5 Vital Tips To Ace Your Virtual Job Interview

It is safe to say that pre-COVID-19 pandemic, the job recruitment process was pretty straightforward. You apply for a job. If you get short-listed, HR will set an interview appointment with you. You prepare for a list of possible job interview questions. 

On the day of the interview, you show up and try your best to convince your potential employer why he or she should hire you. After an hour or so, you'll thank them and and wait for what seems like eternity for the call back.

Today, the job screening process is somewhat different. You sit at a table in your home, laptop in front of you, preferably with good lighting illuminating your face. There is a huge potted indoor palm strategically placed behind you. On your screen, a typed question appears: "Tell us something about yourself." Or your interviewer appears on the screen You then look directly into your laptop camera, smile, and proceed to share your job history over a video recording.

Welcome to your new job recruitment process.

Making virtual impressions

Along with every other facet of life, the hiring process in Singapore has undergone some drastic changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers today have resorted to screening candidates virtually due to health and safety restrictions. In fact, the Ministry of Manpower mandates that, if possible, all employees must work from home. When else to begin fulfilling this requirement than at the beginning of the recruitment process?

Since the demand for talent in Singapore is steadily growing, HR managers use the one-way interview to screen job seekers. Similar to the set-up described above, they ask potential candidates to make a video of themselves answering questions prepared by the HR managers. From this lot, the employers determine which candidates they would like to know further through a formal (virtual) interview.

How do you make sure you do well in this different recruitment set-up, though?

We reached out to career coach Gerald Tanto share what you need to prepare to help you handle these virtual interviews. In his 11 years working in public employment services, workforce development, and human resources, Tan has gathered many stories about job interviews that were successful, and others that went wrong.

The 5 Es

According to Tan, there are five elements you need to remember. First, to present evidence, you highlight your relevant career experiences. Second, your environment during the virtual interview has to be simple. Third, it may be difficult, but having a high level of energy during the interview is vital to keep your potential employer engaged. Fourth, making an early impact speaks a lot about the outcome of your conversation. Finally, there will always be exceptions to a smooth virtual interview. If these happen, all you have to do is stay professional.

Evidence: Share your career milestones.

Avoid sharing your life story. Instead, use the job description to get clues on what you should say. What are the tasks, skills, and attitudes the employer is looking for? Build stories of your milestones around those elements.

Tan suggests you use the C-A-R-S format to organise your answers:

•   Use context to help employers understand the necessity of your actions.
•   Keep stories of your actions—how you solved problems in your previous work—concise.
•   Quantify the results of your actions to give a better picture of success.
•   Wrap up your answer with a good summary, i.e., "This is why I am the best candidate for the job."

(Also read: Job Hunting Advice for Fresh Graduates in the Time of a Pandemic)

Environment: Make sure your virtual set-up plays to your advantage.

To achieve this, there are some elements you need to get right:

•   Background. Keep the decor minimal so that it doesn't distract. A few plants or one or two pieces of artwork are good choices. If you are using a virtual background, pick one where you don't fade away.
•   Technology. Ensure you have steady and strong Wi-Fi. Check that your audio and camera are working perfectly.
•   Lighting. Keep your source of light on your face, not behind it. Angle yourself to catch the light perfectly.
•   Ambient noise. There should be none. Be alone in the room at the time of your interview. Inform your housemates, if any, so they can stay quiet for the duration.
•   Eye contact. Look directly into the camera while you speak.

Tan suggests you do a test run with a friend, and record it. That way, you can see yourself from the interviewer's point of view.

Energy: Amp it up!

It may be likely that your interviewer has been sitting through virtual meetings and interviews the whole day. So it is up to you to bring the energy into the interview.

•   Wear bright, vibrant colours that complement your skin tone in classic styles.
•   Use your tone of voice, facial expression, and hand gestures to engage your interviewer.
•   Be confident and smile—you made it to the interview, after all.
•   Adjust your energy level throughout the interview. If you see the interviewer getting restless or looking bored, keep your answers concise but substantial.
•   If you are doing a one-way pre-recorded interview, choose the right time. Pick the time of day when you are most energetic.

Early impact: How you answer the first few questions may influence the direction of the rest of the interview.

Rehearse your answers to these commonly asked questions.

•   "Tell us about yourself." Avoid narrating your employment history—the interviewer already knows this from your resumé. What this question is actually asking is, "What makes you perfect for this role?"
•   "Why did you apply for this role?" Highlight your abilities and skills. Touch on how this job will fit into your 10-year goal. Explain how your past work experiences will help you do well in this new role.
•   "Why did you leave your last role?" This is a double-edged question, meant to show the interviewer if you may be too emotional and still hung up about the past. So focus on the future. Share more about your interest in the new role instead of dwelling on the last one.

Remember, keep your answers concise and informed. Display your knowledge of the company; this will raise your credibility significantly.

Exceptions: Deal with last-minute changes with utter professionalism.

The trick to hurdling unexpected events, such as questions you didn't anticipate, is to be prepared.

•   If they ask for your salary expectations: Give a well-researched salary range. Save your exact rate when you eventually receive an offer.
•   If they ask direct questions about your past employment: Conclude your answer by explaining how right you are for the role; remember to give supporting points.
•   If they say discriminatory comments or are rude to you: Some of these may be part of a stress test. They want to see how you handle pressure. Stay professional throughout.

Wrap it up with a good ending

There is a signal that the interview is ending: when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions for them. Ask appropriate questions that will show your interest in the company. For example, "How has the pandemic affected the work culture here?" or, "Can you share some team wins that you are particularly proud of?"

At the end, always thank the interviewer for the opportunity. Within a few hours, send a thank-you email to HR. Let them know that you are available anytime for any clarifications they may want to make.

As long as you come to your virtual interview fully prepared—physically, emotionally, and mentally— everything else remains the same. The employer wants to know if you are the best candidate for the job. Your main goal is to prepare well so that you can show them that you are the one they are looking for.

For more career advice, visit JobStreet's Career Resources Hub.

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