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Mastering the Virtual Interview: Tips for a Successful Online Interview in 2024

The prevalence of virtual interviews remains significant at the halfway point of 2024. Whether you are an experience candidate or searching for your first job, the skill of excelling at virtual interviewing can set you apart from the competition and open doors to excellent opportunities. We will list some practice you can use before, during, as well as after your interview to show your engagement with the role and leave a great first impression on the hiring staff. Preparing for Virtual Success The first step to having a great interview is to make sure you adequately prepare the night before to reduce the chances of obstacles/distractions on the day: Prepare and Check Your Technology: Check your internet connection, microphone, and camera are operational and up to date. Test everything beforehand in a mock interview to avoid technical difficulties. Dress Appropriately: Event though it is a virtual interview, dress professionally to show respect and seriousness about the opportunity. Treat a virtual interview just as you would any regular on-site interview which means business professional/casual depending on what the company has told you (if nothing, default to business professional). Select the Right Location in Your House/Apartment: Choose a room/area that has minimal distractions and is away from other family members, noise, or pets that could interrupt your train of thought during the interview. The background behind you during the interview should ideally be a blank wall/space without anything in the frame that can potentially distract your interviewer from you and what you are saying. If you don’t have access to a blank wall, Zoom and Microsoft Teams have a ‘blur background’ feature that only leaves you in focus while blurring anything behind you. Know Your Resume and Practice Your Elevator Pitch: Your resume is the main document. that hiring managers will have prior to the interview to gauge your past experience and overall quality as a candidate, so you can be sure they will be asking you to talk about the things on your resume! Crafting and perfecting a concise elevator pitch introduction showcasing your skills and why you are a great fit for the role is also a great way to make a first impression at the start of the interview. Research the Company and Interviewer(s): Coming into the interview, you should know the ins and outs of the company to show genuine interest to the hiring manager – if you don’t bother to find out what the company is all about, then you are showing 0 interest to want to work there. Try and connect with the interviewer on LinkedIn and find out basic information such as their role, how long they have been at the company, how your prospective role fits into theirs, and any common interests outside of work (college, sports teams, hometown, pets, etc.) for easier small talk during the interview During the Interview Now that you have fully prepared for your interview, there are certain best practices that you can utilize during the interview to stand out: Notes are Fine, Scripts are Not: There is nothing wrong with having a couple of notes written down about key points you want to cover or some questions you wish to ask the interviewer. However, having a prepared script that you plan to read off of is a great way to make a negative impression on your interviewer. No matter how hard you try to make it sound natural, when you read from a script it will always be noticeable and come off as less impactful (especially over a video call). Just because the interview is taking place online, don’t think your interviewer will not be able to tell you are reading from a script on your screen! Look into Your Webcam, Not Your Reflection: Lets be honest, we have all looked at ourselves in a Zoom call before either to check how we look or to make sure our posture is appropriate. During your interview make it a point to look directly into the camera instead of your screen to show the interviewer you are paying attention and to maintain eye contact. It is okay to break eye contact temporarily but do not start staring at something else on your screen to avoid looking disinterested and zoned out. Don’t Perform a Monologue: Outside of your opening elevator pitch, the interview should really feel more like a conversation as opposed to a constant back and forth question and answer session. It is also important to remember than an interview is as much about listening as it is speaking; use your time with the hiring manager to learn more about the company you perhaps were not able to find out from your initial research. Maintain Good Body Language: When you are in a comfortable, familiar environment such as your home it is very easy to begin to relax and start slouching or swinging on your chair during your interview. Watch Your Pace: In nervous/stressful situations, people always subconsciously speed up when they are talking which can make it harder to understand what you are trying to say, especially over an online call when connection can already be an issue. Remind yourself to talk at a slower pace than you normally would to offset this and don’t forget to take pauses for effect/emphasis if there are certain points you want to stick with the interviewer. Show, Don’t Tell: To impress your hiring manager, you begin to say this during your interview: “You should hire me because I am hard-working and innovative professional with a proven track record of success.” Without any specific examples, this will leave them wondering how can I know they are hard-working. To combat this, make sure to show instead of tell! You can achieve this by using a personal anecdote/example of a time you were hard-working in your last job or a time during college as this will show your interviewer a tangible example of this quality and add to your credibility. Showcase Your Soft Skills:

5 Misconceptions About Recruiting Agencies: Candidate Edition

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Hey, we get it! We aren’t always understood by the public and we are here to change that! There are many wrong assumptions, made daily, by people regarding recruiting agencies. Here are some common misconceptions that we want to clear up: We Take Your Money: We don’t take a dime from you! We work for you because we know how hard the job search can be. Don’t worry about how we get paid just leave that to us and let us find you the perfect job! We are only paid by a client when we find them the best candidate so this ensures our focus remains on finding the right fit for both parties. We Only Care About Getting a Role Filled: At the end of the day we have a huge responsibility to both you and our clients, who are looking for the perfect candidate. If either party isn’t happy with the placement, we aren’t successful! There is a balancing act to recruiting and we strive to find you the job you are dreaming of as well as make the right choice on behalf of our clients. Trust us, we’re good at this! You Will Make Less if You Go Through a Staffing Agency: If this was the case, would we be so successful? Definitely not! We strive to not only find the best fit for you but to negotiate salary wise on your behalf as well. This is not to say that you will not have an opportunity at any point to negotiate yourself, but we do the work upfront for you initially so that we can bring you the best options! We Will Only Place You for Temporary Positions: Tell us what you want and we will make it happen! Whether it’s part-time, full-time, temporary or temp to hire positions that you are looking for, we have options! We work with a plethora of companies who are constantly looking to fill all types of positions. We Only Help Entry-Level Candidates: We love working with all candidates, regardless if you have been in the workplace for years or are a recent graduate. No matter your level of personal experience, you are reading this for a reason. Let us help you! It’s ok that you may need assistance when looking for a position and it’s even more okay to explore all of your options in order to find that assistance. Stay open to all avenues in the job search, because you never know what might be the ticket to your dream job! Contact us if you are ready to take the leap, IT’S OUR JOB!

Summary vs. Objective: Resume Edition

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The old Summary vs. Objective argument. We have all dealt with the struggles of fine-tuning our resumes in some fashion during our lifetime, and this is a topic that a lot of people seem to struggle with. After speaking with a few hiring managers, I would say that although it doesn’t necessarily tend to be a make it or break it issue when looking to fill a position, it is important and should be thoughtfully decided by the candidate. The most important question to consider when making this decision is, “What is the job that you are applying for?” Is it an entry level position? Is it a position that relies on proving your previous success? Is it a job based on statistics or sales? All of these questions are equally as important and we will dive into that now. If this is your first position out of college or you are making an industry switch, most would say that an objective is probably better suited for you based off of your little experience. If the job you are striving for is an executive level sales position however, an objective statement would only be telling the recruiter/ hiring manager what they already know. In circumstances like this, the summary would be better suited so that you can start out by listing previous accomplishments. This will initiate a spark of interest on their behalf because you fall into the category of experience in which they are looking for. Let’s take a look at some examples to further explain the thought process: OBJECTIVE “Strives to obtain a position as a customer service representative for ABC services where I can connect and help others while serving the overall business of the company” In this circumstance, the Objective would be a better fit due to the fact that it is not a senior level position, nor a position that is dependent on your past experience. SUMMARY “In my 20 years as an account manager in the advertising industry, I have handled over 250 different accounts all while helping create a revenue amounted to nearly a million dollars.” In this circumstance, you can see that the position being applied for is at a more advanced level, and listing off your accolades seems necessary. As long as you thoughtfully contemplate the tips given above, you will have no issue crafting the opening of your resume, that we know will land you your dream job! We believe in you!

What Colors Are Best To Wear for An Interview

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Undoubtedly, it is important to go into any interview looking and feeling your best. In 2019, it isn’t always black and white in regards to what you are/are not allowed to wear to an interview and that can be tricky. One thing that is for sure however, is that the color of your attire matters! A good rule of thumb to remember is that neutrals are always going to be a safe choice. Colors like navy, black, white, tan and grey will never come off as anything other than purely professional, and when in doubt this is always an easy option to fall back on. Now let’s discuss the DO’s and DON’Ts associated with branching out into the other side of the color wheel for an interview. DO: Incorporate light colors alongside any neutral shade that you wish. Lighter colors are safe and are not seen as a distraction during an interview. DO: Feel free to incorporate more passionate and powerful colors like blue and red to your ensemble, as long as they aren’t the dominant shade. Adding pops of color in ways like a tie or a scarf is completely acceptable and shows a bit of your personality. DON’T: Wear bright/neon colors in any interview setting as they can be very distracting to whomever you are speaking with. At the end of the day you want yourself to stand out to the interviewer and not your clothing. DON’T: Mix and match too many colors at a time. Keep in mind that you want a clean look, and too many different shades/tones can be overly busy and distracting. Keep it simple and you cannot go wrong. With these tips you can go into any interview and know with confidence that your face is what they will remember and not your outfit!

7 Ways to Win the Job Before You Even Speak

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The moment you meet someone they will make thousands of mental notes and computations. In the first twenty seconds, their prehistoric survival mechanism decides whether you are friend or foe and consequently generate a first impression that will affect how they view you going forward. Whether you are interviewing someone, they are interviewing you or you are speaking to a crowd of thousands, these first twenty seconds, and the non verbal cues you provide are critical to your success in the interaction. You might be surprised to know, research has shown the non-verbal cues are actually four times as important as what you say. So as you’re sitting in the meeting trying to focus on what you are saying, remember to focus on what is actually four times as important – what you convey non-verbally . So, what non-verbal cues can help you get that job, get that candidate you want or make the crowd love you? Overdressing is better than underdressing: What if James Bond walked up to the bar and ordered his martini in a hoodie. You recognize this just doesn’t seem appropriate for the situation. It doesn’t have the same power as formal attire. Recognize your audience and always try to dress at least their level or one level above. What if you dress for the person you’re meeting, they love you and want to introduce you to the CFO or even CEO. Is your dress appropriate to meet that person? On almost every occasion you would rather err on the side of being over dressed. Posture: Whether standing or sitting, think about your posture. When you first meet, are you standing tall. When you sit, even in the lobby before you meet, are you sitting up straight, or leaning back in the chair. From the lobby to the end of the meeting, sit as if you have a pole strapped to your back. Handshake: I shake so many hands in my profession and I am amazed how many people get this wrong. Perhaps out of nervousness, people just fail this first connection. So, as odd as it sounds, practice with a spouse or a friend until you get it right. Square your shoulders, look them in the eye, and grip stronger than you think you should. As with dressing, it is so much better to over do it. Eye Contact and Eye Brows: Eye contact matters and people fail it all the time. Sometimes they fail because they are in the subservient position in the relationship – they are interviewing, therefore they look down. So here is a trick: Identify their eye color. If you try to identify the eye color of the person you meet, you will have a much better chance of maintaining solid eye contact during this initial meeting. In addition, raise your eyebrows. This is called an “Eyebrow flash”. Usually it is unconscious. It is a universal signal of friendship and an offer for social interaction. An eyebrow flash lasts for less than a half a second, so don’t get weird with it or do it multiple times. Following your eyebrow flash, the other party will typically unconsciously mirror you unless you look away immediately so if you watch for the mirrored flash, you won’t accidentally look away. Smile: Another universal signal that “I’m a friend.” Lean forward but don’t be a close talker: A character in the television show Seinfeld was known as “the close talker.” He stood just a little too close. Lean forward but stay out of the comfort zone of the person you’re talking to. Typically about two to three feet. Act as if the person you meet is an old friend: This final step is so much easier today than it was twenty years ago. Before you meet the person you’re going to speak with, review their digital profiles. Get to “know them.” Then when you meet them, greet them with the familiarity of an old friend you haven’t seen in ten years. If you do this, almost all of the other six things will happen naturally. It will become a self fulfilling prophecy. They will imagine they have known you as well. You might find yourself hearing, “I feel like we’ve met somewhere before.” Because in their mind, they feel like they have had an interaction based on hey way you first interacted with them. That’s it. seven ways to make a first impression that will land you a job or make a meeting go the way you would like it to go. Good luck in your job search!

10 Unconventional and Effective Tips for Job Seekers

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Interesting article in Forbes by Jacquelyn Smith In the market for a new job? You’ve probably been urged to “pursue your passions,” “leverage your network,” “tailor and tidy up your resume,” “do your homework,” and “dress for success”—among other things. “These are foundational aspects to job seeking that are timeless,” says Teri Hockett, the chief executive of What’s For Work?, a career site for women. David Parnell, a legal consultant, communication coach and author, agrees: “Much of this has been around long enough to become conventional for a reason: it works,” he says. “If you take a closer look, things like networking, research, and applying to multiple employers are fundamental ‘block and tackle’ types of activities that apply to 80% of the bell curve. They hinge upon casting a broad net; they leverage the law of averages; they adhere to the fundamentals of psychology. It’s no wonder they still work.” But some of it “does get old and overused, because job seeking is as unique and creative as an individual,” says Isa Adney, author of Community College Success and the blog FirstJobOutofCollege.com. “When you ask any professional who has achieved some level of greatness how he or she got there, the journey is always unique, always varied, and rarely cookie-cutter. Most have, in some capacity, followed their passion, used their network, and had a good resume–but those things are usually part of a much bigger picture, and an unpredictable winding path. Instead of always following the exact by-the-book job seeking formulas, most were simply open to possibilities and got really good at whatever it is they were doing.” We’re not saying you should discount or disregard traditional job seeking advice altogether. But it can’t hurt to mix it up and try less conventional approaches until you achieve your goals, Hockett says. “Times are always changing and while it’s always good to follow the basic advice, we also have to get rolling with the times,” says Amanda Abella, a career coach, writer, speaker, and founder of the Gen Y lifestyle blog Grad Meets World. “For instance, group interviews are making a comeback, we’ve got Skype interviews now, or you may interview in front of a panel. All this stuff didn’t happen as often before–so while the same basic stuff applies, we have to take into account all the new dynamics.” Hockett agrees and says if you are going to try some unconventional job seeking methods, you should “always be grounded with solid research and a clear direction of your intentions; then you will be ready for any opportunity to make a connection resulting in a positive impact on a hiring manager.” Parnell says generally speaking, unconventional methods should be used sparingly, judiciously and only when necessary. “And when you do decide to use them, factor comprehensively by recognizing things like industry standards, personalities involved, and the general ilk of the position’s responsibilities, before strategizing.” Here are 10 unconventional (but very effective) tips for job seekers: 1. Be vulnerable: It’s okay to ask people for advice! “Too often we think we have to sell ourselves as this know-it-all hot-shot to get a job, but I have found the best way to build relationships with people whom you’d like to work with (or for) is to start by being vulnerable, sharing your admiration for their work, and asking for advice,” Adney says. “I recommend doing this with professionals at companies you’d love to work for, long before they have a job opening you apply for.” 2. Don’t always follow your passion: “Follow your passion” is one of the most common pieces of career wisdom, says Cal Newport, author of So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love. “It’s also wrong.” If you study people who end up loving their work, most of them did not follow a pre-existing passion, he says. “Instead, their passion for the work developed over time as they got better at what they did and took more control over their career.” Adney agrees to some extent. She doesn’t think job seekers should completely disregard their passions–but does believe that “challenging this conventional wisdom is vital, especially since studies still show most Americans are unhappy in their jobs.” 3. Create your position: Don’t just sit around waiting for your “dream job” to open. Study the industry or field that you’re looking to move into, and determine a company or two that you’d like to work for, Hockett says. “Then figure out their challenges through relationships or public information. With this, you can craft a solution for them that you can share directly or publically through a blog, for instance. The concept here is to get noticed through offering a solution to help them with no expectation of anything in return.” 4. Learn how to listen: Job seekers are so caught up in conveying a certain message and image to the employer that they often fail to listen. “Powerful listening is a coaching tool, as well as an amazing skill to have in your life,” Abella says. “The art of conversation lies in knowing how to listen– and the same applies to job interviews. Know when to talk, when to stop talking, and when to ask questions.” When you practicing for interviews, don’t just rehearse your answers to questions like, “can you tell me about yourself?” “why do you want this job?” and “what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?” Practice listening carefully and closely without interrupting. 5. Start at the top and move down: We learned from Chris Gardner (played by Will Smith) in The Pursuit of Happyness (the biographical film based on Gardner’s life) that you need to start from the top and move down. “Why approach human resources in hopes that your resume makes it to the hiring authority?” Parnell says. “Just get it there yourself. Be careful to use tact, respect and clarity during the process, but nevertheless, go straight to the decision maker.” 6. Build a relationship with the administrative assistant: While you want to start at

10 of the Most Common Interview Questions

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Ever walk out of an interview and wonder, “Why didn’t I say this?” Worse, were you ever in an interview and while you’re trying to concentrate on the new line of questioning your mind keeps racing back to your failed response to a question three questions ago? And it is especially frustrating if it was a seemingly irrelevant question like, “If you were an animal, what type of an animal would you be?”