13 Tips to Rock Your Virtual Interview

In light of the pandemic, many companies and organizations have pivoted to digital platforms to host conferences, trade shows, and corporate meetings. As a result, there has been an increase in the demand for virtual event staff to assist with these events. While virtual events and in-person events require many of the same skills, virtual events have additional requirements that you may not find in traditional event roles. Because of these additional requirements, event staffing agencies (and other industries) are turning to video interviews to vet potential candidates. Below we will explore 13 tips that will help you rock your virtual interview.  

13 Tips to Rock Your Virtual Interview 

Treating a virtual interview like an in-person interview will help you prepare and get you in the right mindset. 

1. Research and prepare. Research the organization if known and the job requirements for the role that you are applying for. Be prepared to explain your skills and experience and how they relate to the role.

2. Check your equipment.  Test your video and microphone before the interview, and consider enlisting a friend or family member to do a dry run with you to ensure everything works properly. 

3. Set the scene. A well-lit, clean, organized, and quiet space with a plain background is ideal. Before your interview, do the following:

• check the quality of the video to make sure that the lighting is good and that you are satisfied with the video appearance.
• have a printed copy of your resume and a notepad/pen available
• put your phone on silent
• check your camera angle and make sure your head and shoulders are in view and well centered
• if you have young children or pets, consider having a neighbor or friend watch them during your interview to eliminate distractions

4. Dress professionally. Though the interviewer cannot see your entire outfit, dress as if they can. Aim for a clean-cut, professional look from head to toe. Also, it is a good idea to stick with neutral colors and modest attire. Minimizing distracting elements such as busy patterns, bright colors, or a lot of accessories will allow the interviewer to focus on what you are saying and not what you are wearing.

5. Do not be intimidated. This virtual world that we are living in is new to all of us, and the interviewer understands that.

6. Be natural and establish rapport. It can be hard to do this in a virtual setting but start with friendly small talk, and compose yourself with poise, smile, and try to relax.

7. Pay attention to your body language. Do not cross your arms or legs, minimize dramatic gestures, lean into the camera a bit to show that you are attentive, sit up straight, and nod when necessary. Above all else, use your top brand ambassador trait and remember to SMILE when appropriate!

8. Slow down. It is easy to get flustered when you are nervous, especially during an interview when someone is staring at you through a screen asking questions. Before answering, take a breath and think about the thoroughly think about your answer. To you, it may feel like an eternity, but taking a minute to compose a thoughtful response displays that you are taking the time to think about your answer.  

9. Listen. Some people tend to zone out on video calls, and some find them distracting in general. Focus on the person talking and pay close attention to what the interviewer is talking about instead of trying to generate an immediate response after a few words spoken.  

10. Be authentic. Acknowledge the elephant in the room. With the COVID pandemic upon us, the world is different now, so expect this to be a topic of conversation. With a layer of technology between you and the interviewer, it’s important to present yourself genuinely. There is an intimacy with the fact that more than likely, your interviewer is working from home, too and they are facing the same distractions.

11. Ask questions.  Be sure to speak up if you have specific questions about the virtual event or the role(s) that you are interested in.

12. Connect. If the role that you are interviewing for is not a good match, treat the interview as a networking opportunity and a chance to connect with your event staffing agency rep face-to-face (virtually of course). 

13. Send a follow-up email. Thank your interviewer for their time and let them know they can reach out to you with further questions.

Conclusion

A bit of preparation and some self-awareness will set the stage for a successful virtual interview. Practicing and conforming to a video-based interview process now is a great idea for expanding your interview skillset and can open you up to a network of job opportunities now and in the future. Once normalcy returns, we expect that virtual interviews may be here to stay, especially in the event industry.  Happy interviewing!  

Be sure to check out our talent blog for even more insights, tips, and news!