Set up - find a good spot
This can be a toughie as it’s not always easy to control your own working environment if chatting over video call and outside of the office. However, as much as possible, try and create an environment that is tidy, bright and professional-looking, and that when your laptop / web camera is turned on, creates an environment that starts things off on a good foot.
Wear headphones
You’ll want to give yourself the best chance of success at a job interview. One common issue you can preempt is not being able to hear the interviewer’s questions properly and one good solution is to use decent headphones that block out background noise.
Dress appropriately
Just because you’re most probably being interviewed outside of the office environment, that doesn’t mean you should dress down - this is still a formal interview! This formality will likely be the case for many businesses, whether a trendy tech startup in London or a traditional small business. Dress smart, or, at least ask the company the dress code they prefer for an interview.
Body language - eye contact
Be aware that the camera will be filming the whole time! So those small facial gestures or that nervous body language will still be picked up on. In fact, as it is perhaps harder to read positive body language over the video, it is important to make sure that facial gestures such as smiling, eye contact and nodding are used to express interest and focus.
Culture and personality fit can be very important in business teams, perhaps even more so within ‘startup world’ and this is where a remote video interview will be at a disadvantage to a face-to-face. Building rapport is not easy for both parties on a video call, so employers may also be nervous about hiring this way too. Be positive, come across as confident but not cocky, and also have some good examples ready that highlight your personality when asked more direct personal interview questions.
Tech Faults
Tech issues will most probably happen, so be prepared to have a backup plan! Handy tips include knowing where the best WiFi reception is, having a laptop/mobile set up in case your first choice decides not to work, and also having an alternative interview option ready to go (i.e. calling on mobile) if the quality of the video call is too poor.
Prepare and practice
Interviewing remotely is something pretty new for many of us, so it does you no harm to practice being interviewed over the video camera. It can help you to get used to looking at yourself on camera, to see how you come across on screen, and it means that you can practice getting your facial and body language as positive as possible. Remember, this is probably a little new and awkward for many businesses too.
Research
At TableCrowd Talent, we match grads, professionals and C-level executives to exciting startup and scaleup jobs. Whatever type of job and for every single client we work with, we stress the importance of researching the company beforehand. Take the time to understand what the business does, how long they have been operating, who is in their senior management team - all this detail will help when chatting and show that you have taken the time to research their business.
Also, try to find out who will be interviewing you, and research their own background. It’s always good to consider how your backgrounds might relate or even what hobbies and interests you might have in common!
First impressions
First impressions still very much count. Be early for the video call, be all set-up and ready to go and look attentive and smart!
Notes
Unlike a face-to-face interview, it might be possible to have some post-it notes (hidden out of view), that help to remind you of key points, key employment competencies, experiences, hobbies and interests, that you have on your CV or on your LinkedIn, and that you hope to mention during the interview.
Understand the post-interview process
Much like a face-to-face interview, it is important to understand the post-interview process. Will this include a second remote interview, an interview in person, or could you be offered the role the next day? If you are working with a recruitment agency then they can help you to understand the process, but if you applied directly it is a good idea to find that out if given the opportunity to ask questions.
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TableCrowd Talent is a startup focused recruitment agency. If you’re looking for a role in a startup... tell us some more about your career plans.
