How to ace a Teams interview?

[Bmidreams]

It's my first one. I don't even use Teams or anything online as part of my job! I'm also terrible at interviews, but normally come across well in person, so have generally been successful. Does anybody have any top tips please? I'll be interviewed by a panel. Will I just see the one person who speaks? I just can't see how this is going to work for me, and how I'll get myself across.

I’ve just ran some recruitment and we used Skype for business. Sadly nearly all the candidates took the opportunity to read their application from the screen almost robotic fashion, thinking we wouldn’t know. Although we said we aren’t scoring people on eye contact etc this was different and it was very un-natural. So just keep it natural and don’t be tempted to do that as trust me they will know and we had to give some honest feedback but I do hope it helps them for any future video interviews

A sign outside the door which says “Please Do Not Disturb” in case anyone forgets, as another poster has suggested. I also put a sign on the front door “Please do not ring bell or knock on the door, meeting in progress, please leave parcels in porch” 😊

Have you had the interview op? I had a face to face interview last week and then a zoom one on Friday and I was so much more comfortable on the zoom one and felt that I did much better because of how comfortable I felt.

Thanks all! The screen froze so I couldn't see me or them. Very disarming. I was too focused on the online part and hadn't really prepared enough for the actual interview, I now realise. I didn't sell myself enough and couldn't answer some questions. It was hard not being able to see them and take cues.

Don't worry op, video interviewing is a whole new skill. You'll be much better next time.

What device did you use? I find Teams for PC uses more bandwidth (and freezes more) than Teams for Android so I now use a tablet for interviews.

I've found that I need stronger makeup, brighter clothes and earrings to come across best. Also to raise the camera to eye level, so your interviewer isn't looking at the underside of your chin. Mine is propped on three large dictionaries Practice talking to the camera lens rather than the image of the other person (the hardest bit for me). Kick anyone else in the house off WiFi, or organise your interviews after on-line schooling finishes. Turn off or unplug phones. Use a plain wall as a back ground if you can. Sit facing towards a window if you can so there is lots of light.

The best thing about video interviews is you can have notes and reminders on the desk that they can't see. Can be be very useful.

Finally, agree as soon as you start the interview, that if the call drops, you'll rejoin straight away. If the bandwidth is low, offer to turn your camera off to maintain the call.

And then all the normal interview stuff - questions and preparation. Good luck x

Any other tips? I know this is a fairly old thread but I've never used teams before and I've got an interview on Thursday!

Dress in full as you would for a normal interview, not just top half/ upper layer! You might conceivably need to stand up to fix the router or similar.

Keep the laptop plugged in.

Also do a couple of practice meetings first so you are comfortable with the technology.

If there will be others in the house, stick a 'do not disturb' sign on the door, everyone is so used to the format now though that the meeting will move on from any interruptions so it's not a huge deal.if someone does barge in.

The big bonus of this is that you can have bullet points on the table or screen (say if it's a competency based interview). However, try and maintain eye contact by looking at the camera regularly, not just the pictures on the screen.