How To Ace Your Job Interview Over Zoom | Forbes

Summary

This video script offers 10 practical tips to excel in video interviews, emphasizing the importance of a distraction-free background, professional attire, and proper equipment setup. It advises on displaying positive body language, engaging the interviewer, thorough preparation, and confidently articulating one's achievements. The script also encourages viewers to practice with a friend and to remember their value in the interview process, ensuring a two-way evaluation of fit with the prospective employer.

Takeaways

• 🏠 Be conscious of your background: Ensure it's authentic, neutral, and professional with minimal distractions.
• 🖥️ Show your real background: Avoid virtual backgrounds to prevent distractions during the interview.
• 👔 Select professional attire: Dress as you would for an in-person interview, keeping it professional yet comfortable.
• 🔧 Ready your sound and video equipment: Test your setup in advance to avoid technical issues during the interview.
• 🙋‍♂️ Demonstrate positive body language: Engage with good posture, eye contact, and attentiveness.
• 🗣️ Engage the interviewer: Show interest and enthusiasm through your voice, smile, and energy.
• 📚 Prepare thoroughly: Research the company, role, and interviewer to be well-prepared for the interview.
• 🏆 Know your accomplishments: Be ready to articulate your top 20 achievements and how they relate to the job.
• 🤝 Practice with a friend: Conduct mock interviews to refine your responses and delivery.
• 🔍 Remember it's a two-way street: Interview the company as much as they interview you to ensure it's a good fit.

Q & A

What is the first tip for ensuring a good video interview setup?

The first tip is to be conscious of what's in the view. It's important to have a background that is authentic, neutral, and professional with minimal distractions. Good lighting is also essential to ensure you are well-lit and not blinded by the light.

Why is it recommended to avoid using a virtual background during a video interview?

Using a virtual background can be distracting. It's advised to use your real background to maintain authenticity and keep the focus on you during the interview.

How should one dress for a video interview in the context of the pandemic?

Even though the pandemic has led to a more casual dress code, it's recommended to dress professionally as if you were going to an in-person interview at the office. Avoid overly casual attire, big jewelry, or noisy accessories.

Why is it crucial to prepare your sound and video equipment before a video interview?

Preparing your sound and video equipment in advance helps to avoid technical issues and ensures you are ready to focus on the interview without being distracted by last-minute technical difficulties.

What does demonstrating positive body language and behavior entail during a video interview?

Demonstrating positive body language includes being engaged, maintaining eye contact, sitting up straight, and showing curiosity and focus through verbal and non-verbal cues. This helps to convey your interest in the job.

How can you engage the interviewer during a video interview?

Engage the interviewer by maintaining eye contact, smiling, and showing energy. Avoid appearing bored or disinterested, and use your voice and body language to convey your interest in the position.

Why is preparation so important before a video interview?

Preparation is crucial to understand the company, the role you're interviewing for, and to formulate thoughtful questions. It helps you present yourself as knowledgeable and a good fit for the position.

What is the significance of knowing the '20 facts of you' before a video interview?

Knowing the '20 facts of you' refers to being able to articulate your accomplishments, skills, and experiences that make you a strong candidate. This helps in making your interview responses more compelling and relevant.

Why is practicing with a friend or coaching buddy recommended before a video interview?

Practicing with a friend or coaching buddy allows you to receive feedback, refine your answers, and improve your delivery. It helps you become more comfortable and fluid in your responses during the actual interview.

How should you approach the interview的心态 during a video interview?

Approach the interview with the mindset that it's a two-way street. Remember to interview the company as much as they are interviewing you, ensuring the job aligns with your values and career goals.

What final advice is given to job seekers regarding video interviews?

The final advice is to bring your full self to the interview, be your best self, and clearly communicate your talents and how you can make a difference in the new job.

Outlines

00:00

💼 Tips for a Successful Video Interview

The paragraph offers 10 tips to excel in video interviews, emphasizing the importance of a clean and authentic background, proper lighting, and professional attire. It advises against using virtual backgrounds as they can be distracting. The speaker suggests preparing sound and video equipment in advance to avoid technical issues during the interview. Additionally, it highlights the significance of positive body language, engaging with the interviewer, and showcasing genuine interest and curiosity. The paragraph concludes with the advice to prepare thoroughly for the interview by researching the company and the role, and to be able to articulate one's accomplishments and how they align with the job requirements.

05:00

🗣️ Practicing and Presenting Your Best Self in Interviews

This paragraph focuses on the importance of practicing interview responses with a friend or coach, especially to ensure fluidity and confidence in delivery. It stresses the need to convey energy and enthusiasm during the interview, which can be challenging in a video format. The speaker encourages candidates to remember their self-worth and to approach interviews as a two-way street, where they are also evaluating the company. It suggests preparing a list of one's top 20 accomplishments to effectively communicate one's value during the interview. The paragraph ends with a reminder to be one's best self during the interview, to clearly communicate one's talents and how they can contribute to the new role.

Keywords

💡Remote Interviews

Remote interviews refer to the practice of conducting job interviews over digital platforms, such as video conferencing tools, rather than in person. This method has become prevalent due to the pandemic, as mentioned in the script. It allows for interviews to take place from the comfort of one's home, which can be both an advantage and a challenge. The video script emphasizes the importance of creating a professional environment for remote interviews, suggesting a neutral background and appropriate lighting to ensure a good impression.

💡Comfort

Comfort in the context of the video script refers to the physical and psychological ease one feels during an interview. It is highlighted that while some people find remote interviews more comfortable due to the familiarity of their home environment, others might feel uneasy, especially if they are not adept with technology. The script suggests ways to enhance comfort, such as ensuring good lighting and a distraction-free background, which can help candidates present their best selves.

💡Technology

Technology plays a central role in remote interviews, as it enables the connection between the interviewer and the interviewee. The script acknowledges that not everyone is comfortable with technology, which can add to the stress of an interview. It advises candidates to familiarize themselves with the technology in use, such as Zoom or other video conferencing platforms, to minimize technical issues and focus on the interview itself.

💡Professional Attire

Professional attire in the video script is discussed in the context of dressing appropriately for a remote interview. It suggests that while the pandemic has led to a more casual dress code, interviewees should still dress professionally, as if they were attending an in-person interview at the office. This includes avoiding overly casual clothing or items that might be distracting, such as large jewelry, to maintain a professional image.

💡Body Language

Body language is a non-verbal form of communication that conveys a person's emotions and attitudes. In the script, it is emphasized that maintaining positive body language, such as good posture and eye contact, is crucial during video interviews. This helps to demonstrate engagement and interest in the conversation, which can significantly impact the interviewer's perception of the candidate.

💡Engagement

Engagement in the video script refers to the active involvement and interest shown by the interviewee during the interview. It is advised that candidates should show enthusiasm and energy to convey their interest in the job. This can be achieved through eye contact, smiling, and maintaining a lively tone of voice, which helps to create a positive impression on the interviewer.

💡Preparation

Preparation is highlighted as a critical aspect of successful interviewing. The script stresses the importance of researching the company, understanding the role, and being ready with questions to ask the interviewer. It also suggests that candidates should prepare by practicing their responses to potential interview questions to ensure they can speak confidently and fluently about their experiences and skills.

💡Self-Presentation

Self-presentation in the context of the video script is about how candidates represent themselves during an interview. It involves not only what they say but also how they say it, including their tone of voice, the use of examples, and the ability to articulate their accomplishments effectively. The script encourages candidates to practice and refine their self-presentation to ensure they can convey their value and fit for the role.

💡Two-Way Street

The term 'two-way street' in the script refers to the mutual assessment that occurs during an interview. It emphasizes that while the employer is evaluating the candidate, the candidate should also be assessing the job and the company to determine if it aligns with their values and career goals. This includes asking relevant questions and seeking information that will help them make an informed decision about the job opportunity.

💡Non-Negotiables

Non-negotiables are the essential criteria or values that a candidate is unwilling to compromise on in a job opportunity. The script suggests that candidates should identify their non-negotiables, such as work-life balance or specific benefits, and use the interview to assess whether the job aligns with these requirements. This helps to ensure that the job will meet their expectations and needs.

Highlights

Interviews are happening remotely, which can make the process more comfortable for some, but more stressful for others due to technology challenges.

Background should be authentic, neutral, and free of distractions to create a professional impression.

Avoid virtual backgrounds in interviews as they can be distracting. A real, suitable background is recommended.

Professional attire is still important, even in remote interviews. It doesn't have to be formal, but it should be clean and simple.

Prepare your sound and video equipment early, ensuring it's ready well before the interview to avoid last-minute stress.

Positive body language, such as maintaining eye contact and good posture, is crucial for showing engagement and professionalism.

Engage the interviewer with your eyes, smile, and energy to demonstrate interest and enthusiasm for the job.

Preparation is key: research the company thoroughly, know who you’re interviewing with, and understand the role.

Be ready to speak compellingly about your achievements, using concrete examples of how you’ve made an impact in previous roles.

Write down 20 accomplishments you're proud of and be prepared to incorporate them into your interview responses.

Practice interviews on video with a friend or coach to improve your performance and comfort level.

Review your practice sessions to identify areas where you need improvement and work on making your responses more fluid.

Remember your value: interviews are a two-way street, and you should be vetting the company as much as they are vetting you.

Ask thoughtful questions to understand if the job aligns with your values and career goals.

Be yourself in the interview, but bring your best self, ensuring the interviewer understands your talents and what you can bring to the role.

Transcripts

today as we all know our interviews are

happening from our homes or from some

remote place we're not going to work

right we're not going to the office

for many people that's easier because

they're right in there at the comfort of

their own home for many people it's not

easy they're not comfortable

online they're not comfortable with the

technology

and it makes interviewing even a little

more stressful than it already was

so what i'd love to do here is give 10

tips

so that you can rock your video

interview you can feel comfortable you

can feel

authentic and be the real you but also

bring

your highest and best self forward the

first tip is be

conscious of what's in the view so what

you

want is a background that i feel

the best is that it's authentic it's who

you really are

but it has the least amount of

uh distractions you can find a corner

that's

that's white you can find the lighting

has to be decent so you're not being

blinded by

the light or people can see you well but

really you want to make sure that it's

you but uh as plain and neutral and

professional as you can make it

that said given the pandemic everybody's

getting a little more casual but it's an

interview so

as much as you can keep it distraction

free that's the best thing

the second tip is show your real

background

if it's suitable and what that means is

you know on zoom and a lot of other

platforms you can show a virtual

background and an image or a photo that

you choose

it can even be a video what i'd

recommend for an interview is you don't

do that

it's distracting you know i have a

friend who has a rolling beach going

you're looking at the beach in the palm

trees you're not looking at

the individual so if you can do it the

authentic real background is best

we do want to select professional

attire now that's even changed in the

world of the pandemic we're all

a little looser a little more

comfortable but i would

recommend that you think about what you

would be wearing if you went to the

office to interview

now that doesn't mean a suit and a tie

make sure it's professional make

sure that for instance as if you were

doing a photo shoot you don't want to

have things distract like big jewelry

or things that make noise you want it

simple and professional

so you absolutely want to ready your

sound and video equipment

first you know what it's like when

you're supposed to be at an interview at

11

and you're running late and you're

sweating and you're nervous well it's

the exact same thing

if your video and audio equipment aren't

ready get them ready beforehand

an hour early a half hour early show up

click on that link beforehand

just be fully ready so that when the

interview starts it's all you and you're

not distracted and nervous

demonstrate positive body language and

behavior

what you want to do is make sure that

you are engaged

that you're using eye contact that

you're not slumping

think about how you would be presenting

yourself live it's the exact same thing

and you also want to show with all of

your

verbal and non-verbal language that you

are curious

that you are focused that you can pay

attention that you're not distracted

looking over here looking at your phone

looking down

but in general you want to be as focused

and present

with your language both verbal and

non-verbal

let's talk about engaging the

interviewer so you do that with your

eyes you do that with your smile

you do that with your energy so what you

don't want to do

is seem bored you want to

you know with your voice with your eyes

show

how interested you are in this in this

job because if

if you are kind of lackadaisical and

sitting back

and not even interested in the interview

it's going to leave a lasting impression

that

you're not the right fit as with every

interview you go on

every meeting you have prepare prepare

prepare i can't say

that enough read everything you can

about

you know on glassdoor ratings of that

company look

at the person you're interviewing on

linkedin do

everything you can to feel like i know

what i have to ask i know what this role

is looking for and i know how i can fit

in that role

unbelievably most people cannot

speak fluidly and compellingly about

what they do

and why they're great and why what they

do is important and how they've moved

the needles

at the organizations they've worked at

if you don't know how to do that and i

call that

knowing the 20 facts of you if you don't

know how to do that

your interviews kind of lay there

there's not a lot of juice that you're

bringing to it

so the tip is this this weekend go sit

quietly somewhere

and write down the 20 accomplishments

you've had

that you are most thrilled and proud of

write them down and then dimensionalize

them what skills did you use

and why were those accomplishments

important to you into the organization

and make sure you weave those into your

interview

it's really important you practice with

a friend or coaching buddy but on video

you know you're speaking in such an

almost flat way you're not

feeling the energy or hearing the energy

of the other person

so for most people you need to practice

so get on zoom with your best friend the

friend that's gonna say

all right i'd love to give you a few

tips and practice the interview

practice how you're gonna answer the

tough questions and then go back and

watch and you're gonna see where oh i

faltered when i said this

or i struggle and do it again and again

until it's very fluid and comfortable

for you

finally remember that you're talented

and that you are so valuable

we forget that it's a two-way street we

forget

that we should be interviewing them as

much as they are interviewing us not an

aggressive way

but you need to understand your values

your non-negotiables the thing you want

next in your career

and you need to ask questions that are

going to make sure you can vet this job

as much as they are vetting you so if

you're looking for a job today

uh which so many people are what you

want to make sure you're doing is

bringing

all of yourself to to the interview and

it will be video now

so remember there's just really simple

doable practical tips most importantly

be yourself but be your best self know

exactly what you want them to understand

about you

about your great talents and how you can

leverage those

and make a real difference in this great

new job