Acing Your Next Virtual Interview

Arriving early, having a firm handshake, and maintaining eye contact are some of the key factors to making a great first impression during an interview. However, what happens when companies switch to virtual interviews? Suddenly, those tips are impossible to use and must be replaced to ace that interview. With these tips, you’ll be ready for your upcoming virtual interview:

  1. Practice.

Record yourself while you are answering questions to later review and analyze how your voice and body language. Do you seem confident? Nervous? Unprepared? However, you think you sound, the interviewer will think too.

  1. Dress for the role.

Although the interviewer will only see you from the shoulders up, wearing a full business outfit will help you get into the professional mindset.

  1. Print out a copy of your resume and write down any information you want to cover with the interviewer.

The bonus to interviewing by video is that you can have notes prepared and available during the interview. Be sure not to stare or read directly off the page but use the notes to make sure you do not miss out on key points, questions and qualifications for the position.

  1. Find a quiet, distraction-free area.

While the company interviewing you will more than likely forgive distractions, these minor sounds can be harmful to your concentration. Instead of focusing on your next answer, you may still be thinking about the distraction after the moment passes.

  1. Test your device(s) before the interview.

There is nothing worse than spending the first eight minutes of the interview troubleshooting your technology issues and having the interviewer think you are running late.

  1. Maintain eye contact with the camera.

It may seem odd at first but looking at the camera instead of the screen will look as though you are speaking directly to the interviewer and give the same effect as real eye contact.

Have any tips you use? Comment them below, we would love to hear from you!

Preparing For The Big Day

If you’ve been job hunting, you know the excitement you feel when you are finally scheduling that interview you’ve been waiting for! Getting an interview is half the battle, acing the interview is the other half! Here are some tips that will help you feel like your best self on that big day.

  1. Plan your outfit the night before

It is important to choose the perfect interview outfit. Make sure it is clean, fresh and pressed. Make sure all parts of the outfit and accessories are laid out before you head to bed. In the morning, you will be confident putting on that amazing fit. If you need a more in-depth guide to creating your outfit, check out our guide!

  1. Get a fresh start

If your interview is in the morning, go to bed early and wake up early too! You want to be well rested and you do not want to feel rushed. You need enough time to get yourself looking great and eat a nice breakfast or snack. Taking your time in the morning will make you feel calm, organized and grounded. Feeling in control breeds confidence!

  1. Know the ropes

On the day of the interview, you want to have all the important information you need and we aren’t just referring to the talking points you’ve practiced. You need to know the interview time, place, directions to the site and how much time it would take for you to get there a little early. Estimate the amount of traffic to expect and fill up your gas tank if needed. Think of all the things that could set you back and prepare for them beforehand. You want to prep for a stress-free day!

  1. Give yourself pep talks

Fill your mind with positive affirmations. Sometimes, what makes you shine most in an interview is how you feel about yourself and your skills. You got this! For additional tips on managing pre-interview stress, click here.