If you are applying for jobs during the current COVID-19 pandemic, you will likely notice changes to the traditional hiring process as companies work to keep their personnel, customers and job candidates safe.
Most notably, instead of attending in-person interviews with the organizations’ human resources personnel or hiring managers, interviews will probably be conducted remotely — as phone interviews or through videoconferencing software.
We’ve compiled the following tips designed to help you prepare for your remote job interview.
Tip 1: Don’t underestimate the remote job interview process. Sometimes, people assume that a remote job interview will be less stressful than an in-person meeting. In some ways, this may be true. There is no need to commute to an unfamiliar location or navigate a building. If the interview is via phone, you don’t even need to dress up because your interviewer will not be able to see you.
However, if you approach remote job interview preparation too cavalierly, you may not be as prepared as other candidates. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so prepare just as you would for a traditional, on-site interview.
Tip 2: Find an appropriate space for the interview. If the prospective employer schedules a video interview with you, make sure to have a clean, organized and well-lit space. Clear any clutter that could appear in the background, and consider what visible decor might say about you. When in doubt, temporarily remove any questionable posters or knick-knacks.
Whether your interview will be over the phone or through a video conferencing tool, you don’t want to be distracted during the meeting. Let family members or roommates know that you have an interview and cannot be disturbed during that time.
If your designated space has a door you can lock, consider doing so or put a sign on the door asking housemates not to interrupt. Similarly, silence or turn off your phone as well as pop-up notifications on your computer or tablet. The interviewer deserves your full attention.
Tip 3: Double-check meeting specifics. Is your interviewer calling you, or are you supposed to initiate the call at the appointed time? Is the time zone in which the meeting was scheduled the same as yours? If it is a video interview, have you tested the connectivity to make sure you can connect without having to download additional software? Have you tested the microphone and speaker on your computer or tablet?
These details are just as important (if not more so) as practicing your responses to typical interview questions. Take a few minutes the day before the interview to confirm the specifics and ensure you are prepared from a technological standpoint.
Tip 4: Be genuine and confident. When meeting with someone face to face, you can make eye contact and read body language. Obviously, these actions can’t be done in a phone interview and are difficult, at best, in a video interview. To the extent possible, try to connect with your interviewer and be yourself. Show the interviewer — through your tone and engagement on the call — that you want the job and are enthusiastic about joining the company.
Don’t let the remote job interview process intimidate you. The good news is, preparing for a remote job interview is, in many ways, the same as preparing for an in-person interview.
The job interview process can be nerve-wracking. That said, when you have earned a degree from Generations College, you can be confident that your education has prepared you well for your target job. Simply put, Generations College’s on-campus and online associate degree programs give students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their future careers.
To learn more about our exciting degree programs, contact us in Chicago today!