Any tips for job interviews on Teams

[DalstonsRhubarb]

I need to give a presentation (subject will be given to me shortly before the interview) and have an hour’s general interview. Any tips for how to come across as well as possible on Teams?

Pin up notes on the wall behind the camera/laptop

have a glass of water ready

sit up straight

dress as you would for a face to face interview

camera on (should be obvious but you never know)

good luck!

My tip would be to practise the presentation so that you know how to work Teams and PowerPoint (or whatever format you are doing) together. Otherwise, I don't think it's much different from in person. Dress for an interview though! Sometimes interviewees (and interviewers!) go too casual online.

You will probably have to turn the camera to show the interviewer that you are alone

Look right into the camera to make eye contact.

Well lit from the front.

Not appearing to look down or up at them but level. Therefore eyes level with a third of the way down the screen. Raise your computer if necessary.

Start presentation without slides to maximise your human -to -human time.

Use your intro to look down the lens to replicate feeling of eye contact.
Talk slower than you think you should.
Add pauses to check in with their understanding of what you’re sharing and chance to ask questions. This will show confidence.
Show warmth

Practise your presentation on team beforehand if you use PowerPoint. The display and functionality had changed since the last time I used it. It threw me slightly, and it was an informal meeting, not an interview.

If you are using PowerPoint, send your presentation to the interviewers as a back up if they'll let you. Sometimes the settings on the meeting don't allow you to share your screen, and noone realises till it's too late. Also put a teddy behind the camera to present towards.

Try for a fairly neutral background, a bookshelf, plain cupboards, some plants are also ok. Ideally not a busy photo wall, fridge with all the kids drawings or piles of washing/unmade bed (all of which I’ve seen in interviews). You can use an artificial background but it doesn’t strange things like cutting off bits of hair etc so I prefer if candidates don’t.
Clothing formal and not clashing with your background, any makeup not too stark as your face will feel much closer than in an actual interview room.
If you’re using slides given short prep time keep them to a just few bullets to remind you what you want to say. Else it’s totally ok to consult your notes.
Try to lock out kids and cats, dogs, neighbours and postmen if working from
home…
Generally, it’s often a bit harder to establish rapport online, so have a friendly greeting ready, the typical good morning, I’m Rhubarb, thanks for the invite, very pleased to be here type spiel
Do look out carefully for non verbal cues for when they’re expecting you to elaborate and when to stop talking. It’s harder - in person as an interviewer I can shift position to indicate it’s time to move on, but online that often gets lost and some people ramble on until I cut in.

Good luck!

Use 'present in Teams' option from the PowerPoint application (i.e. when you are in PowerPoint rather than screenshare on Teams- it will then take you to Teams). It displays any notes you might want to make on PPT to you, but not to others, and gives you better navigation.

Have a run through with a colleague and/or record yourself going through it beforehand.

Thanks everyone- some really good tips.

For the presentation, I’m being given the subject immediately before and have half an hour to prepare. I’m assuming they won’t expect slides, just for me to talk coherently for a bit?

I put a small post it on the screen over my face so it doesn't distract me.

Professional background- ie no dirty washing, beds, dogs, kids etc.

Make sure your lighting, camera and mic are all ok beforehand.

Dress smartly and do hair and make up- slightly more make up than you would in person.

Have a couple of interesting but short, friendly, opening statements ready as answers to eg “How are you today?” - don’t just mumble fine or panic and tell them about your leaky shower!

Blu tak some likely-to-be-helpful situation examples / outline answers on the wall in front of you.

Smile. Be engaged.

Good luck!

In teams, you should be able to hide your own video (press the three buttons and 'hide for me') which avoids that you're constantly staring at yourself. If you don't see your own reflection, you're much more likely to look into the camera. I also got as a tip to pay extra attention to non-verbal communication (hands, face) - so even if you don't normally talk with your hands, you may want to do it now to put extra emphasis on your words.