With as many as four out of every ten employers using video interviews at some stage of the recruitment process, the necessity for graduates and other jobseekers to have the ability to project themselves confidently is increasingly important. Video interviews are a core part of the process of getting hired online, a trend which is only going to increase given the current global situation.
Navigating Video Interviews: What to Expect
There are two primary types of video interviews. Both present their challenges, but one allows some level of personal interaction while the other is a purely automated process. Let’s have a look at what they involve.
One-to-one interviews (Skype or Zoom)
These days, Zoom or Skype are some of our most commonly accessed platforms, so we should all be well used to operating them and knowing what to expect right? Well, an interview on either platform, increasingly likely to be Zoom, is still very different. On a practical level, one to one video interviews can be great. You don’t have to worry about a commute or travel, and you can often be more comfortable in your own environment. Having a sense of familiarity and, to varying levels, control over your surroundings can be a real boost when you’re looking to make the most of your interview opportunity. However, it’s not all plain sailing.
You need to be sure that you have a very good internet connection and make sure you use headphones and a microphone as opposed to your computer’s sound system. Pixelation and poor sound quality will start your interview off on the worst possible footing. ‘Can you hear me now?’ is not the sort of thing that the employer wants to be hearing from you in the early stages of an interview. Make sure you wear something simple in terms of colours, no stripes or dense patterns, and choose a simple background. This can’t always be as easy as it sounds, but any plain surface with a neutral colour will do, try to obviously make sure there is no clutter, posters or distractions in the background.
Employers will often use video interviews both to get to know you and also to test you on various aspects relating to your knowledge of the role. Using screen sharing technology they could get you to modify or compile a spreadsheet, do a presentation or perhaps finish a line of code. These elements can of course be stressful but try and remain calm and remember that your CV has already put you in the employer’s mind, so draw upon the skills you have, and you will be in the right road to making a strong impression. When ending the interview, let the interviewer/interviewers draw it to a close and leave the meeting or end the call.
Automated Video Interviews
These are an increasingly important part of the online hiring process, and are often the first step that a student, graduate or jobseeker will take on this road, prior to online assessments. Automated video interviews basically consist of a virtual environment where you supply answers and give information to an automated platform. Sounds impersonal right? Yes, it is, but like anything else, once you read the briefing notes that should come with the invitation to do the interview, and do your research, then there is no reason that you shouldn’t be able to perform during automated interviews. Despite the setting, you will still be asked many of the standard interview questions regarding motivation, knowledge of the company and the sector and also your skills and experiences.
In terms of preparation, practise talking into a blank screen while focusing on your camera or even test out your responses by recording them and playing them back to yourself. Are you happy with them? Maybe also get the opinion of a partner, friend or family member. Make sure you use the practise facility at the start of almost all video interviews, where you can get your tone of voice and speech right before the questions begin in earnest. Like in a personal interview environment, body language can affect performance, so prepare for this like you’re facing your interviewer and you’ll be primed to give it your best shot.
What Next?
Following on from the video interview process, candidates will frequently be asked to complete an online assessment. This would normally indicate that you have successfully navigated the video element of the interview, so well done! Although online assessments are increasingly automated it is expected, and normal, that you ask for some feedback on your performance during this part of the process. Like any part of the selection process, the interviewer is trying to gauge you as a person as well as your skills and experience, so where possible try and let your personality shine through.
Online hiring can be daunting, both for candidates and recruiters, so try to be yourself. In these challenging times, the personal touch is at a premium so try and let it shine through wherever possible.
Are you eager to pursue a career in sales and marketing? Talk to a company that specialises recruiting in this area. Field Management Ireland (FMI) will be exhibiting, as well as recruiting, at Jobs Expo Dublin. Register for your FREE ticket today and meet their team on 17th October in the Hogan Suite.
FMI offices are located in Dublin, Belfast and Cork. They regularly deploy over 850 field staff nationwide every week. Because of their scale, the company works with an array of companies. Thus, they partner with smaller artisan retail suppliers right up to large blue chip organisations.
Services
Firstly, FMI provide a complete end-to-end field solution. This comprises of everything from back end support systems right the way through to each personalised customer interaction. By using their services, clients can rely on a consistency of quality and service.
Insight
Field Marketing Ireland are founder members of the European Field Marketing Partnership. Additionally, they are members of bodies CCMA, MSPA Europe, Sales Institute Ireland, Marketing Institute of Ireland and Retail NI. Therefore, they constantly have an eye on current and upcoming trends both within Ireland and across Europe.
Tailored Approach
FMI believes there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Hence, they tailor bespoke solutions for their clients. As a result, they ensure maximum results and return on investment at all times.
People
Although the organisation has Irish roots, it’s an international business made up of over 50 nationalities. They believe that this diverse background gives them a unique perspective in Irish field marketing. Their cosmopolitan team allows them to bring energy and enthusiasm to the brands that they represent.
Jobs Expo Dublin will be running its popular Career Clinic this October 17th. The FREE careers fair, dedicated to jobseekers and professional candidates, returns to Croke Park. In addition to our diverse line-up of exhibitors hiring on the day, there'll be a section where you can get career advice from our Career Coaches. One of the faces you'll see on the day is Thomas McCormack. Thomas will also be giving his talk, Chasing Dreams & Beginning Again, on our Agenda Stage in the Hogan Suite.
About Thomas
A coach is someone who can help you figure out the best answers for you in areas of your life you might be struggling in without judgement or bias. Through the Irish Lifecoach Institute Thomas gained qualifications in Life & Business Coaching, Advanced Career Coaching and Advanced Relationship Coaching. Coaching is something that falls in line with who he really is as a person, and he is happy to devote his time to something that he believes can help people on a regular basis.
Thanks to coaching Thomas has been able to help people work through various aspects of their lives from career decisions and progression to confidence, self-esteem and feeling lost by helping them to bring their life and long-term goals into focus.
His aim is to help you work through the barriers and break free from your comfort zone, your fears and your limiting beliefs so you can begin to work towards living your dream life.
Whether it’s in the midst of a global pandemic, or just with the goal of maintaining a better work-life balance, if you find yourself working from home, the rules are generally the same across the board. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of tips and advice to keep you as productive as possible and keep your workflow moving.
Working from Home: The Basics
1. Maintain Regular Hours
If your office job is 9am - 6pm with an hour for lunch, then maintain those hours as best you possibly can. Even if your boss is easy going, and just happy to receive your work by a given deadline, these hours are in place to benefit you. There’s nothing worse than falling down the slippery slope, the end of which involves you spending all day playing Call of Duty, then finishing off your workload at 11pm each night. Discipline across the board is key - and that goes for creating boundaries too. Just because you’re working from home, doesn’t mean you’re available to help out with that pitch at any given time of the day.
2. Minimise Those Digital Distractions
When it comes to working from home, it’s not as simple as the stock photos might have you believe - especially for parents who might face regular interruptions and demands. The key to maintaining best work practices is creating discipline and structure and that goes double for your desktop. If you’re tempted to open random tabs in your browser, find the right app or plug-in to block them. Also, creating a new login to your computer so you can access and manage your work files with ease is important. This is also where that dedicated space will come into play - but more on that later.
3. Keep Up Company Culture
Maintaining good work relationships is essential, perhaps not always for getting the job done - that all depends on the task at hand - but certainly when it comes to communication within a team. Carve out time to check in with your co-workers; find time for a post-meeting chat or even a digital drinks session if you can’t be there in person. It’s a great way of gaining more insight into the workings of the business, and how you can best contribute - as well as paves the way for maintaining your sanity when times get busy or tough!
4. Actually, Take Your Lunches
Working from home can restrict your daily movement considerably, which can in turn affect your mood and energy levels. Even if you have a stationary desk job, don’t underestimate those extra steps you’ll have accrued walking to the bus stop or going to the local shop to pick up your lunch. Take your breaks as scheduled and spend them away from your desk, incorporating some movement if possible. Don’t underestimate the toll that sitting in one place and staring at a screen can have on your body.
5. Manage Meetings Professionally
When it comes to online meetings, professionalism and courtesy is vital. Even in a larger group conference call, it’s not the done thing to munch on a bowl of cheerios while carrying on a conversation with your partner when your colleague is talking. If this is a meeting that really doesn’t apply to you, don’t be afraid to flag this, and just follow up with the minutes/highlights afterwards. If this is something that you absolutely have to be involved in, then be present. Make sure your mic and camera are working and be ready to contribute where appropriate.
5. Ask for Help if You Need It
If there’s one major difference when it comes to working from home, it’s that you can’t simply knock on your colleague's door and ask them those mundane daily questions, such as: ‘Where is that file located?’ or ‘Have you been chatting with the client about their numbers?’ and those bigger questions, such as asking for a raise, or support in an area you need it, are hard to bring up at the best of times. This is where maintaining a good relationship with your boss and team comes into play. Just because you’re at home, doesn't mean that you’re off the grid, and there’s plenty of free technology out there to facilitate this; check out Discord, Slack or the vast number of other options available to make sure you stay connected and don't get left behind!
6. Use This Time to Upskill
Once you have your schedule locked into place and are happy with your daily routine, this is the perfect time to introduce an online training course, or some practical learning to your working from home regime. You can use this time to hone your Excel ability, or even to complete the professional CBD or Postgrad that you’ve had on your bucket list for years now. Discuss this with your boss today, as many companies or businesses might be able to provide you with a training bursary.
7. Create a Dedicated Workspace
Your immediate environment has a big impact on your productivity - so think hard when compiling that list of items you need, be it a potted plant, a desk, a comfortable chair, a screen at just the right height, and find a space in your home where you will face minimal interruptions. And perhaps most important: if it’s at all possible, make sure this isn’t the same space you’ll be relaxing in with your loved ones later as you could find yourself checking work emails after dinner, or just finishing off one final thing when you should be winding down for bed. We can't stress this enough, maintaining those boundaries are so important for creating a sustainable and efficient relationship with your job.
8. Give Yourself a Beak
We’re all human, we all make mistakes or procrastinate from time-to-time. Don’t set yourself up for failure by beating yourself up over a simple error. The important thing to remember is that this is a process. Keep on track, and don’t be afraid to reach out if you find yourself struggling at any point.
We hope you find those tips helpful. If you need additional help or support or want to take the next step in your career, make sure to join us for the next Jobs Expo event.
Although Jobs Expo Dublin has now rescheduled from from April 25th until October 17th, we are working to make this our biggest event yet. We are expanding our seminars for the day. The Interview Tutor, Orla Donagher, will be coaching in our Career Clinic for the day. In addition, Orla will be giving her talk Feel the fear and do it anyway: Everything you need to know about returning to work on our Agenda stage.
About Orla Donagher
Orla Donagher founder of Interview Tutor has over 15 year’s industry experience in Personnel management, Staff recruitment and Career consultancy. Orla offers her services regularly as a Career Coach and seminar speaker at the Jobs EXPO.
She has contributed to articles in Irish times, the Sun newspaper, Stellar Magazine and has appeared as a Career Coach in the RTE 2 series “The Unemployables”. She has also given radio Interviews on Today FM and Dublin City FM to discuss various Career topics.
Orla has a Degree in European Business and languages, Diploma in Public relations and advertising. She is also CIPD certified in Personnel Practise