Tips for Interviewing on Zoom
Interviewing on Zoom? ๐ป Thatโs no surprise - about 82% of employers are using virtual interviews at some point in their hiring process these days. Here are some hot tips to set you up for success.
๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ! ๐คธโโ๏ธ
Be aware of your posture - it communicates so much & impacts your energy. Whether you choose to sit or stand (my rec), keep your spine straight with your shoulders back, allowing you to breathe deeply & naturally. Or as my mother says, โfind your stringโ.
๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐. ๐
You have 3 options here - use the Eye Contact Camera, minimize the zoom window to be as close to the top of the screen as possible, or practice looking at the camera directly when you speak. If you do the latter, know that it will be difficult to watch the interviewer's body language & catch cues that they may want to interject or ask a clarifying question.
๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฒ๐-๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ. ๐ฅ
Itโs 2025 - there is no excuse not to have a solid webcam. You can scoop one up for $75-$125. If people canโt see you clearly, itโll be harder for them to see you & trust you. Whatever you use, just make sure itโs at eye level; you donโt want the interviewer to feel like youโre interrogating them by staring down at the screen.
๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ โ๐ญ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ก-๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฌโ. ๐ฉโ๐ค
This isnโt Snapchat. Keep your filters to a minimum - weโre all aging, itโs okay that you have crows' feet. Allowing the interviewer to see your real face and facial expressions is very helpful for building trust. The same goes for your background - if you can find a background in your home that is clean and simple, opt for that over the default stock image options on Zoom. They're not that great & lack authenticity.
๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ. ๐ฆ
Grab a table lamp or order an influencer-inspired halo light, whatever you do, just choose an appropriate amount that highlights your features but doesnโt wash you out. Avoid being backlit and having windows behind you. If you wear glasses, be aware that the interviewer might be able to see your screen reflection in your lenses (important for our final tip!)
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ. ๐๏ธ
It is super tempting to keep your interview prep notes open in a side window on your screen for easy reference, but I wouldnโt recommend it. It tends to distract more than help & can keep you from noticing key body language signals from the interviewer (or even worse, they can see your eyes darting back and forth as you read from those notes). If you want to take notes or jot down a thought to bring up later, have a notepad ready to write them out by hand. It shows intellect, discernment & engagement. Itโs old school, but it works.
