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Talent Trade Tidbit - How to Succeed in a Remote Interview
The ThinkingAhead staff of recruiters share 10 tips for acing a remote interview and creating a lasting impression in the mind of your interviewer.
Transcript
Congratulations on landing a remote interview.
Speaker:The team here at Thinking Ahead would like to share with you 10 tips for acing a remote interview, and, uh, for creating a really favorable, lasting first impression with the interviewer.
Speaker:Tip number one, the early to any phone or zoom interview.
Speaker:We recommend that you're seated, you're prepared, and at least five minutes early to the call.
Speaker:This demonstrates to the interviewer that you're prompt.
Speaker:You're prepared even when interviewing from your home.
Speaker:Plus, this gives you a few extra seconds just to collect yourself before the interviewer joins the call.
Speaker:Tip number two, setting up a clean and clear space for your interview.
Speaker:Keep in mind that while you're doing a virtual interview, the interviewer is looking at you and they're seeing the entire room behind you.
Speaker:They're also looking at your space, so you wanna make sure that you keep that neat and clean.
Speaker:In addition to that, it's important to let everybody in your house know that you will be on an interview.
Speaker:So what you wanna do is avoid distractions.
Speaker:No microwaves, no TVs, no vacuuming, and if you happen to be close to a window, you wanna make sure that nobody is mowing their lawn.
Speaker:Tip number three, when interviewing virtually, we suggest that you wear normal business attire for those interviews.
Speaker:It's gonna come across a lot more professional.
Speaker:You're gonna be confident and you never know the person on the other end what their impression's going to be if you show up in business casual attire.
Speaker:So look your best and make that great impression.
Speaker:Tiff Number four, anticipate something going wrong.
Speaker:The last thing that you want to have happen is for something unexpected to come up right before your interview.
Speaker:So be sure to close out all of your unnecessary software on your computer.
Speaker:Make sure that your computer is fully charged and ready to go, and ensure that your pets and your kids are in a place where they're not going to interrupt your interview.
Speaker:Lastly, be ready to switch over into a phone call at the last minute at your interviewer's request.
Speaker:Tip number five, practice using your technology.
Speaker:Two really good reasons why you want to do this one.
Speaker:Remember, impressions matter.
Speaker:You wanna practice your technology before you use it so that you're assured you make a good impression.
Speaker:Second, technology glitches end up being distractions during a presentation or a zoom call or whatever it may be.
Speaker:So those are two really good reasons to practice using your technology First.
Speaker:Tip number six, research the company.
Speaker:First, you'll wanna research the organization itself.
Speaker:Look online for publications, their mission values, stated goals.
Speaker:Start to get to know them as an organization.
Speaker:Second, you'll wanna research the individuals that you'll be interviewing with.
Speaker:Look at their bios, any articles that they've written, awards to cut their LinkedIn page.
Speaker:Your recruiter may be able to help here too with, uh, their personality and interview style.
Speaker:Third, study the job itself.
Speaker:Reviewing the main points from the position description should help you, uh, have some insight into the types of questions that you'll be asked during the interview.
Speaker:And this allows you to think about your experience.
Speaker:Examples from that in advance.
Speaker:Finally, your research on the company and the job itself should help you articulate why this organization resonates with you.
Speaker:Why do you wanna roll up your sleeves with this particular employer?
Speaker:If you're excited about the work that they're doing and the job itself, that infuses enthusiasm into the conversation, and that's especially helpful during a video interview.
Speaker:Tip number seven, have questions prepared.
Speaker:One of the easiest ways to make a positive first impression is to have questions ready.
Speaker:It shows that you're knowledgeable, shows that you're eager to learn, shows that you're interested.
Speaker:I mean, a lot of people that I work with, I tell 'em an interview is a lot like dating.
Speaker:And imagine if you went on a date and the other person never asked you a question, you'd be like, do you even care?
Speaker:Are you even interested in me?
Speaker:So I have questions.
Speaker:Eight.
Speaker:Be prepared to take notes during the interview.
Speaker:There will likely be information that is shared with you, you'll wanna make a note of.
Speaker:So have a pad of paper and pen ready to jot important facts and information down.
Speaker:And yes, that said pad and pen.
Speaker:'cause typing 'em on the keyboard can be both as tracking for you and the interviewer.
Speaker:In fact, there could be a thought in their mind that you are sending an email or multitasking as opposed to taking notes.
Speaker:Tip number nine for your video interview, you really should have a paper copy of your resume.
Speaker:You can have it printed out next to the phone, next to your notepads that you can refer to it during the interview.
Speaker:If you don't have it printed out and it's only on your computer, you might be switching.
Speaker:Screens have to switch screens between the video conference and the resume.
Speaker:Therefore, possibly confusing your interviewer.
Speaker:Tip number 10, stay focused and connect with your interviewer.
Speaker:Some of the most important parts of this are just simple eye contact, making, good eye contact, not forgetting to blink.
Speaker:Absolutely.
Speaker:If you have notes and need to refer to them on occasion, feel free to do that, but this is an easy, simple way to connect with the interviewer.
Speaker:Look in their eyes.
Speaker:Nod along appropriately and make sure you've got that good contact.
Speaker:Good luck.
Speaker:Good luck out there.
Speaker:Good luck.
Speaker:Good luck.
Speaker:Good luck.
Speaker:Good luck and good luck from your friends at thinking ahead, executive search.
