5 best practices to master virtual interviews

In this age of remote working, where working from home has become the new normal, virtual interviews have radically increased since the past year.

As an ode to maintaining strict social distancing, virtual interviews have considerably made it easier to interview candidates without the expense of travel, time and space.

A strong internet connection and confidence is all you need while appearing for an interview, within the comfort of your home.

Hence, we bring to you some best practices to ace your virtual interviews.

1. Prepare before-hand
Virtual interviews are a lot different than on-site interviews. You should take ample preparations before you sit for the interview. Practice your speaking skills and it’s also advisable to do a mock-interview session with a close friend or family member before the main step.

2. Test your technology
Always check your microphone and speaker or your headphones before the interview. Do remember to check the internet connection or try sitting in an area where the network connection is already pretty strong.

3. Don’t memorise
Long gone are the days when you had to memorise answers for your school tests. Now, the key to ace your interviews lies in answering questions knowledgeably in a relaxed yet confident tone. You shouldn’t sound robotic because it’ll prevent you from answering your questions naturally and genuinely. A few practice sessions would do the trick.

4. Proper space and lighting
Don’t sit in an area where the light is dim. Sit in front of the light source so that you can be seen clearly. Try to reduce the number of distractions in and outside the room so that you can concentrate better during the interview. And ALWAYS tidy up the place where you’ll be sitting during the interview. No interviewer wants to see a dirty space on the screen. Remember, first impressions always matter.

5. Dress the part and be yourself
Put on a formal shirt or attire that looks professional yet not too showy. Looking smart and confident plays a major role in bagging the role. And you should never act pretentious just to impress your interviewer. Instead, focus on impressing them with your true personality and actual skills. That’ll count.