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How To Ace Your Virtual Job Interview: 8 Common Mistakes To Avoid

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Student experience Work and Careers Future career and ROI

Virtual job interviews may have come out of necessity during COVID-19. But it looks like it’s here to stay.

Regardless of whether it’s for an on-site job or one that’s completely remote, many employers and companies are still in the practice of carrying out job interviews virtually due to its convenience.

Not only does this benefit them, but it also allows candidates to schedule multiple interviews easily and do them all from the comfort of their homes.

However, just because this is the new norm doesn’t mean it’s a sign to get too comfortable or casual with it. At the end of the day, it’s still a professional job interview after all.

Afraid of screwing things up? Here’s what to avoid to ace your online job interview and impress your potential employer.

8 Common Virtual Job Interviews You Must Avoid

1. Having A Bad Camera Setup & Angle

We’re not suggesting you buy a ridiculously expensive camera and have professional lights set up. But you do need to have a decent camera and the right angle to match.

While having a separate webcam is ideal, a built-in camera on your laptop would work just fine as long as the camera resolution is good. Ensure that you’re positioned in a well-lit room so that the interviewer can see your face clearly as you speak.

Want to avoid bad camera angles? Watch your posture and always check to see that your camera is in line with the top of your head.

2. Not Having A Professional Or Pleasant Background

It’s common practice to find a clean and quiet space that’s free from distractions to take a call. But understandably, not everyone may have an aesthetically pleasing background or spot in their homes. That’s where virtual backgrounds come in.

From a cozy office setup to a vibrant coworking space, there’s a wide range of backgrounds online to choose from for your next virtual interview.

Virtual backgrounds preferred by most recruiters include those with office settings and meeting spaces as opposed to those with mountains, beaches, or other quirky environments.

3. Not Muting Notification Sounds & Noise Distractions

Audible, interrupting notification sounds can be extremely distracting during the interview process and may even put recruiters off.

Today, it’s not enough to switch your phone to silent or ‘do not disturb’ mode. Take the time to pause notifications or quit all applications on your devices.

For those willing to go the extra mile, there are several noise cancellation software available to remove unwanted background noise and improve the overall quality of a conference call.

4. Not Dressing Up Formally For The Interview

Dressing up for success is still a must even though you may be interviewing from your home.

Since only your face will be shown during the call, make sure the top half of your body looks presentable and professional. Consider a formal button-up shirt for the gents and sleeved blouses for the ladies.

Wearing the appropriate clothing will not only give you a good first impression of the interviewers but can also make you feel confident during the interview process.

It’s like hitting two birds with one stone!

5. Not Preparing For The Interview Questions

In the same way that you would prepare for an in-person interview, candidates need to do the same for online interviews as well.

Before any interview, always conduct thorough research on the company and their work, and be familiar with the role you’re applying for.

Check out any latest news on the organization and how your skills can benefit the company at large.

In addition, it would also help to use this time to review your resume and rehearse how you would respond to certain questions to equip yourself for the actual interview.

6. Not Having Your Resume & Qualifications On Hand To Discuss

At some point in the interview, employers will go through your credentials to discuss your past experiences and achievements.

Come prepared with all the necessary materials on your browser or on hand to enable seamless cross-referencing during the call itself.

The last thing you want is to be rummaging through your documents, creating dead air during the interview, and making the recruiter wait for your response.

7. Having A Messy Screen During Screenshare

There may be certain instances where recruiters would ask candidates to share their screens to showcase their portfolios or previous work.

As simple as screen-sharing may be, this is where most virtual job interviews go wrong.

Start your call on a new browser window to avoid sharing any information unrelated to the interview like your Twitter feed or the last series you were watching on Netflix.

The last thing you want is to appear unprofessional and unprepared toward your potential employer.

A good screen-sharing tip is to share a specific tab on the browser instead of the entire window. Don’t say we didn’t tell you!

8. Not Giving Good Eye Contact During Conversations

Eye contact plays a vital role in any conversation and could even be the difference between an average candidate and a great one. But with online interviews, it can be a little trickier.

To maintain good eye contact, check that you aren’t looking at other parts of the screen and show genuine interest in the conversation and the interviewer.

This shows that you are focused and attentive to whoever you’re speaking to, increasing your chances of getting the role.

Ace The Virtual Job Interview Process With Our IDP Counselors!

Did you know that you can receive tailored guidance on your online interview skills from our educational counselors?

That’s not all. Whether it’s helping students choose their desired university course or pursuing their career aspirations, our dedicated team of counsellors at IDP will help you every step of the way.

Ready to get started? Get in touch with us by booking your free counseling session today.