How to do a Successful Interview - Online


1. Before the Interview
Treat the interview as if it were going to be a regular face-to-face interview. While you might not be physically in the same room as your interviewer(s), you will still be making a first impression, and that should be a positive one.

Practice, Practice, Practice: We can’t emphasize this enough. An interview is a slightly artificial situation at the best of times. You’re the world’s best expert on yourself and your experience, and you are used to describing your career in a clear and transparent way with friends. But, can you drill down past the high-level descriptions of your previous work experiences when you’re in a high-pressure situation with people you don’t know - to articulate current and past roles or handpick situational examples that best represent your skillset? The honest answer is No! Not without practice. Now is a good chance to have a look at our Interview Preparation Toolkits to get you ahead, or research further online to find sample practice questions and other tips. You can never be too prepared!
Technology: Because you’ll be relying on technology to present yourself, discuss the role, and make the best impression, you must ensure everything is working beforehand. Test your Wi-Fi/broadband and ensure that you have a strong internet connection. If your Wi-Fi is not reliable, a tip is to hotspot off your mobile phone to ensure a steady connection. Have a backup plan if Wi-Fi fails during the interview: make sure you have shared your mobile number with your interviewer and have their number as well in case you need to call them. If a link has been shared to join the interview, make sure you see what might be needed to connect to it. For example, some platforms may require you to install additional software and/or an app or use a particular browser, so make sure you have this done long before the interview is due to happen.
Location: Try to find a quiet space in your home and consider what will be visible in the background. You don’t want any doors open or distracting pictures on the wall.
Lighting: Make sure you have good lighting in the room. Avoid sitting with a window behind you as this could cause some glare on camera, and don’t sit directly under a light source. You can find lots more tips on positioning yourself online, like in this New York Times article.
Picture and sound: Ensure that your camera and microphone on your laptop, device, or phone are both working correctly and that your equipment is either plugged in or fully charged! Carry out a test run with a friend or family member to ensure that you can be seen and heard.
Clothes and makeup: Try to dress appropriately for the interview while still being comfortable. It will help you feel more professional and, remember, first impressions last!
What to say: If this is your first interview with the company, take the time to research carefully the business and role that you are interviewing for. Having research done will demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and help you find interesting questions to ask during the conversation. You could also have some questions ready about the company and role, based on the research, or even some standard questions that you have ready to go, like from this list.
Research: Study the company’s About Us page on its website as well as all its social media platforms. Also, make sure you study the detailed job description for the role you have applied for.
Online Check: You should also have checked your own social media profile, as many companies now do some research about you before an interview. You can use our Online Reputation Checklist to think about and manage how you appear to others online.
Presentation and CV: In advance of the interview, it’s a good idea to share your CV again with your contact. If you have been asked to deliver a presentation, make sure you read the questions/scenario carefully, and if you are unsure of anything, ask for clarification. (This can demonstrate you are not afraid to ask for help). Create the best presentation you can. Have a look at our useful webinar on Presentation Skills which is specially designed for anyone presenting virtually, and consider using this template to structure your presentation. If you are delivering a presentation that has animations or has required you to demonstrate a live feature, make sure you test this feature first. As with a CV, it is important that you spell-check your presentation. You might want to share the presentation with your contact in advance of the interview, and you may also be asked to share it from your screen, so make sure you test this in advance with a friend to make sure you know how to work it.

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How to do a Successful Interview - Online

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