On paper, virtual job interviews may sound easier than their in-person counterparts. You don’t have to travel anywhere, you don’t have the extra nervousness of meeting in person, and you control your environment. But as anyone who has done a virtual interview will tell you – just because it sounds easier, doesn’t mean that they’re easy.
Virtual job interviews come with their own unique challenges and best practices. There are so many different technicalities to consider before, during, and after interviews. To help you increase your chances of getting the job, we’ve outlined 10 virtual interview mistakes to avoid.
10 Virtual Interview Mistakes to Avoid
Paying attention to the details and embracing the new interview process can mean the difference between getting the job and continuing your search. Here are 10 virtual interview mistakes to avoid going forward.
1. Showing Up to Your Interview Late
Showing up to your interview late is a lot harder to achieve in a virtual world, but it’s not impossible. You might breathe a sigh of relief knowing you don’t have to GPS the company’s building, figure out parking, find the right room, remember how to firmly shake hands, etc. The great thing about virtual interviews is that it’s a lot harder to be late. But that doesn’t mean you should be comfortable rolling in right on the dot either. With technology, it’s so easy for your internet to be slow, to struggle to log in, and so many other circumstances to happen and inhibit you from being timely.
To ensure that technology is working properly, log in 15 minutes early to test everything out, adjust your camera settings, and figure out where the buttons are. Then, start going over your notes about the company or staffing agency in your free time.
2. Not Knowing How to Use the Technology
We live in a day and age where everyone in the business world is expected to know how to use technology at its most basic level. For anyone who doesn’t know how to work Zoom, Google Meet, etc., learning how to operate it is crucial. While some employers may have some understanding of your situation, it should never be assumed that every interviewer will be okay with having to coach you through certain scenarios. When there’s limited time on their hands, not understanding how to use your technology properly can waste precious moments of the interview.
Do a few “trial runs” before your actual interview. You can have a family member or friend call you using the same video conferencing software the interviewer will use. If you’re not sure what they’re using, cover your bases by testing Google Meet, Zoom, Teams and Skype as those are the most common video conferencing platforms.
3. Not Testing Mic and Video Quality
Just because you can connect to a call doesn’t guarantee that you will show up with your best foot forward. While doing practice runs, pay attention to some details that can make or break an interview. The first is your audio quality. The person on the other end should be able to hear you clearly. You also don’t want them to hear random background noise you may have tuned out. Most laptops and computers now include built-in microphones, but the quality may be difficult to hear or otherwise obscure your voice. You can find cheap microphones that will plug into your computer, which may be a better option.
Likewise, you should look at the quality of the video. Interviewers aren’t expecting streamer-quality graphics, but you want to look for some easy-to-fix visual issues:
- Does your video lag repeatedly? If so, you may need to lower the output settings in the video conferencing tool.
- Is the camera centered on your face? This is a common issue with laptops, and can be fixed by stacking your laptop on books or other solid surfaces to raise it. You want the camera to be at your eye level, so you’re not looking up or down.
- Is the lighting decent? Can the interviewer see your face? If not, you may need to place lamps behind your screen. You can also find cheap ring lights online that will clip to your laptop or computer.
4. Leaving Materials Out of Reach
Leaving materials out of reach during virtual interviews has similar consequences to leaving certain materials at home during a traditional in-person interview. Turning off your camera to get up or just standing up in the middle of an interview are big faux paus in online interviews. Both scenarios make you look unprepared compared to someone who had everything ready and in front of them.
Before your meeting starts, make sure to gather some water next to you, a notebook, pen, your resume, portfolio, any notes you took of the company or staffing agency, etc. Having all this next to you before the meeting starts is crucial so you’re prepared for anything that comes your way.
5. Choosing the Wrong Outfit
Virtual interviews are just as important and formal as in-person interviews. While it may seem silly to wear business suits or business casual shirts while in the comfort of your home, it’s essential for making a great impression. Look at the company or staffing agency and determine the appropriate attire for the occasion. Remember, it’s always better to overdress than to underdress for an interview.
And for important virtual meetings like a job interview, do not make the mistake of only dressing from the waist up. Life is unpredictable, and never know what may happen that causes you to have to stand up suddenly or your camera to fall down. The last thing you want is for your interviewer to see something embarrassing.
6. Interviewing with Clutter Behind You
Having a cluttered space during the interview doesn’t exactly scream that you’re professional and capable. It leaves behind the message that you didn’t prepare your space and clean up for the interview. On top of that, all of your messiness can be a huge distraction for the interviewer.
Again, this is where a test comes in handy. Run a simple fake meeting before your real interview to get a glimpse of what they’ll see. The good news is that for virtual interviews, out of sight really is out of mind. Pushing clutter out of frame will do the trick.
However, sometimes you won’t be able to control your background. If you have limited space where you can conduct your interview and a less-than-ideal background, an easy solution is to add a virtual background instead. Look up how to do this for the video conferencing tool and test it before your actual interview. Virtual backgrounds aren’t fool-proof, and it’s easy to make a mistake.
7. Not Minding Your Habits
While everyone gets nervous and shows habits and little ticks without thinking, it’s crucial to mind these as best as you can during your virtual interview. If you know you’re a nail biter or like to pick or fidget, tuck your hands under your thighs to keep them locked in or force a pen into your hand.
The number one rule though: don’t ever play with your phone. As far as your interviewer knows, your phone doesn’t exist. You should devote 100% of your time to the meeting with them to show you’re invested and care.
8. Heading into the Interview Without Researching
While showing up to a virtual interview seems less intimidating than an in-person interview, it’s still just as important to research the company or staffing agency and understand their values before heading into the interview.
Without properly researching the company or staffing agency and learning what they stand for, it’s easy to waste both the interviewer’s time and your own if you didn’t realize you weren’t a good fit beforehand.
It may seem obvious, but don’t try and do your research during the interview. While you multi-task, your face will be obviously checked-out of the meeting and it will not leave a favorable impression with the interviewer.
9. Not Sending a Thank You or Follow-Up Email
Whether you’re applying for a virtual interview right at the company or working with a recruiting agency, it’s always important to send a thank you and follow-up emails. If you’re interviewing with the company itself, send an email back to the interviewees thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest in the position. If you’re using a recruiter, you can generally still write a thank you to the organization, but you may need to send correspondence through your recruiter.
10. Not Expressing Interest Post-Interview
If the company or staffing agency you interviewed with reaches out to you asking if you’re interested in moving forward, a prompt response is great. Try to respond in the next 24 hours if you can, highlighting your interest in the position. If you wait too long, the company or recruiter may think you’re no longer interested and move on to the next candidate.
Check Job Listings or Reach Out to a Recruiter at Strom
Want more job-searching tips? Working with an experienced engineering recruiter like Strom Minnesota can help you prepare for any job interview and take the hard work out of finding positions. Don’t waste your time scouring the internet for job postings or waste time applying with multiple individual employers. Strom Minnesota takes all the hard work out of the job search, so you can find a new position faster.
Strom Minnesota is an engineering and technical recruitment agency that specializes in high-skilled job candidates for highly technical positions. We facilitate contract employment, project staffing, temp-to-perm and direct hire opportunities. Industries served include IT, engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing. We are affiliated with Strom Engineering, a national staffing and recruitment agency.
