Getting hired virtually
Ken Pelczarski | TLT Career Coach November 2020
Follow these tips and strategies for a successful video interview.
An August 2020 study of about 1,400 people by Redfin showed that 45% of home buyers during the past year bought their house without seeing it in person. Much the same is happening in the lubricant industry hiring world since the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard in March of this year.
It is suddenly quite possible to be hired without ever having an in-person interview. I can vouch for this trend from personal experience as at least a half dozen of my clients since March planned to hire new employees strictly through telephone and video interviews.
Virtual hiring will certainly continue as a common practice as COVID-19 lingers. This method of hiring also will likely become more prevalent after the pandemic ends because many employers will have learned how to interview and hire individuals successfully in this manner.
Most employers would agree that nothing beats a face-to-face interview in getting to know a job candidate. There are, however, some distinct advantages to hiring virtually.
Positive features of video interviews
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No travel costs such as airfare, hotels, car rental and meals
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Save on travel time for job candidates (sometimes for employers as well)
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Easy and inexpensive to reschedule an interview
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Easy and inexpensive to follow up with another video interview or an in-person interview as needed
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Meeting participants can easily leave the interview and then rejoin
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Easy to structure a panel-type interview
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Employers can evaluate candidates on use of technology
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Employers can evaluate candidates on ability to sell themselves in a virtual setting
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Employers can evaluate candidates on proficiency of participation in virtual meetings
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Candidates can evaluate employers’ ability to organize and conduct virtual meetings in a professional manner.
I am not aware of any studies showing how hiring done through conventional in-person interviews is more effective and successful than virtual hiring in attaining long-term employees. There are, however, some obvious disadvantages in hiring virtually.
Negative features of video interviews
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Cannot get to know the hiring manager/potential boss in person
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Unable to sit down with top management in person
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Unable to physically tour work facilities
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Cannot meet any potential work peers in person
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Unable to see and observe work environment
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Cannot get a personal feel for employee morale
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Not able to see your office and other places where you will conduct business
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Cannot get a personal glimpse of a typical workday
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Unable to sell yourself in person through body language
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Difficult to display written materials that are supportive to discussion
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Might be unable to fully evaluate employers on desirability of workplace.
If you find yourself on the job market soon, you will likely encounter job opportunities for which employers are conducting video interviews, and perhaps plan to hire a candidate without the benefit of an in-person meeting. A video interview might end up being your best chance to shine and to surpass your competition.
Fortunately, there are many similarities in your approach to a video interview versus an in-person interview. However, there also are many differences.
Tips for a successful video interview
Below are some of my recommendations for video interview preparation.
Interview setting
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Location with no distractions. Choose a location in which it will be easy to maintain 100% focus on the interview. A private office location is ideal. If you interview at home, set up where you will not be interrupted by pets, children or adults. Inform everyone in the house of your appointment ahead of time. Silence other nearby phones.
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Simple background. Avoid distracting backgrounds that include clutter, unusual items or windows. A plain wall or door is fine. A professional background with a wall map, family photos or plaques also is good.
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Avoid interviewing on the road. Interviewing while on the road is risky from the standpoint of distractions and safety. You will likely not have 100% focus on the interview much of the time.
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Optimize lighting and sound. Arrange for lights to be shining directly on you if possible. Lighting against a dark background is ideal. Built-in computer microphones are usually sufficient for sound. Test your sound quality before the interview.
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Camera at eye level. Arrange to have your camera at eye level to have people looking at you straight instead of toward the floor or ceiling. Look into the camera as much as possible versus directly at meeting participants.
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No food or drink. Eat and drink what you need before the interview starts. Eating during the interview can be loud, annoying and distracting to meeting participants. Have water available as needed but keep drinking to a minimum.
Interview preparation
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Learn in advance if hiring will be done virtually. It is always wise to know an employer’s hiring process in advance. It is particularly useful in the case of a video interview. You can plan to “pull out all the stops” if you learn that the video interview is the last one in the hiring process.
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Learn the technology. Familiarize yourself with video technology to be used in the interview. Common video meeting venues include Zoom, GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams and Skype. Practice use of the technology with a friend, family member or colleague.
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Dress the part. Dress professionally from head to toe as you would for an in-person interview. Avoid bright-colored clothing. Be conservative as opposed to trendy. Err on the side of overdressing.
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Be well-groomed. Come to the interview clean shaven with neat hair. Avoid visible piercings, tattoos and large jewelry statements. Wear clean makeup without bright colors.
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Research the company. Employers appreciate when candidates come to an interview with prior knowledge of the company. Researching the company and the interview team will provide you with a good basis for asking questions.
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Study the job description. Be prepared to discuss the job in detail at the start of the interview. If you have studied the job description carefully, employers will see that you have done your due diligence and are knowledgeable and interested.
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Have documentation in front of you. It is recommended for any interview to have documentation in front of you for handy reference such as resume, job description, honors and awards, certifications, recommendation letters and list of publications and patents. Avoid reading these documents unless it is your turn to speak and the participants are aware that you are substantiating an item being discussed.
Interview basics
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Be on time. Punctuality is crucial. Calling in five to 10 minutes early is recommended in case there is a last-minute technology glitch.
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Make a great first impression. First impressions can be difficult to change and can set the tone in an interview. In a video interview, start with a friendly smile or nod of the head. Display a positive attitude and likeability early in the interview. Show that you are happy to be there.
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Maintain 100% focus on the screen. Do not multitask or stare down at paperwork. Employers might equate your inability to focus with lack of interest in the job. Maintain good eye contact with meeting participants by looking directly into the camera.
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Listen closely. Listen intently and maintain eye contact to show that you are engaged in the conversation. There might be audio delays in a video interview, so pay attention closely to what meeting participants are saying as well as nonverbal cues to avoid interrupting someone.
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Watch body language. Maintain good posture by sitting erect. Avoid fidgeting and limit hand gestures. Refrain from touching your face and hair. Do not cross arms against your chest.
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Show enthusiasm and passion. Display passion for your career as well as enthusiasm for the job at hand. If there are several candidates that can do the job, most employers will hire someone who is excited about their work and, as a result, will likely be a long-term contributor.
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Be confident and compelling. Speak in a clear, direct and concise manner. Answer the “tell me about yourself” question confidently and succinctly. Emphasize what you want to do next in your career path and why.
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Be yourself. Relax and be candid about yourself. Being hired for who you are bodes well for long-term employment. Be sincere in your presentation and speak from the heart about your career goals and interests.
Interview strategies
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Ask good questions. Most employers are turned off when candidates do not ask good questions. They believe it shows a lack of interest and/or an inability to evaluate thoroughly their fit with the job and company. At the start of the meeting, ask what the employer would most like to cover and accomplish in the video interview. Proceed to ask questions about items such as typical work week, objectives in the role, performance metrics, company culture and management style, company reputation/standing among competition and desired candidate attributes/skill set.
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Express interest. Interest and motivation are half the battle in getting the job offer (the other half is experience and capabilities). Be sure to express that you envision yourself being consistently challenged and satisfied in the role. Explain why this position fits with your career goals as well as why you fit well with the company culture.
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Emphasize related experience and accomplishments. Upon doing company research and studying the job description, you will be ready to discuss in the interview your experience and accomplishments that point directly to how you will be a top performer in the specific role. Talk about the skill set desired by the employer. Emphasize that you possess this skill set and give an example or two of successes you have had by utilizing these strengths.
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Evaluate the employer interview process. You can tell a lot about a company by how a video interview is conducted. Look closely at their interviewing style, professionalism and organizational skills. Evaluate each meeting participant and try to form a picture of the company culture and management style.
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Request a video tour. Stress to the employer that you are looking to learn as much as possible about the company to increase likelihood of a long-term relationship. If there will be no further interviews in the process, request a video tour that should include your office space and other areas in which you will conduct business.
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Close the interview strong. If the video interview is the last one planned in the hiring process, it is especially important to close strong by showing that you are eager to make a big contribution. Briefly summarize the main reasons you are qualified and interested. In addition, obtain as much feedback as possible from the employer. Ask how you compare with other top candidates and if there is any reason you would not be considered further for the job. Ask about timing and the next step in the process.
In my opinion, virtual hiring is here to stay and at a much greater level than we have ever seen, especially if employers find successful employees in this manner. Make sure you have the necessary training to thrive in the new era of video interviews and other virtual meetings.
Ken Pelczarski is owner and founder of Pelichem Associates, a Chicago-based search firm established in 1985 and specializing in the lubricants industry. You can reach Ken at (630) 960-1940 or at pelichem@aol.com.