| Be prepared - you could encounter a Video / Video Conferencing Interview. Perhaps you will get lucky and sail through your interview process never seeing anything more challenging than 1-2 interviews, a single interviewer, and a few tough questions. But, you could be in for something altogether different and unexpected, in which case, forewarned is forearmed!
Here are a few "different" types of interviews you need to be aware of:
What is a Video or Video Conferencing Interview:
Remember that phrase, “Is it live or is it Memorex?” When it comes to the interview, nothing beats a live, face-to-face interview. However, a videoconference is truly the next best thing.
While not necessarily a new function in interviews, this is worth considering as it dramatically cuts travel costs of initial interviews while adding the perks of seeing you in an interview. The videoconference interview is exactly what it sounds like: an interview performed long distance by videoconferencing.
There are two approaches to this:
1. Having to physically go to a facility where the company has videoconferencing facilities established, or
2. Being able to communicate through your own technology such as a web camera on your computer, laptop, or smart phone.
What this means to you:
When asked to participate in a videoconferencing interview, you need to make sure you are ready in advance.
If you are connecting from home be sure to download any necessary software and test your connection and your comfort with communicating by web camera.
If you need to go to a facility, be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes early (or the time designated by the interviewer) for orientation to the equipment and process.
What to wear:
What you wear is important to avoid distractions:
- Avoid large plaids and prints which may be overemphasized on the screen;
- Consider pastel instead of white, which may glare;
- When wearing white, add a dark jacket to cut down on glare;
- Watch out for red as it may "bleed" and should be avoided if possible; and
- Cut out flashy jewelry that will catch the light.
Of course, colors like red can be too powerful for many interviews and flashy jewelry and big prints detract from you and what you have to say, so they are never a best first choice for any interview!
Try to avoid all-light or all-dark clothing as a camera's automatic brightness control can be tricked by these. If too much light-colored clothing is worn, the camera will automatically darken the picture, which can make your face appear shadowed.
Making a presentation:
If you are making a presentation, your presentation materials should meet certain criteria as well. If you plan to have a presentation or to show items during the interview, you will want to prepare in the appropriate context for visual display over videoconferencing:
- For best readability, use 24 point or larger font;
- Use a wider margin as sides will be slightly cut off;
- Utilize the top 2/3 of an 8.5” x 11” page;
- Use a landscaped page format; and
- Include only graphics that are clean and simple.
With that list, let me add that you might want to overnight any materials (such as a copy of a portfolio) to an interview beforehand so they can have a copy in front of them and you don’t have to try to show things over a web camera, especially since you may not be experienced in such presentation processes.
Lastly
Final tips to consider, whether you are on your web camera or at a facility:
- Be aware of the transmission delay (about a half second); pause for the interviewer to comment.
- Be yourself; you should speak naturally and think of the interviewer(s) as sitting across the table from you.
- Keep the microphone muted if no one is speaking; try not to shuffle papers, drum fingers, or make unnecessary noise distractions near the microphone as any of these issues will cause the camera to shift to the site of the noise.
- Avoid too much body motion as this creates blurry or jumpy images at the receiving end.
- Have family members and friends out of the house during the time the appointment is scheduled so you have no distractions. This can go for barking dogs as well.
- Turn off cell phones and regular phone ringers to avoid other noisy interruptions.
- Clean up your space if you are on your web camera. A messy or dirty space will give the employer insight into you that no words can take away!
- Dress professionally from head to toe. In other words, don’t think that just because you are sitting at your desk and can only be seen from the chest up that it is OK to have on shorts or worse, just your underwear. It has happened and it can be embarrassing – you jump up to grab something forgetting you are on web cam…..Don’t let this happen to you!
Bottom Line:
Video-based interviews can pop up for candidates at all levels, but are more expected for mid-level professional positions, technical positions, and telecommuting jobs. If one comes up for you, just follow the easy strategies above and you will be a natural.
© Copyright Laura DeCarlo 2011. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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About this author: Laura DeCarlo is recognized as the career industry’s "career hero" making a difference to both job seekers and career professionals as the founder of Career Directors International. She possesses 11 top-level certifications in resume writing, career coaching, and career management; 7 first place resume and job placement awards; and has written three books on interviewing and job search including Interview Pocket RX, Interviewing: The Gold Standard, and Job Search Bloopers. Follow Laura on Twitter; username: @careerhero.
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