How You Can Give a Great Video Interview to Land the Job
As a cheap, faster and more convenient alternative, video interviews are becoming increasingly popular with hiring managers.
Not quite a phone interview, and also not a face-to-face interview, the video interview is a beast all its own and job seekers need to develop a distinct mentality when going into a video interview.
A 2013 investigation by Forbes offers a unique window into what hiring managers are thinking when they conduct a video interview. More than half of communication in a video interview comes from a person’s face and appearance, according to the report. The tone of the person’s voice accounts for 38 percent of the total information hiring manager’s get from a video interview, and just seven percent comes from what the person actually says.
With this insight in mind, here are a few things to consider before your next video interview.
Pick the right setting
Since hiring managers pay so much to appearance and visual context, don’t sit down to do your video interview in a weird or unflattering location. A home office, a parked car or even outside on a sunny day is a perfectly acceptable place to conduct an interview. Don’t pick someplace busy, crowded or loud.
Also, consider the ambient light and sound where you will be conducting your interview. A café might be a great place for a face-to-face interview, but the ambient noise could make it tough to maintain a conversation. If you’re interviewing indoors, test out the camera you’ll be using to see if there’s enough light for the person on the other end to see you.
Finally, make sure you are set up with a strong and fast internet connection. Nothing says unprepared or bad tech skills like a Skype session that keeps cutting out.
Beware the screenshare
Some video interviews, particularly those technical in nature, may involve the hiring manager sharing screens with you – meaning they could see anything inappropriate window you have open.
Don’t open up a chat window to ask for advice during the interview or, god forbid, complain about the interviewer. It should go without saying that you shouldn’t have video games, or unrelated content running either.
Keep it professional
Dress and conduct yourself as if you were walking into the employer’s office for a face-to-face interview. Wearing casual clothes or tossing around inappropriate language sends the message that you are careless.
At ZDA, we are constantly working with job seekers to improve their interviewing skills. If you need a job in the supply chain industry, work with a leading recruiter in the field and contact ZDA today!
