How to crack the zoom interview?
As we are adapting to a new lifestyle post the pandemic, remote work is becoming the norm and so are zoom interviews. If you have never been interviewed online before or if you want to make sure that you are doing all the right things on a zoom interview, read on.
In this blog, we will comprehensively discuss everything you ever need to know about zoom interviews. Here is a summary of the contents of this blog:
- About zoom interviews
- Video interview etiquette
- Body language in zoom interviews
- Tips to ace zoom interviews
What is a Zoom interview?
A zoom interview is an interview that is conducted remotely over a video application called Zoom. Over the years Zoom application has become the unanimous choice for conducting meetings and interviews online.
If you are not familiar with the Zoom app, it is better to download the zoom app to your device and test it out. Zoom application has all the features such as screen sharing, chat rooms, and video recording.
How to ace an interview over a Zoom call?
In this blog, we shall comprehensively discuss all the zoom interview tips to assist you in crushing that virtual interview. An online interview has its peculiarities when compared to an in-person interview.
The body language and even the voice intonation matters the most in video interviews to come across as a confident candidate. To facilitate that, there are a few things that need to be in place.
Be on time, not too early
It is habitual to arrive at the venue well before time for an important job interview to avoid any uncertainties. However, the same rule does not apply to zoom interviews or any video interviews.
You might be interrupting another scheduled meeting if you appear before the stipulated time. Your keenness may turn into an annoyance for those in the middle of a meeting. Keep it simple and arrive a couple of minutes early to the meeting.
Use a headset
In any zoom interview, your voice is of paramount importance. The interviewer can easily get impatient if you are not clearly audible. Making sure that your voice is crystal clear without any outside disturbance is one of the first things that you should ensure.
It is possible that you may be clearly audible even without a headset but it is still recommended to use one. Using a headset will also reduce the outside noise thus bringing the focus of the interviewer to what you have to say.
Sit in a well-lit area
This might sound very obvious but it is very important nonetheless. Mind your zoom interview background and make sure there is nothing that distracts you or the interviewer from the interview process. Avoid sitting in an area that has scant lighting. If natural light is difficult, switch on the artificial lights to brighten up the area.
Zoom interview background should be selected wisely depending upon the feasibility. If you are using an artificial zoom interview background, then quite frankly it is an overkill. However, if it works best, then you may go ahead with that.
Target interview questions
All said and done about the zoom interview set up, now for the actual interview process. Be thorough with the job description. Understand the job requirements well and anticipate the target interview questions.
One of the top video interview tips is to be able to anticipate what the recruiter is looking for in a candidate. Prepare for the interview well, just as you would for an in-person interview.
Curb your desire to interject
One thing you need to be absolutely careful in a zoom interview is to not interject while the other person is speaking. You will come across as rude if you keep interrupting. Hence it is very important that your communication is uninterrupted.
Further, it is best to mute your device when the interviewer is asking questions. Patiently wait your turn to speak and then answer or ask questions. Interjecting in the middle may derail the interviewer’s thought flow and you might risk rejection.
Take notes
Video interviews can sometimes be overwhelming because you need to control a lot of factors. In the process, you may forget very important things - be it your response or something you wanted to get clarity on.
You must take notes throughout the zoom interview. If you need to ace the interview, this is one of the key interview tips. You need not be busy jotting down notes while the interviewer is speaking away. You can take short notes or mark key points while still listening to the interviewer.
Make eye contact
It so happens in video interviews that the other person can look zoned out or simply looking at oneself instead of the camera. This again will come across as rude and some interviewers may not take too kindly to that.
Do not look at yourself or blankly elsewhere on the screen. Look at the camera while speaking. Align yourself properly before the start of the interview so that this will not pose a problem later during the zoom interview.
Dress professionally
No matter what sort of job you are interviewing for, it is always advisable to dress professionally during video interviews. Do not draw unnecessary attention to your dress by dressing too casually.
Be confident in your interview attire so that you can ace the zoom interview without hassles. Dressing professionally reflects in your overall attitude.
Ensure you do not lose connection
Video interviews are a convenience but it can quickly turn into a nightmare if you lose your internet connection midway through the interview. Always have a backup connection if possible.
Ensure that your device is plugged into the power source and all notifications are turned off to potentially eliminate any embarrassing situations.
Take care of your pets
If you are living with your pets, make sure that they are locked far and away from the room. You might not mind the pets around but it will be very distracting for the other person who is trying to assess you.
The same thing applies to kids even. They are adorable but restrict them from interrupting the zoom interview.
Do not lose focus!
Do not get lost in all the video interview quirks and lose focus on the actual interview. At the end of the day, what matters is how well qualified you are for the job. But you should also be internet savvy and comfortable while meeting or working remotely. Mind these video interview etiquette and you will ace the interview undoubtedly.
Hiration interview preparation
If you need help in preparing for that all-important interview, look no further than Hiration.
Hiration has everything you ever need to prepare for an interview and ace it.
You can make use of the following features from Hiration's Interview Preparation:
- Database of 20,000+ interview questions and sample answers
- An overview/objective of each question
- Know what the interviewer is expecting
- Easy search for job interview questions and answers
- Job interview Questions and Answers for 150+ work profiles
- Search for specific questions, key strengths, focus areas... and more
- Link to additional information for specific job and question
- Professional summary examples
- Professional profile examples
Key Takeaways
Whether a zoom interview or an in-person interview, your confidence depends on your prior preparation. However, for zoom interviews, you need to take care of these above-mentioned factors to facilitate an uninterrupted interview. Hope the above tips for interviews have been sufficiently helpful.
To summarize:
- Create an ideal environment for the zoom interview
- Be comfortable and confident
- Observe proper etiquette
- Focus on your actual interview rather than worrying about technical snags
- Ace the interview
Go to Hiration career platform which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries. You can also write to us at support@hiration.com and we will make sure to reach out to you as soon as possible.
