How to prepare for your Zoom interview
Many organizations have returned to the office in recent months. But if you’re called for a job interview, there’s a good chance it will still be conducted remotely.
That means preparing for the interview in a slightly different way.
Some aspects of your standard interview prep won’t change. You’ll still need to research the company and the interviewer’s background, and be ready to describe how your education and experience are a solid match for the position. You’ll want to prepare answers and anecdotes that demonstrate your core competencies, as you normally would. And you’ll want to prepare a list of questions to pose to your interviewer when it’s your turn to ask them.
But there are some differences in preparing for a virtual interview.
As a career and leadership coach at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, I’ve helped lots of people get ready for their Zoom interview in the past. Here’s my advice:
Test the tech: We’re all much more familiar with Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meets than we were 18 months ago. But a little practice never hurts. Enlist a friend or family member to perform a test run of the technology. Doing so will help alleviate potential glitches.
Set the stage: Take a look at everything the camera puts in view during your online interview, including the background. Position your camera somewhere that is free of background noise and visual distractions. Natural or soft lighting, slightly above and behind the camera, will help you look your best. If you can create a serene, professional setting, styled with houseplants and books or use a background that’s already been created, that’s great. But a plain, neutral-colored wall works just as well. Zoom’s “Touch Up My Appearance Setting” is another option you might want to use.
Adjust your settings: Make sure
your account includes a professional looking headshot and your full name, as it appears on your resume. Both will appear when you join the call – making them an important part of your first impression.
Dress to impress: In-person or viacomputer, you should always dress for the job you want. Don’t skip the shoes and dress slacks just because you don’t expect anyone to see them. Dress as if the hiring team is in the room. If you need to stand up to move to another room or to adjust the lighting, you won’t have to worry that you are wearing stretchy pants instead of trousers.
Create some space: Interviewees should strive to recreate the same distance from their camera that they would have sitting behind a desk at an interview.
Your interviewers should be able to see your hand gestures and facial expressions – but they shouldn’t be so close that they can see up your nose.
Check your posture: Body language is important and does convey over video. Remember to sit up straight and lean in slightly. Nod or smile at appropriate moments to project enthusiasm.
Check in: When there are multiple people on the call, it can be a challenge to properly address everyone. Don’t hesitate to backtrack on a question, verifying that an individual interviewer feels you answered it sufficiently. Address the interviewer(s) by name, where possible. For questions that speak directly to your core competencies or experiences, ask the group if they would like more examples, anecdotes, or if anyone wants you to elaborate. Those simple check-in questions can make sure you’re tending to and connecting with everyone on the call.
And, scene: After you’ve answered the interviewers’ questions and they’ve answered yours, thank them for their time. Pause for a moment after you’ve ended the call to make sure your microphone and camera are turned off, and then take a deep breath. Relax your shoulders and get started writing personalized thank-you emails to everyone in the interview, just as you would if it had been conducted in person.
Rachel Loock is the associate director of Executive MBA Career Coaching, Programming and Outreach at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.