Tips for preparing for a virtual job interview

When the world of work suddenly went online back in 2020, employers and job seekers had to quickly adapt. ​Despite things returning to the way it was pre-pandemic, an increasingly mobile digital global workforce has led to video interviews now being the ‘go to’ for most businesses and recruitment agencies.

Regardless, if your interview is directly with an employer or with a recruitment agency like people2people, it’s key to prepare as you would for a face-to-face interview. In such a competitive and fast paced job market, making a great first impression can make or break your application. If you are currently in the middle of your job search, it's likely that you’ll be asked to do your interviews virtually.

Here are some quick tips to help you prepare and nail your virtual job interview.
 
Setting your scene early
Make sure you are in a place where you can’t be easily distracted or interrupted. It’s vital that you’re in a quiet spot with a neutral background, pick a place where natural light comes through and adjust the lighting if needs be. Centre yourself in the middle of the screen at a straight angle with some clear space above your head. Sit up straight with good posture and try to be positioned as if you were face to face.

Dress to impress
Even though most of us are used to wearing sweat pants when working from home, despite the online nature, this is still a professional job interview. Scrap the gym attire and dust off the suit the jacket! You’re not on a team call now with a colleague. Dress as you normally would for a formal interview, avoid distracting colours and opt for tones that are softer. You want to feel good and be ready for the interview. Dress to impress.

Prepare, prepare, prepare
Just because you aren’t meeting in person, it doesn’t mean you can just wing your job interview. Research is key. Use the virtual set up to your advantage and have notes prepared. The better equipped you are to ask thoughtful questions, the smoother your conversation will go throughout the interview.