10 Tips to Help You Ace an Online Interview Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

Online interviews have been rising in popularity for quite some time now. It has increased by 49% since 2011, and about 60% of HR managers use video tools for interviewing candidates.

Further, the current pandemic has confined everybody to their homes, and although the lockdowns are being lifted in phases, people may be afraid to go out immediately to attend interviews. As a result, several companies are keeping their operations online, offering unlimited WFH (Work from Home) opportunities to their employees, and holding virtual interviews.

While there has been a decline in the hiring spree during the lockdown period, companies with urgent hiring needs are conducting online interviews. Organizations are also leveraging technology and automated systems for virtual screening and interviewing after assessing travel histories and medical histories of the potential candidates to prevent the spread of the virus.

If you’re applying for such a position, you’re in the right place to get some effective suggestions regarding the same.

Let’s give you an idea of how to ace your online interview amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Scroll on!

Stay prepared and interview-ready
The foremost thing you should do is check your internet connectivity, webcam, and microphone to prevent the technology from causing disruptions in the middle of the interview. If you’re new to this virtual interview thing, chances are, you’ll be anxious over it, and even a small distraction can derange you and break your confidence. Therefore, make sure that everything is working properly.

Pick a secluded area
As you’ll be attending the interview from home, you should choose a secluded area to avoid getting disturbed. It would be best if you also informed your family members not to disturb you during the interview. It’s also important to pick a spot that’s well organized and looks professional on the camera, as it will help you create that first good impression. A bookshelf, study table, or painting behind you are few things that can help enhance your first impression on the camera.

Take a compassionate approach
About 170 countries in the world have been affected by the novel coronavirus. When you come online and face your interviewers, it’s best to start the conversation by asking them how they are doing amidst the adversities and wishing them good health. This will show your compassionate side to the potential employers, who will be moved for sure.

Attend the interview on your computer
Never attend video interviews from your mobile, and the small screen won’t provide the clarity you seek. On a computer screen, you will not only be able to see your potential employers clearly but also give them the chance to see you properly. It will also help you sit erect, stay confident, and focused, which isn’t possible when you’re holding your mobile constantly with one hand.

Put on the right outfit
Although you’re attending the interview from your home, you should look as professional as possible by putting on a formal outfit. Take a bath, clean your face, and dear women, you may put on some light makeup too. Men should shave before, as you may miss it in a hurry on the day of the interview.

Practice speaking in front of the camera
For those who are camera conscious, giving an interview in front of the camera will seem too big a challenge for them. Even the regular people, who take a thousand selfies every day, may feel uncomfortable while giving a video interview for the first time. That’s why you should make a habit of speaking in front of the camera to be as relaxed and confident as possible. Start practicing the same for a few days to get a grip on things faster.

Position the camera properly
Before you come online, you should check if the camera is positioned correctly and find your best angle. Appearances matter, and you too know that, right? Therefore, identify your best profile and place the camera accordingly. Try speaking into the camera and see if you’re looking confident and impressive. These subtleties go a long way in helping you ace that online interview.

Keep moving, smiling and talking
If you sit still throughout the interview with a frozen expression on your face, it would appear quite odd to the person on the other side. You should use certain gestures like nodding your head, smiling, taking notes on a pad, and other things to suggest that you’re there, listening intently. Also, make sure you keep your eyes on the camera, which forms the key connection between your world and that of the interviewer.

Give out the right vibe
Although the interview is online, it needn't be robotic. The company may be looking for someone interactive, easy to approach, and looks confident. The right expression and body language can help you end their search. Smile more, speak with confidence, and give out the right vibe that the company seeks in a potential employee.

Know the company well
As with conventional face-to-face interviews, you should do some research on the hiring company, their story, mission, vision, products, services, and everything else possible. If you think that you may not remember the same during the interview, you can put the information up on the wall in front of you, so that you can steal a glance whenever possible. However, please don’t look at the wall often, as you will lose eye contact with your employers then.

Wrapping it up
Things will settle slowly, and normal conditions will be restored. But people have learned a lesson, and they won’t flock out of their home any soon. What we can do is adapt, adapt, and adapt more to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone. Hence, online interviews will be the norm for some time now, and you can ace them without any hassle by following the suggestions mentioned above.

In the meantime, set up your profile on HelpWanted.com and get regular notifications about suitable job openings.

Wish you all the best!