Remote interviews may have become necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now that the genie is out of the bottle, employers and job seekers are embracing the benefits of doing interviews over video chat.

For job seekers, the convenience of a remote interview is a trap. You may be able to take an interview in the comfort of your own home, but the way you present yourself still matters. Therefore, you should still take a deliberate and professional approach to have any chance of a remote interview. What are the best wWays to ace a remote interview?

Check the Overall Look

Many of us get anxious about appearing on camera, especially in front of strangers. However, you’re not expected to have a movie star presence when interviewing remotely. Your appearance and your background need to be unobtrusive.

Start by making sure your camera and microphone are working correctly. Then, take steps to prevent any audio or visual distractions. If construction or some other loud activity is being performed outside your home and noise is unavoidable, adjust your settings and explain your situation upfront.

Next, make sure you have a clear background. While a natural background implies trustworthiness and transparency, a virtual background shouldn’t disqualify you from getting the position.

Finally, make sure you have a good internet connection that will be maintained in the middle of your interview.

If you need a professional-looking setup, consider visiting a friend’s house or renting a meeting room through a coworking space.

Maintain Professionalism During the Interview

It’s crucial to come across as professional and organized during the interview. Start by being on time. Having a few notes going into the discussion for reference is OK, but you should avoid scripting answers.

Focus on answering questions directly using concise language. Refrain from belaboring a point or going off on unnecessary tangents. If you do, you not only risk saying something foolish, but you could also come across as someone who contributes to endless virtual meetings with their constant chatter. If brevity doesn’t come to you naturally, consider practicing it during your practice interview sessions.

Convey Your Unique Value

Every candidate is unique, but not everyone can convey their unique value to a potential employer. If you have in-demand skills or experience, convey that as best you can over the remote connection. Be prepared to send any links, articles, projects, and other materials that help convey your value over Microsoft Teams or Zoom during the interview.

Also, feel free to share a few personal details. Even if you are interviewing for a fully remote position, you still must work with people over email, text message, and video chat. If they can get to know you personally, it’ll make you a more compelling candidate.

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Keeping a few simple things in mind can go a long way to making your interview much more manageable.

Listen more than you talk

From the beginning, your interviewer supplies you with information directly or subtly. If you pick up on it, you take advantage of a big opportunity. Excellent communication skills include paying attention and letting others understand what they say. Please pay attention to the style and pace with which your interviewer speaks and try to match them.

Also, telling the interviewer more than she must know might be a big mistake. If you have not prepared sufficiently, you may go off on ill-advised tangents when responding to interview questions, risking talking yourself right out of the job. In addition to making sure you speak only a little, prepare for the interview by researching the job qualifications and the company website and social media profiles.

Connect with your interviewer

After introductions, try to find common ground with your interviewer(s) to help kick off your conversation on a positive.

A degree hanging on the office wall, an award on a bookshelf, or a T-shirt from a community event are all great icebreakers you could use to connect to the person across the table from you. If you are still looking for something conversation-worthy, ask if they are from the area. The answer can spark some chit-chat and lead to a more personal connection.

Be organized

Everything required to make the best initial impression should be perfectly organized and readily reachable. You should be capable of quickly taking out your resume, references, a pen, and paper. The less you must dig through your things, the better.

Dress professionally and confidently

Unless you are applying for a blue-collar manual labor job, it’s a good idea to show up to any job interview in a clean and pressed suit. This gives the impression you are professional, detail-oriented, and organized.

You should also wear clothes that make you feel confident. If you don’t have a suit that makes you feel self-assured, it might be time to get one.

Put away your electronic device

You might think there’s no harm in pulling out your phone or tablet while you wait in the reception area; however, tapping away on a device makes you look distant and distracted. Instead, put the device away, be in the moment, and pay attention to your surroundings.

Be proactive in your interactions

Being a guest, you should defer to others in your introductions and actions. However, asserting yourself and projecting confidence makes a better impression.

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For job seekers in any profession, the interview process can seem annoying and perplexing. You send an application in, and it goes into this black box, which may or may not produce a response.

Conversely, recruiters and hiring managers try to find the best people for their open positions. There are things they like to see from a candidate and things that frustrate them.

The following tips can help you see the other side of this equation and improve your chances of getting the desired jobs.

Consider the Job Requirements

Some open positions have stringent job requirements, which can lead to a protracted interview process. For example, a position might be in a highly regulated industry and involve a lot of legacy technology that requires niche abilities.

Furthermore, these positions often require multiple people to sign off on a candidate moving forward. Those individuals often have many other responsibilities, which means they often can’t give an answer as fast as applicants, or other hiring personnel, want. The inability to provide on-time feedback typically comes down to competing schedules and interests.

Make Your Resume Match the Position

Quite a few people think they shouldn’t have a resume over two pages. However, tech professionals usually should be fine with this unofficial rule, especially those beyond entry-level stages.

Regardless of the position, with your résumé, it’s always helpful to highlight your most relevant experience and abilities. Don’t hesitate to detail achievements, your value-added, and team successes. While doing so, avoid useless jargon. Focus on being comprehensive but avoid trying to impress with quantity.

It’s also crucial to have each application suit the needs and objectives for the role. When customizing your resume to the job description, emphasize abilities and experience that match the description. Hiring managers always want people to slot in seamlessly with their existing team. At least they want to see a strong potential match on paper, as it simplifies their job.

Don’t Overlook the Importance of Soft Skills

Despite the fact that tech positions are, well, technical – hiring managers want applicants who can read other people in a professional setting and respond accordingly. Technical abilities will always matter the most, nonetheless, pay attention to the value of being a good communicator, especially with non-technical employees and managers.

Being able to deftly communicate suggestions for improvements in an interview can score points and even empower you moving forward in the position itself. When suggesting upgrades, always remain within the existing framework and emphasize potential upsides related to team success.

Also, ensure to prepare any stories you may have related to ways you used soft skills to push a project forward. Show an ability to express nuance and transparency. Pay attention to the needs and issues of a potential employer. A respectful two-way discussion can boost your appeal to a hiring manager.

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