Whether you’re an employee or a candidate, Zoom interviews can be a tricky situation to try and navigate. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the importance of adapting to the ever-changing environment – whether that’s now interviewing for a job with someone you’ve never met in person or working from home three days a week.

Trying to discover the best person for the job, or setting yourself up for a good first impression as a candidate, can be hard when you’ve not met them in person. These are our best tips to work through virtual meetings and hire exactly who you need or find someone who will be the right fit.

Prior preparation prevents poor performance

With job interviews, preparation is the majority of the work. Whether you’re the employer or candidate, being prepared can make all the difference. As you’re on a virtual call and not in person, have any documents you need printed and in front of you. That way, you be prepared without being distracted, rummaging through your desktop to find your resume.

For the employer, have the following prepared:

• The resume of the person you’re interviewing.
• Pen and paper for note taking.
• Great interview questions that you plan on asking. Take the time to ask more curious questions – you’re not meeting the candidate in person, so this is where you can get to know them.  

For the candidate, have the following prepared:

• A copy of your resume.
• A glass of water nearby. You’ll most likely be nervous and talk a little too fast.
• Dot point answers to interview questions. Use these as a reference, not as word for word answers.
• Before the interview, have an in-depth research of the company and note any key achievements they’ve completed within the past 12 months.
• The job ad, with highlighted sections where you need more clarity or want a more detailed description.

First impressions still matter

You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to make a great first impression; you only get to make it once. Although the interview is virtual, dress and present yourself as you would for an in-person job interview. 

For candidates, here are our tips to help you look the part:

• Unless the company is into bright colours and patterns, avoid wearing them. They often come across as distracting and can take attention away from you.

• Don’t wear any chunky jewellery that could interfere with the audio. 
• For the parts that will be visible, wear what you would usually wear to an in-person interview, and be professional with your attire.  
• That said, research the company culture and note how others dress within the workplace. If you’re unsure, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Consider your backdrop

By now, we can assume everyone has a home office. It’s 2022, isn’t it? For the candidate and employer, take the time to declutter what’s around you and in your backdrop. You don’t need to spend hours doing this, but you should clear any items that don’t belong as they would in a professional workplace. For example, a band poster or half-dead plant won’t be a key selling point for either party.

We recommend avoiding the use of virtual backgrounds, they can often take away from the interview itself, and a blank wall is a surefire way for either party to focus on the discussion. When in doubt, move everything to the side and have nothing but you in view.

If one interview isn’t enough, go for round two

Particularly for employers, a virtual interview can often be difficult for some to gauge what the candidate is as a person. If you’re struggling, take the time for an extra interview with your top three candidates. The more time spent discussing – even virtually – will give you a better impression of what they’re like.

From both ends, be honest

Honesty in a job interview is the foundation for starting out on the right foot. From the employer’s side, be honest about what you want in a candidate. If you want someone who will have to work from 9am till 6pm, then make it known that this is what you require.

Alternatively, be transparent about what you want if you’re the candidate. Would you be happy in the long run with a job that allowed you to work from home two days a week? 

Both parties need to be open and honest about what is desirable and what you want to get out of a job. Figure out these hurdles before you hire a candidate or say yes to a position.

How to close and follow up

For candidates, this is your time to leave a lasting impression. You want to ensure you’re ending that virtual interview with no doubts that you are the best person for the job. Of course, you’re going to be asked, ‘do you have any questions for us?’ This is where you bring in your pre-prepared notes. Ask the employer follow-up questions about the company and responsibilities within the role.

Also, consider asking the final question, ‘do you have any concerns about my ability to do the role?’ This question will open you up to criticism. However, it will show that you’re self-aware and happy to identify a problem and discover a solution. If concerns arise, take them on board and offer a solution for how you would fix them.

For more tips and tricks, get in touch with one of our highly experienced consultants and discover how to secure that job.