Interviews can be a daunting event that can cause even the most confident person to begin wiping their sweaty palms on their pants. To ease some of the pre-interview anxiety it’s best to know the qualifiers hiring managers look for in potential candidates.
For a step-by-step guide on how to make the best impression for your next interview held over Zoom, I’m happy to share an interview I held recently with the CMO of Hibob, Rhiannon Staples.
Rhiannon Staples has a demonstrated background in marketing and she has a few tips on how to best market yourself via the realm of telecommunication tools.
1. Interviews now that they are remote have different qualifiers for how to make a good first impression. What do you notice first when that Zoom screen pops up?
“People have just a few seconds to make a first impression, and on Zoom, it’s not just about you but also about your background. The first thing an interviewer will notice will be the person on the other end’s surroundings, as well as their appearance. To prepare, an easy suggestion is to log on early to ensure your camera and microphone are working in order to avoid tech glitches and be ready on time. You can also ask yourself the following: can the interviewer see you clearly? Is the background clear of any mess?”
“Job candidates should make sure they have good lighting, in addition to a clean-looking backdrop. Dressing nicely and in a polished manner should also be kept top of mind for job seekers. If possible, previewing yourself before joining the Zoom call is suggested.”
4. What kind of things should you have in the background of your Zoom call to come off more professional?
“The less distraction in your background, the better. Having a blank wall behind you is best, however, consider a simple, clean virtual background to avoid distractions. You can also consider a preprogrammed Zoom background or use the blurring feature. People realize that everyone is at home and – in many cases – will have less control over their surroundings.”
5. Should you start the interview with casual questions or should you get right down to the interview? Is it better to let the interviewer start first to feel the tone of what kind of interviewing style they prefer so you can fall in line with that cadence?
“It is best to have the interviewer start first since they are ultimately guiding the conversation and asking the questions. This also sets the tone surrounding what kind of casual questions will be okay to ask throughout the interview, and what kind of overall experience the interviewer will cultivate. When the interviewer asks what questions you have at the end, feel free to ask any questions that will help you better understand if the job, the culture and the company are a good fit for you. The questions you ask can leave an impression when a hiring manager is considering multiple candidates for the open role.”
See all 6 tips and the complete The Ladders article
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