How To Prepare For An Online Interview

COVID has had a significant impact on all aspects of our lives. None more so than on the way we work. Working from home is now expected, and that means many interviews are now conducted from home too. Interviews can be difficult at the best of times, but remote interviewing adds extra challenges. Here is our guide to help you overcome them.

 

Be Organised

You should always prepare for an interview. Read the resume, prepare questions and book a meeting room. Being prepared is even more critical when you are conducting an interview remotely. You need to communicate with the candidate in advance and make sure they know what is going to happen. Confirm Who will initiate the meeting, what platform will you be using and who else will be attending.

 

Prepare your interview questions based on the job role and the candidate's resume. If it is likely that the role will involve working remotely then also target traits such as:

Self-motivation

Discipline

Tech-savvy

Responsive

Strong communication skills

 

Set Up Early

Make sure your chosen platform and connection are working. You should try and set up at least 15 minutes before the meeting start time. This should give you enough time to set implement your back up plan in case there are any technical difficulties.

 

Prepare A Back-Up Plan

Technical difficulties happen more often than we would like.

Scheduling your interview for a time when others are not online is the easiest way to minimise bandwidth problems. Along with the candidate's resume, you should have their contact details, so they are contactable if you lose your connection.

 

Make A Good Impression

Even though you may not be in the office, you are still representing your company. You want to give the best impression possible to any prospective candidates. Make sure the setting of your interview is appropriate. Have a clear desk and an uncluttered background.

 

You need to dress appropriately too. Be professional in your appearance. Try to avoid busy, bright patterns as they can be very distracting on screen. Simple neutral tones work best.

 

Reduce Interruptions

it is rare for a face to face interview to be interrupted. You book a meeting room, put your phone on silent and give the candidate your undivided attention. The same applies when conducting a remote interview. Switch off all notifications, put your phone to silent and advise anyone else in your home that you are not to be interrupted.

 

Be Personable

One of the biggest challenges with an online interview is maintaining eye contact. The only way to make eye contact is actually to look into the camera. Too often we look at the candidate's image and forget we are not looking them in the eye.

It's also essential to demonstrate you are engaged in the interview. Use different facial expressions and vary the tone of your voice. Video calls can also suffer from a slight lag so try to pause at the end of a sentence or question if you anticipate a possible response.

 

Be Professional To The End

Try not to let the interview overrun but make sure the candidate has plenty of opportunities to ask questions of their own. Finish off by explaining what the next stage in the recruitment process is, thank them for their time and confirm your email address should they have any additional questions. 


IT Recruitment Agency

Location: London, UK

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