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9 essential tips for nailing your virtual interview in 2021!

10 February 2021

By Stuart Duffey

9 essential tips for nailing your virtual interview in 2021!

9 essential tips for nailing your virtual interview in 2021!

Recruitment in the last twelve months has gone a little bit like this…

Hiring manager:I want to schedule an interview for the candidates sent across. I would like to do this via Teams or Zoom!

The scenario is not going away in fact post pandemic this will be the new norm. Nearly 85 percent of hiring managers surveyed by LinkedIn recently confirmed use of real-time video to interview candidates after offices reopen.

50 percent say that this is a great way to narrow down their applicants. The process enables employers to open up their talent pool, while also cutting down on travel expenses.

For prospective employees, trying to make a pitch via video conferencing software, such as Skype, Zoom, Teams or Google Hangouts, can feel a bit daunting. Here are nine virtual interview tips to reduce the stress and help you get the job.


1. Test Your Technology

The minute you agree to a virtual interview, test your technology to ensure you’re set up for success. Check your internet connectivity, and confirm your camera and microphone are working.



On the day of, test your equipment and internet connection again. Tech/digital savviness is one of the top 10 attributes employers are looking for, and by fumbling around with your audio or lighting during the call, you give the hiring manager a reason to question whether you’re the right candidate for the job.


2. Set the Scene and Minimise Distractions

While testing your technology, determine where to take the interview. Find a room with good lighting, preferably near a window, or a blank wall to guarantee you’re the focal point of the conversation. Whether you sit on your living room couch or in your home office, tidy up your surroundings. It’s hard to convince employers you’re detail-oriented and organised when there’s laundry visibly piling up in the corner. Or your 8-year-old asking about the battle of Hastings!

Once settled, eliminate all distractions. Turn off the TV, silence your mobile phone, and close any nearby windows in case the ice cream man plays the teddy bears picnic while you are being asked if you are a team player.

3. Sit Down Prepared

Just because you’re on a computer doesn’t mean you can search the web for answers mid-interview, so avoid clicking around. You want to appear focused and ready to answer any questions without the help of the internet. Research the company ahead of time and have notes for easy reference. Also print out a copy of your CV and the job description, so that you don’t forget key points.

It’s also best to come prepared with answers to common interview questions, such as:

·         Why are you interested in this role?

·         What do you know about our company?

·         What are your biggest weaknesses?

·         What do you consider to be your biggest professional achievement?

·         Tell me about a challenge at work and how you dealt with it.

·         What are you looking for in a new position?

·         Why are you leaving your current role?


Avoid memorising each response, so you don’t sound overly rehearsed. Instead, write some thoughts down on Post-it Notes that you can stick to your computer.

You should also be prepared to answer, “Do you have any questions for me?” Interview questions you might ask an employer include:

·         What does a typical day in the life of this role look like? 

·         What are the company’s goals this quarter? 

·         How would you describe the ideal candidate for this position? 

·         Where does this role sit in the organisation, and what other groups will I be working with? 

·         Can you walk me through the next steps of the hiring process?


4. Practice, Don’t Memorise

You don’t want to sound robotic throughout your interview—whether answering or asking questions or giving your elevator pitch. It’s easy to tell if you aren’t being genuine, so it's a good idea to run through a few practices rounds with a friend, family member and/or your recruiter. This will give you a chance to rehearse with different personalities and answer a variety of different questions. While it may be awkward, you will have a safe atmosphere to make mistakes and learn from them, so you’re better prepared for the real thing.


It’s important to keep things simple. Do not feel like you have to give a long-winded answer if the question doesn’t warrant it. Being clear and concise is one of the most important things in any job interview.


5. Monitor Your Body Language

The main way to communicate confidence is to sit up straight, smile, and keep the camera at eye level. Research shows that employers are more likely to remember what you said if you maintain eye contact, so keep your focus on the camera when talking, not on the image of the hiring manager.

6. Dress the Part

You might be sitting near your bed, but you shouldn’t look like you just rolled out of it. Dress as you would for an in-person interview.

 Professional clothing will show you’re serious about the position, but there are personal benefits, as well: Studies show that people feel “most authoritative, trustworthy, and competent when wearing formal business attire.


7. Make a Connection

You never know how many interviews a company may conduct for a position. You might be at the end of a long list of people the hiring manager spoke to that day. This is why it's important to make a connection. Don’t be afraid to have a short aside about a common interest. The recruiter might enjoy the break from the routine questions they have to get through.


8. Be Yourself



9. Immediately Follow Up

Within 24 hours of the interview, send an individual thank you email to everyone you met. Not only will it show you value their time, but it provides you the opportunity to resell yourself and express the unique strengths you bring to the role, or share any talking points you forgot to address.

 If there was something specific you bonded over, mention that in the email so you stay top of mind. Or if an interviewer brought up a particular business challenge, use the follow-up as a way to propose potential solutions. Just keep the email concise; you want your note to leave a lasting impression, not immediately end up in the delete folder.


Ultimately, the key to acing a virtual interview is proper preparation. From ensuring your technology is working to conducting research before the meeting, sitting down at your computer poised and ready for all questions will help set you apart from other applicants.

The move to virtual interviews was happening pre-pandemic and this is just the start of a big change to the recruitment process. Talent teams are investing in A.I. to conduct first stage interviews over digital platforms. The time to get your groove in this environment is now.

 My career has been at the coal face of recruitment and employability. I had experience as a recruiter, a hiring manager and a candidate. For more information about recruitment or consultancy around employer engagement and employability contract performance please call me on 07885802338.

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