The hiring landscape has drastically changed, especially after the pandemic. Businesses went online and employees worked from home for the longest period to date. Although organizations have returned to their pre-pandemic work life, some practices have continued to remain crucial and are being followed even in the current scenario.
Remote hiring, for instance, has become a mainstream practice for recruiters to hunt for the best industry talents to catapult their businesses to new heights. While virtual interviews remain relevant, what’s more important for a candidate is to know how to ace it in this new setup. Here are some tips that can help you prepare and eventually clear an interview with flying colors.
Tech check:
Make sure your system (laptop or desktop) is fully charged before the interview to avoid disconnections. Test your internet connection before starting the interview, as a poor connection can cause unnecessary interruptions in between and lower your confidence level.
Similarly, check if the webcam and microphone are working properly. Look at other background settings, such as the lighting in your room, to ensure you are visible to the interviewer. Likewise, ensure you sit in a quiet place to avoid distractions. Most importantly, put your phone on silent.
Dress professionally:
Just because you are giving an interview from home doesn’t mean you can wear anything. Groom yourself well and wear formals as if you were going for an in-person interview. How you appear in an interview, be it physical or virtual, is crucial to leave a good impression on the person meeting you for the first time.
Apart from wearing good clothes, wearing a smile while responding to questions is also essential. Not only does it make you feel more confident, but it also communicates openness to the interviewer, thereby making the interaction smooth and seamless. Moreover, monitoring your body language by sitting up straight and keeping the camera at eye level is also important.
Stay prepared:
Most candidates feel it is easy to cheat during virtual interviews by relying on pre-written answers or directly looking up answers online. Well, that’s not the case at all! One must be prepared with all the answers to keep the interaction natural rather than fake or forced.
To begin with, you can practice answering questions like why you find yourself fit for this position and where you see yourself in the next five years. Practice your responses in front of a mirror by looking at yourself.