Are you ready for your video interview? If you have not been invited to take one, chances are you soon will be. More and more companies are integrating the technology into their hiring process at a rapid pace. As with a phone interview or in-person interview, there are dos and don’ts but because many video interviews are automated, you the interviewee likely won’t be speaking directly to anyone therefore not all the same rules of etiquette apply.
Below are 7 hiccups that may derail your video interviewing success.
- Dressing inappropriately – While you may get away with wearing sweats during your phone screen, you must take better care to look your best during a video interview whether it is a live interview or one-way automated interview. The person reviewing your interview will see you from at least the chest up so dressing professionally is important. Please consider too that your interview may be shared with several other individuals thus increasing your exposure.
- Sitting in an untidy area – Be aware that the camera will be recording the room where you choose to complete the interview. Backgrounds are often overlooked during video interviews because they generally don’t come into play during a phone screen or in-person interview. An unkempt background provides a good opportunity to leave a bad first impression.
- Knowing nothing about the opportunity – Video interviews are employed to filter out unknowledgeable, dispassionate candidates prior to a face-to-face interview. Don’t be surprised if during your video interview you are asked how you heard about the opportunity, what you know about the company or why you want the job? Your fumbled answer may be shared with several decision makers not to mention viewed repeatedly.
- Cheating – Generally questions are not presented to candidates in advance. Avoid trying to skip ahead through the interview process to get a glance at all the questions. The technology likely won’t allow you to go back to the beginning, the interviewing platform will submit your empty responses, and the hiring manager will know what you tried to do.
- Skipping the instructions – Many candidates skim through the instructions and then appear lost once the interview begins, not fully understanding what is expected of them. They appear unaware the application has begun recording and blankly stare into the camera. They usually catch on around question three but by then the damage is done. Others do not properly test out their camera and microphone and proceed through without one or both devices not working. This results in an interview without audio, video or both!
- Rambling – Candidates may be provided 90 seconds or more to provide their response but often continue speaking even after they have provided a brief but sufficient answer. Why? Because they feel it behooves them to fill the remainder of their time. Be succinct and to the point!
- Waiting until the last minute – You’ve been given five days to complete the video interview but wait until 11:30 p.m. on the last day to begin. Unfortunately if your webcam isn’t responding, your computer has crashed or your internet is down you may miss your chance. And can you believe it, tech support isn’t answering the phone at mid-night? Don’t procrastinate! Get it done!
Granted, these seven deadly sins have nothing on Kevin Spacey’s and if violated you won’t lose your head, but you may lose the job!