How to Prepare for an Online Job Interview

In the current climate of COVID-19, job seeking has become more complicated. While finding a job you love may be more challenging during this time, it is not impossible. With the world currently experiencing unprecedented times, job seekers have to get creative. The majority of interviews are moving online and you have to be prepared to showcase yourself in this environment in order to land the job. See how Thinkful can help you land a job in tech.

Here are some key tips to consider when preparing for an online job interview:

Practice with virtual mock interviews

In order to knock your interviewer’s socks off, you need to be calm, cool, and confident in your skills. While preparing for interviews, getting back to basics is a good start. Mock interviews are a fantastic way to dust off your interviewing cobwebs, and practice.

Setting up a mock interview is simple! First, find a friend who has some time to conduct a mock interview for the role you want. Then, do a quick search for common interview questions in your field, and then have your friend become your virtual interviewer. It’s important to record your mock interview so that you can go back and watch it to give yourself a chance to improve. It’ll be even better if your friend can provide tips and pointers as well. Among other questions, you can ask your interviewer the following:

• What did you like about my demeanor? What could be improved?
• Were my answers strong? What could make them stand out?
• Is there anything you feel I could have done better?

The more times you practice for a job interview, the better off your results will be for landing the gig!

Find good lighting

You don’t have to look like a YouTube star in your online interview, but you do want to make sure you are polished and professional. This means that you need to be critical with yourself about how you look on camera. Make sure you can see yourself clearly. Sitting in shadows can make you appear dull as if you haven’t taken the time to prepare. Instead, find a space where you can benefit from bright – preferably natural – lighting so your face can be seen.

Choose your interview top wisely

It’s also important to know how your image is being presented on screen. If your wall is blue, it may not be the best choice to pick an interview shirt in the same color.

When selecting an interview top, you can’t go wrong with choosing a solid color. As long as your color choice isn’t too bright or distracting, a solid top is a solid choice. If all else fails, just remember that you want the interviewer to think about your technical skills, not your fashion sense.

Set up your interview space for success

When setting up your interview space, start with choosing a spot where you have a strong wifi connection. Above all else, it is imperative that you maintain your connection throughout your interview. Aside from your internet connection, a solid chair is also important. You’ll want to sit up straight and maintain good posture throughout your call. In order to minimize distractions, you can also consider wearing headphones. Alternatively, if your home is too loud or not conducive to conducting an interview, you should take time to figure out an alternative before the interview. Maybe you could conduct the call outside or in a quiet location nearby.

Once you’ve found a spot where your wifi, posture, and attention can be strong, it’s time to optimize your interview space for success. Start by compiling your resume, notes and questions. Then, grab a pen and paper to jot down thoughts you have throughout the interview that you may need to revisit or ask questions about. These efforts will help you feel ready for any questions that are thrown your way and allow you to remember your questions for the end of the interview.

Set aside an appropriate amount of time

Regarding scheduling, you won’t want to schedule any appointments directly before or after your interview. Signing in late, or needing to cut an interview short will not play in your favor. As a rule of thumb, it’s usually best to give yourself at least 30 extra minutes for the interview, in case anything comes up that makes you run long. And don’t forget that it’s important to prep those you cohabit with for the interview. They need to understand that you will be unavailable, and need to remain uninterrupted during your interview time.

Looking for a job is never easy, but during this time it can be even more complex. Here are Thinkful’s tips for remote interviewing and networking – you’ll also find a list of companies that are still hiring. If you commit to preparing before the interview, you’ll increase your chances of getting hired. Don’t worry, the right job is out there for you.

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