Eight tips to prepare for a virtual interview

1. First of all, it is still a “real” interview and should be treated as such. There’s a person on the other end who will make an executive decision about his qualifications for the job, so assume it’s no different than if you put this person in person.
2. Dress to impress! Even if you can’t see your toes, dressing from head to toe in at least business casual attire is the first way to not only look professional when the camera rolls on, but also to help you get in the right mindset. You will be amazed at how you feel like you can conquer the world when you SEEM like you can!
3. Find a quiet, professional place for the interview. If you have a home office, this is perfect. If not, most libraries offer free conference rooms, which you can reserve for yourself during the interview. There is nothing less professional than children, pets, or other household distractions that interfere with your interview experience and greatly affect your appearance of professionalism. If you can’t get away from the house, sit at a dining table or in a living room and make sure everyone in the house knows you need some privacy during your allotted time.
4. Test the interview system in question before the interview. The day or night before, log in and get acquainted if it’s a program you’ve never used. Even if it’s something you use frequently, like FaceTime, double check that you have the correct contact information.
5. Pay close attention to the time zone in which the interviews take place. This one is SO important. With the advent of virtual interviews, corporations have opened up to a huge network of people across the globe, and while that’s advantageous, it also means they’re operating in a different time zone than you. No one wants to start off on the wrong foot because they missed the interview or were late because they weren’t sure of the time zone. If it is not made clear anywhere in a confirmation of any kind, please contact your recruiter or interviewer, they will be happy to provide you with the information and glad you were proactive.
6. Try to use a laptop or desktop computer if possible, but if you must use a smartphone, set up a tripod system beforehand, so your hands are free for the interview. You can even use a stack of books. What you don’t want to do is hold the phone during the interview; this is a professional meeting, not a FaceTime chat with your grandmother.
7. Like any interview, make sure you’ve studied the company and the position you want to fill. Google them. Let’s see if they’ve had any news lately. Have you recently merged with someone? Or maybe they did a rebrand not too long ago. At the very least, learn about the goods and/or services they offer, and be prepared to tell them how you could help them in this niche if they hired you.
8. Prepare questions. Almost always, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions, and if you’ve answered all of them, it’s okay to tell them. However, this is your chance to have their full attention, and ESPECIALLY if you are offered a job right after. You’ll want to have compiled a list of everything you might have wanted to know, instead of bombarding the interviewer’s inbox with emails less than 24 hours after they’ve set aside time to be available only to you.

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to not only excelling at that interview, but also getting job offers galore! Break a leg and above all be yourself and let your personality shine!