Interview over zoom/teams, any hints and tips?

[MonkeyPuddle]

Morning all!

I’ve got an interview over Teams this afternoon, thankfully DP is taking the kids out so the house will be quiet!

I’ve researched the employer, their mission and values, I’ve a strong suspicion they’ll use values based interviewing (healthcare role) so have various scenarios ready in my head.

Anyone have any hints and tips for the interview not being face to face?

Thank you!

If you need to use notes / prompts, have the Zoom on 3/4 of the screen & Notepad open at the side. It’s much easier than having them on paper.

Practice how you look in advance by using the camera. So you can get the lighting and angles right.

I've had an interview virtually and will be on the panel interviewing next week.
I think it's much nerve-wracking than face to face 😊
Find a quiet spot.
Check laptop or device fully charged.
Put phone on silent.
Put a note on door saying not to be disturbed you don't want prime delivery mid way though.
Practice beforehand finding best position to sit with good background and lighting there are you tube videos on this.
Smile!
Top tip I had scenario prompts dotted behind the laptop in case I got stuck it worked!
Good luck op

Also rewrite essential and desirable criteria again this will be covered in interview questions.
Always have a question for the panel at the end.

Reread not rewrite!

Think about camera angle and what is showing in the background.

Make sure you aren't constantly glancing at notes or similar.

You'll know all of this already! Good lightning and framing makes a difference as well as a steady camera. Have a drink of water nearby.
Have some questions to ask them prepped just in case some don't come to mind during the interview.
They'll have the same questions marks over online interviews too. Is their teams link going to work. What about the pile of washing in the corner of the room? What if the postman comes!?
Good luck!!

Do a trial call with your DP or other willing volunteer to check your sound etc is all okay. If you have to do a presentation, do a trial run of that over Teams as well.

Check all your tech is working and then double check - especially sound.
If anything goes wrong on that front just apologise and laugh - we’ve all spent 18 months having malfunctions.
Wear a top that flatters in colour.
Smile a lot.

My desk is at right angles to the window so for an interview I put my laptop on the windowsill (making sure it wouldn't fall off!) for better lighting. The background was more neutral too as it was mainly a closed door.

Put your notes near the camera (on screen or post it's on the wall) so you maintain eye contact when you check them. Don't have them on a different screen!

I also put my other phones/teams accounts etc on silent/do not disturb (I was interviewing during work time as a late lunch and didn't want things ringing)

Also just be mindful of what you wear - I'm sure you wouldn't be wearing anything strappy or off the shoulder for an interview anyway, but always best to check you don't look naked from the shoulders up! I wore something high necked and a bit brighter than I'd normally wear to a face-to-face interview (nothing wild, I wore a blue dress and navy blazer when I'd normally wear a black dress and jacket).

I did a Teams interview recently. After a year of using zoom, I did practice using Teams but still managed to cut myself out of the call when I finished my presentation. I just dialled straight back in, apologised, laughed at myself - and got the job. So if anything does go wrong, it doesn't necessarily damage your chances! Relax, smile, and good luck!

For camera angle, raise the laptop on a box so the camera is at or slightly above eye level and you are not looking down into the camera. As others have said, check the lighting and sound.

Practice talking aloud with your answers. Stick reminder post it notes of key examples you want to talk about under the Values along the top of the screen. For example under say "Respect" you'd have "Mr Smith's complaint" so it's a shortcut phrase for something you can talk about

When listening to them talking (for example if they start off by telling you about the company or the job) slightly exaggerate some of your body language such as smiling and nodding your head etc. It stops it looking so stiff or that your Zoom has frozen!

Good luck

I’ve been interviewing over zoom. The fake backgrounds are distracting as are real backgrounds with things to look at (photos, books etc). Try and get yourself in front of a plain wall with nothing on it!

For clothes (this is taken from advice I received speaking over Teams at a big conference a few weeks ago): no black, white or patterns. One bright colour that suits you. No jewellery that will click or clink. Have a light behind your computer shining on you - experiment with this. Wear headphones as it will cut out noise of bin lorry going down street or courier banging on the door.

Good luck!

Stand up whilst your doing the interview. It makes a world of difference in body language and how you hold yourself

Don't face the laptop towards a source of light, make sure the light falls on your face

Check the background for any embarrassing/personal items

Try to face the laptop towards as plain a wall as possible.

Try to remember it's weird for them too - they'll have had little practice with microphones, muting and camera angles.

When you want to make eye contact, remember to look at the camera, not at their face on the screen.

Mine was a competency-based interview, I pinned some reminders of my scenario examples up.on the wall behind the screen so I could glance at them if my mind went blank.

Ah you absolute lovelies! Thank you! There’s things I wouldn’t have thought of!

We had a practice last night setting up Teams and we did a trial call with DP on the stairs and me in the lounge. Have just had a practice getting the iPad set up at the right angle, have got it propped on a wooden toy fire station, it’s just the right height there.

Am going to write little prompts for my scenarios and the Trust values on some post it notes and stick them to the fire station!

I should also add that I originally got that tip from a speech and language coach. He coaches people in the public eye and CEO types how to present and project themselves. It really does work.

I've been through several video interviews. Agree with others, definitely check the tech/audio/camera work on the platform the interview is running on. I find lipstick and blush a must otherwise it's easy to look washed out on camera but it's more forgiving with hair!

Also check the background and either choose a special effect or make sure it's tidy and no sneaky mirrors.

Re interview you can have notes in front of you. But you most likely won't have time to read them but having them there is a comfort.

Be completely familiar with the job description and have example answers of how you've achieved or performed these tasks. Also be really familiar with your CV as you may be asked to walk them through your career or they'll ask questions about other aspects eg training courses awards etc.

Know the company/business that you're applying for inside out and have questions ready.

Practice your answers and enjoy it as much as you can.

Best of luck!

I GOT THE JOOOOOOOOBBBBBBB!!!!!!!!!!

thank you lovely Internet strangers!!

Yay!

Congratulations!!

Congratulations!!

Thank you! It’s going to mean moving but will free us up from £700p/m of childcare costs and will bring a better work life balance all round.

Celebratory Chinese takeaway tonight!