Covid-19 has undoubtedly disrupted our economy and lives and we hope everyone is keeping safe and healthy during these unprecedented times. We definitely miss having coffee chats with many of you, though this period has also pushed us to try out video/zoom calls and we thought to share some simple tips on successfully navigating video calls/interviews during this period.
- Be ready ahead of time and test your tech
Two hours before the meeting, double-check that (i) as a guest, you have received the meeting link and access code or (ii) as a host, you have sent the details to everyone expected to attend the call. Login 5-10 minutes before the call to test your wifi connection, audio and webcam. Consider joining a call/room with your audio/video muted first especially if there are already people inside, so that you give yourselves a few seconds to look and listen around before introducing yourself with a smile.
- Choose a quiet and comfortable spot with decent lighting and background
Ideally, lock yourself in a room or at least ensure that the area will have minimal pet/family traffic, unless you want to be teased about your half-dressed spouse for the next year! Just before the call, remind the people living with you that you will be starting soon and how long it will likely last for.
While it is best to choose a plain (or mildly decorated) wall as a background, that is not always achievable and it is generally okay to just ensure that everything looks neat and well-maintained. While Zoom offers the ability to pick a virtual background, that is not recommended for interviews.
It is also best to have natural light facing you though do check for glare. Avoid strong lighting behind you or directly above you as that often results in a very dark image.
- Maintain the right posture and eye contact
While sitting straight goes without saying, we also recommend leaning forward slightly as that can be a way of conveying interest and attentiveness. It is better to sit on a low-backed chair and avoid armchairs or office/gaming chairs with a large back as the latter may unconsciously lead to you leaning back or slouching.
Eye contact is also important. While most people naturally look at the screen while talking, the best way is actually to directly face your webcam as you talk so that the recipient’s video shows you looking straight at them rather than angling slightly downwards. This comes across as more confident and personal. That said, this is not an easy technique to master and if you feel uncomfortable speaking directly to the webcam, it is okay to face the screen instead.
- Practice and record yourself beforehand
To understand the impact of point 3 above, the best way is to record yourself and play it back for review. You may realize that you can easily look or sound better by making a few small tweaks to the speed at which you talk or your pitch/tone. Other common adjustments include zooming in/outwards, adding in a few hand gestures when speaking and most importantly, remembering to smile and nod instead of simply looking stoned when the other person is speaking and responding to you.
- Avoid awkward interruptions
When speaking face-to-face, conversation flows more naturally and it is easier to read cues off each other and interject with a question or response. Sometimes, excitedly interjecting early can also be a way of letting the other person know your immediate and strong agreement and approval of what he just said. However, this is best avoided in video calls as the ‘distance’ can unintentionally make it come across as awkward, abrupt or even rude. In our experience, it is best to let the other person finish speaking before chiming in with your thoughts.
- Resist using a cheatsheet
Many candidates have shared that a big plus of a video interview is that they can bring up a cheatsheet or their CV on the screen and refer to it during the interview to answer/ask some questions. While not a big ‘no’, we do advise against doing this as you never know when the shifting of your eyes may be noticed by the interviewer or you may end up missing or mishearing something said, all of which may be interpreted as you being distracted or disinterested during the interview. It is better to put in the necessary time and effort upfront and go into an interview fully prepared (as you would if it were a face-to-face one) rather than skimping on practice and trying to fall back on the cheatsheet.
We hope the above tips will help you ace your video interview. While the jobs market has quietened down significantly, this is good period to reflect on your career so far and your plans for the upcoming years. If you would like to bounce your thoughts off us, feel free to reach out at hello@lexmatch.co and we will be happy to do a call or video/zoom session with you!