tapping the table.  Microphones are very sensitive pieces of equipment which amplify the slightest sound, and little noises which the brain would normally filter out can sound very loud and be extremely distracting.

5.  Ensure that the ‘picture-in-picture’ option is turned on so that you can see how you look to the interviewer.  This will help you to spot any distracting shadows – just move slightly to get rid of them – as well as to keep an eye on your body language.

6.  Dressing appropriately for any interview is important, but there are additional considerations to bear in mind if you are taking part in a video conferencing interview.  Have you ever noticed how stripes and small, busy patterns look as though they are vibrating when you see them on the television?  Well, the same thing happens in video conferencing, so they are best avoided if you do not want to give the interviewer a headache.  Bright white is also best avoided, with solid conservative colors being the best choice.

7.  Even though you are on camera, make sure that you still maintain ‘eye contact’ with the interviewer.  If there is more than one interviewer, you will need to use the name of the person you are addressing, as this might not otherwise be clear.  Do not forget, therefore, to get the names of all of the interviewers in advance.

8.  Because your audience is focusing to a greater extent on your face than they might do in a personal meeting, it is important to be even more aware of your non-verbal listening cues.  Be aware of what your facial expressions are telling the interviewer and make sure that you sit up straight and look alert and interested.

9.  Do not be afraid of the technology and just concentrate on the interview itself.  If something does go wrong with the equipment (which rarely happens), you will certainly not be blamed and the interviewer is the one who is likely to feel most embarrassed.  It is his equipment, after all.

10. Use video conferencing to your advantage.  Showing that you are comfortable with, and able to adapt easily to the technology, will reflect extremely well on you, demonstrating a good fit with a progressive company.

If you would like to download a copy of ‘Job Search Ninja – Tips On Acing The Interview’, you can do so by visiting https://www.integritycareertransitions.com/thecareerstore/ebooks/.