Video Interview Preparation Guide
If you have an online video interview coming up for a new role and are keen to make a great impression- you are in the right place. At Faststream Recruitment, our dedicated and specialist teams regularly support great candidates in securing their dream opportunities and we strive to offer the best advice to ensure you make a great impression at your interview.
Online video interviews are a fantastic way for our clients and candidates to meet; they provide both parties with the opportunity to build a strong rapport and represent themselves as if they were in a face-to-face interview.
With any interview, you need to ensure you are fully prepared and have the tools to make a memorable first impression. To help you prepare for this process, below you will find some extremely helpful tips about online video interviews from the team at Faststream Recruitment.
This guide is split out into three sections:
Before the Interview
Pre-interview preparation is just as crucial as the interview itself and there are several factors you need to take into consideration.
Timings
Before we start planning how you are going to ‘wow’ your interviewer, it is vital to discuss the time and date of your interview.
After discussing the logistics of your interview with your Faststream Recruitment Consultant and you have received your interview confirmation, it is really important to take note and diarise the exact time and date of the interview.
Research
Your Faststream Recruitment Consultant will provide you with an overview of the role and requirements, but it is your responsibility to go the extra mile to understand more about the organisation.
Research is one of the most important parts of the entire interview process because it shows the client how committed you are to the role. The more you know, the better you will come across during the interview.
There are numerous ways to conduct company research, such as visiting the organisation's website and searching on Google or Wikipedia. In today’s world of recruitment, social media is a great platform for doing some background research on a company before an interview. Looking on platforms such as LinkedIn will give you a feel for the organisations' tone of voice and brand values.
If you know who will be interviewing you, we would also suggest having a look at your interviewer’s LinkedIn profile. This will help provide you with a better impression of who you will be speaking with.
Dress Code
Treat your online video interview like you would treat any other interview, meaning the dress code should remain professional and well presented. The interviewer will be looking for candidates who professionally portray themselves.
Ask yourself- “would I dress like this for a face-to-face interview?”
Preparing for the Interview
Now we have established the basics, you need to start preparing for the interview itself.
Step 1
Make sure you are set up and logged on to the video software at least 5-10 minutes before your interview. Run a test beforehand to avoid any technical glitches. You should also be interviewing using a PC/laptop and not an iPad or mobile phone where possible.
Ensure you are set up in a clean and quiet environment to avoid any distractions during the interview. Don’t forget to set the camera up to a good height so the interviewer can see you clearly.
Turn off email and phone notifications so you don’t get distracted.
Step 2
The client will more than likely want to discuss your experience to date, so print a copy of your CV to have with you during the interview - this will help you when you need to reference back to points and relevant dates made in your application. Not knowing the start and end dates of employment can come across as unprofessional and the interviewer may question whether the information is correct.
What should you expect during the interview?
The interviewer will be looking to hire individuals that they want to be representing their organisation, and this is your one chance to wow the interviewer. You should professionally present yourself and remember that your body language will tell the client a lot about you as a person- so remain engaged and portray a pleasant demeanour at all times. The interview may seem more informal over video but keep it professional in every way that you can.
Communication
Communication is key during interviews but video software can cause a delay in internet connection. Therefore, you will need to speak clearly and slowly to ensure you are getting your points across, and the interviewer can understand everything you are saying.
Salary
Try to avoid discussing salary during the interview as this can make you come across as solely money motivated. If the interviewer asks you about your salary expectations, we recommend advising the client that you have discussed the terms and contract offer with your Faststream Recruitment Consultant and further discussions will need to be done through them.
Questions
Several frequently asked questions will come up in an interview, and you can prepare for these beforehand. Examples are;
Why do you want to work for our organisation?
Why do you want to leave your current employer?
Which aspect of your experience is most relevant?
What is your preferred managerial style?
Your interviewer will also ask you about your CV and experience to date so you will need to be prepared to talk about this in detail.
After the interview
Once the interview is drawing to an end make sure you thank the interviewer for their time. This is also the last chance to showcase your commitment to the role. End the interview by letting the interviewer know that you are incredibly interested and share your availability for further interviews and start dates with them. This creates transparency and shows the client how enthusiastic you are about joining their organisation.
Call your Faststream Recruitment Consultant
As soon as your video interview has ended, call your Faststream Recruitment Consultant to debrief them on how you think the interview went.
After this discussion, your Faststream Recruitment Consultant will be able to start moving the process forward and discuss the next steps with the client.
Follow up with an email
Thank your interviewer for their time and follow up on any other information they have asked for (for example; references, examples of work, etc.). This is also a chance to volunteer any further important information you forgot to bring up in the video interview.
Ask for interview feedback - the good and the bad
Whether successful or not, always ask your recruitment consultant for feedback. We will chase this for you, as it’s important you know how you can improve next time.
And finally, remember the old saying that ‘practice makes perfect’ so even if you are not offered the job, every interview is a good experience so take away what you can and improve your chances for next time.
Now you have all the tools to succeed in your next online video interview, we wish you the very best of luck.
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