How to Prepare for an Online Interview

Let’s say, one day the university that you have dreamt to go to decides that they were going to have an interview with you next week. You are overcome with joy, your family is happy for you, everybody is happy. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, everyone is staying at home to prevent the spread of the virus and you realize that you need to prepare for this interview. Lucky for you, we have this blog post on how to prepare for an online interview.

Use a Device that Will Not Let You Down

Having a device that will either increase or decrease the quality of your interview will affect the overall outcome of that interview. Minor factors, such as lagging or bad audio may cause miscommunication between both sides. Firstly, having a stable internet connection is very important if you want to show your dedication to this school and to show respect towards your interviewer. In addition, you should bring either a pair of headphones or earbuds to reduce the echoing noise created when you put yourself on speaker. Having a pair of headphones or earbuds also increases the quality of the sound that you can hear, and if your device comes with a mic, the audio that your interviewer can hear will also be better. This benefits both sides and is an absolute must when having an online interview.

Pick the Perfect Spot

When you are picking an area for your interview, make sure that you follow these three steps. First, pick a spot with good lighting. If the area you pick is too bright or too dark, your figure will not be visible and your interviewer will not be able to see you properly. Having a clear camera will help increase the quality of the video and to help boost professionalism. In addition to this, you will also want to keep in mind that the items in the background of your interview will also affect how your interviewer views you as a person. The items in the background of your video will allow them to figure out who you are as a person. In addition to this, you will want to get rid of any form of distractions that may affect your focus during the interview. This also includes the clothing that you wear. Depending on the type of meeting that you are having, your attire may be more casual. Of course, the best choice would be to wear formal clothing. Business casual is also an option but the overall goal is to look confident and clean.

Have a Few Mock Interviews

Having mock interviews will be able to help you a lot during the actual interview. When having these mock interviews, make sure to have a friend or family member to ask you questions. Depending on what the interview is for, questions will vary, so make sure to have at least 10 questions that will make you think. Having mock interviews also aids in developing certain strategies that you could use during the actual interview. Mock interviews are great learning experiences and are a must in order to succeed in an interview.

During the Interview

Online interviews are generally more casual and a lot easier than real-life interviews. You should take advantage of this and perform your best during these interviews. Here is a list of do’s and not’s that you should keep in mind during an online interview:

• Make sure to listen

• Clarify/Ask questions if you are confused

• Do not talk too much, rambling is something that you must avoid doing

• Keep the conversation flowing, try not to create an awkward situation

• Do not be too familiar with your interviewer

• Do not use slang, make the conversation formal by using appropriate language

• Do not be cocky, being cocky may give yourself a bad image and you may not be accepted

• Make sure to ask questions, this reminds your interviewer that you are paying attention and that you are interested in this opportunity

• Make sure that you do not appear to be desperate

• Remember the 3 C’s, cool, calm, and confident

Thank you for your time and we hope that you learnt something!