Online Interview
Tips
Your Interview
This is a video interview so make sure your device has a camera on it. It is a two-way street. Let's face it, can you imagine being interviewed through a wall just with an intercom to communicate with your interviewee? The client is looking to see the whites of your eye and see how you interact.
Video calling is a lot more complicated than you think, you are being judged, not only on your answers or response time but on nerves, body language and how you adapt to new things.
Video Interview "Do's"
Have a Professional Background
Ensure your environment isn't messy or distracting and do your best to make it look as professional as possible. Find an area where there are plain backdrops, no hanging clothes, or inappropriate pictures. Have a clean working area in front of you not distracted with things you can tinker with.
If you have a drink with you for the interview, make sure the cup/glass hasn't got any inappropriate pictures or words on it. Please stay away from sports mugs etc in case they could support a rival team etc.
Dress Appropriately
I suggest smart casual for an interview. Treat video interviews as if they're in-person and dress the same way you would if you showed up at the company's office.
Test Out the Video Platform
The client will more than likely look to send you an online interview request. Once your interview is in place, make sure you understand how the platform works. Often these are programs that need to be downloaded, installed, or updated. Try and do this as far in advance as possible
The last thing you want to do is be sitting ready and prepped for your interview only to find that you cannot get into the Call on time because you didn't install your technology first.
Popular video platforms are Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting, and Google Hangouts, but there are many more out there.
Test Your Audio and Video
You've installed your interview platform but don't stop there. Make sure the audio and video are ready to go. All platforms can do a pre-test of your audio and video to ensure they are both working correctly.
Find a Strong Internet Connection
You potentially could be the client's ideal candidate, with matching personality, and the ability to a tee, however, having an internet connection that is lagging and cuts out every so often is most likely going to frustrate the person interviewing you. You won't be penalised for this, but you may miss a critical interview question, or they won't be able to catch everything that you're saying in your answers.
If you are using a desktop or laptop, I would always advise looking to plug it into the router with an ethernet cable or with a laptop/tablet or phone, turn off as many other devices connected to the WIFI boosting your signal.
Listen and repeat
If there is a lag or a break in connection for any reason, and you didn't hear what the client had to say, do not be afraid to ask the client to repeat the question. Guessing is for game shows; this could make the difference between a great interview and a good one.
Ending off
Even though a video interview doesn't feel quite the same as an in-person one, you're still attending a formal interview in which the client has set aside time to chat with you. Come armed with 3 or 4 relevant questions and thanking them for their time can go a long way.
You may have access to their email from their invite so maybe send a small "Thank you for your time today. I enjoyed our conversation" email.
Lastly,
Make sure you have your phone near you. If there is an issue with the connection or the client connecting, they will often call you to have a telephone interview. Be prepared for that. In saying that, ensure your phone is on silent, and maybe place it on a cloth so that vibrations to not distract you.
Video Interview "Do not's"
Do not take the Call in a Loud environment
Try and find a quiet room where you have the best opportunity not to be disturbed. Clients understand that there is every chance of hearing a dog barking, knocking at the door, kids screaming in the background or even that shelf that was hanging on, eventually giving up and smashing to the ground. Noise can be distracting for the client, but if you are worried that there is a potential for noise, it can distract you and keep you from relaxing in the interview. If there are other people in the same vicinity, let them know that you are taking this call. I have a DO NOT DISTURB sign in a poly pocket on my door. When I am interviewing candidates or taking a brief on from a client, I put this sign into the poly pocket and shut the door. The family knows this is quiet time.
Try not to move
Phones, iPad, Consoles, and laptops are great for online interviews, but they also tend to shake and move, increasing the noise within the interview, causing the platform to lag or even worse DISCONNECT.
If you need to take the interview using a mobile or portable device, prop the phone up checking, height etc in advance of the interview. Try not to move if possible. On desktop cameras, they tend to have an automatic zoom feature, great in some instances but try to limit movement when on the call to avoid this. Also, remember to try not to bump the desk or what you have a device propped on. Otherwise, there is a chance of the camera or device dropping the interviewer could be seeing your ceiling or potentially worse.
The Do's & Do not's
DON’T
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Don't yawn and stretch
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Don't be distracted
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Don't Tinker with things.
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Don't Vape or smoke
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Don't Rock back and forward on the seat
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Don't Play with the camera.
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Don't check your emails or browser
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Don't Pop off for a sandwich or make a cup of coffee
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Don't think that you are on mute when you are not.
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Don't Think you are not muted when you are
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Don't Fidget
DO:
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Do have referral notes in front of you
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Do have a copy of your CV, preferably printed with you
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Do your best
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Do listen
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Do relax
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Do enjoy
Competency Interview Examples
Please note, these questions are examples that could be asked in a competency-based interview
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What do you know about our business?
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Have you had time to look at our website:
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Do you relate to our core values?
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What Transferable skills do you hold?
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Give an example of a time you handled conflict in the workplace
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Give an example of a challenge you faced in the workplace, and how you overcame it
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What is your biggest achievement?
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How did you reach the decision that you wanted to change your job?
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Top 3 skills
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Tell me about a time your communication skills improved a situation
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Give an example of a time you’ve had to improvise to achieve your goal
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In a situation where the result was not in your favour, what would you do differently
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Why should we hire you and why are you a good fit?
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Give an example of change in the workplace and how you handled this
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Give an example of a time you identified a new approach to a workplace problem
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When did you work hardest and feel greatest achievement Personal or work?
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Give an example of team leading in past employment
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How do you cope in adverse circumstances?
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How would you deal with a difficult individual and how did you deal with this?
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How would react when you have had to make a difficult decision in work that could affect the team dynamic and knock-on effect?
When answering try remembering STAR METHOD:
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A Situation they have been in that demonstrates the competency in question.
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The Task that, because of that situation, they were challenged to complete.
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The Action they took to successfully complete the task.
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Followed by the Result of that action (hopefully a positive one!)
Key points:
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Understand and know your CV.
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Read through the role profile and then read it again.
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Confidence is key
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Be honest about things you don’t know
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Know the dates on the CV
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Think of relevant answers to the questions
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Answer the points from the job spec
