Top 10 Remote Online Interview Tips While Staying at Home

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an interruption for businesses around the globe. Although many businesses have stopped hiring people during this period of time, there are still many that are recruiting people for now and into the future.

The primary change is that these interviews will be taking place remotely; so instead of going and meeting your interviewer, you will now be doing your interview online. Although this may not be ideal for either the candidates or interviewers, it is the new normal for now. If you look on the bright side, without the travel time you can conduct multiple interviews in one day from the comfort of your home.

Here are the top 10 remote interview tips which will help you if you are preparing for an online interview soon.

1. Test your technology

This is the first thing you want to do to prepare for your interview. Don’t leave 5 minutes before the interview begins. The last thing you want is for the audio or screen to not work. Make sure you test the audio beforehand, as well as making sure the camera shows you clearly.

2. Dress the part

You still need to dress up like you would if you were to go in for an interview. Dress like you are about to go and meet your interviewer in person. Wear a simple white shirt or blouse with either a skirt or smart trousers, keeping your look simple and professional. Make sure you’re ready

Make sure you are at least 10 minutes ready before the interview. By this, you want to ensure everything is in place, including the equipment you will be using for the interview e.g. mobile phone or laptop. By being prepared before your interview, this gives you a chance to relax and show you are eager and ready to begin the interview.

4. Make eye contact

Although you are not present face to face with the interviewer, it is still important you maintain eye contact throughout the duration of the interview. This will show you are focused and confident and not distracted. The nature of the environment may feel weird for you; however, the principles of the interview are the exact same remotely or in real life.

5. Remove distractions

need to be fully engaged with the interviewer throughout the interview, so remove all distractions. Ensure you are in a quiet space where you will not have anyone to disrupt your interview. You should also remove distractions like your phone — put it on silent so your eyes don’t divert to your screen.

6. Keep your CV next to you

Have a copy of your CV next to you printed out, rather than on the screen. This is because it may look like you are distracted flicking between different screens throughout the interview, making it look unprofessional. Instead, have your CV by your side and make it aware to the interviewer that you will be referring to it if necessary.

7. Prepare and rehearse key questions

You want to make sure you are prepared for the key questions you may be asked throughout the interview. By preparing various answers you will avoid those awkward pauses between question and answer.

8. Show that you researched the company and position

You want to make sure you display the correct knowledge about the company and position throughout the interview. This is one way to stand out during your remote interview as it shows you have taken the time to research and familiarize yourself and that you want the job.

9. Market yourself

This interview is your time to shine, so make sure you show why you should be hired for this position. You want to showcase your skills, including that you are reliable and dependable. Make sure you also answer all questions clearly and in detail, giving specific examples and explaining what you learned from previous experiences.

And build your online personal profile so that if they look for you online, you have a digital footprint.

10. Follow through

Once the interview is finished, make sure you send an email simply thanking the interviewer for the interview and their time. This will show you are genuinely interested in the position and that you look forward to finding out if you are successful in gaining the role.

Although these are difficult times we are experiencing, you still want to make sure you take advantage of various job opportunities. So take action and enjoy the experience while you can.

This article was written by Bianca Miller Cole from Forbes and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.

Article first appeared on Forbes

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