
In today’s uncertain climate, technology has ironically made it both easier and more difficult to land your dream role. To help, Ruth Snell gives her top tips for success when attending online interviews.
1 Set the scene
Try to create the perfect setting in which to hold your video call. Keep the background behind you as simple as possible, this reduces distractions for the interviewer.
Do as much as you can to control the environment including lighting, (source in front of you, not from behind), minimise background noise and the chance for interruptions.
2 Practice the Tech
Creating a strong first impression is of course paramount and preparation is key. Being part of a glitchy conference or video call can be a frustrating experience for all participants so you want to do your best to ensure your interview goes smoothly. Your meeting might be scheduled on a conference tool new to you or potentially your WiFi isn’t quite strong enough for the application.
So, it is prudent to download the software you might need for the interview and test it in advance. You could do a trial with the recruiter, in order to do a ‘practice run’ before your interview session and, agree a back-up plan if the tech fails.
To ensure your Wifi is at its optimum, ask members of your household to avoid streaming content during your interview.
3 Plan effectively
As with any meeting, it’s important that you prepare. For a video interview, you may need to think even more carefully about your plan. Have your elevator pitch ready. Know your CV inside out, be able to talk through your career history chronologically and succinctly in no more than 15 minutes.
What’s your beginning, middle and end? What key relevant parts of you experience do you want to get across? During a video call there is generally less flexibility to overrun as they tend to be carefully scheduled and limited to a set time period.
You may need to spend more time repeating yourself, perhaps due to sound quality. Be sure to prepare effectively, remain flexible, but give thought in advance to what you would like to cover during the online interview. Keep an eye on the clock to proactively manage the time available.
4 Build rapport
Ice breaking and relationship building is critical to creating a positive impression during any interview, but of course is harder to do remotely. The distance and aloofness that occurs, compared to a physical meeting, creates a need to put extra effort into rapport building and creating a scenario in which your discussion can flow easily.
Apart from acknowledging that additional time maybe needed to be allocated for small talk to find some ‘common ground’ between you and your Interviewer to establish good ‘chemistry’, I also suggest that you do your research utilising online social media platforms such as LinkedIn and think extensively about what kind of ‘ice breakers’ might get the conversation moving along smoothly.
5 Watch for visual cues
It is much harder to read body language via video call and more difficult to interpret the interviewer’s visual signalling. It is also trickier for the parties involved on either side to remain in sync with each other. If possible, mirror the interviewer’s pace of talking. Make a conscious effort to ‘read the mood’. If your interview ‘leans in’ whilst you are speaking, pause to allow them to interject. It is also polite to try not to talk over the interviewer when they are speaking. If you successfully pick up and respond accordingly to the interviewer’s body language this will make for a more satisfying experience and demonstrate your EI.
Online Executive Learning Seminar! An Evening with Ollie Philipps
/in Company News /by Jodie FoxWe would like to invite you to join an online seminar hosted by the Southampton Business School via Zoom. We are delighted to be joined by Ollie Phillips as the guest speaker for the evening.
Ollie, a former England international rugby player had a remarkable career. His career was cut short by injury. This major setback has not in any way stopped Ollie fulfilling many spectacular achievements post his international career. Ollie will share the highs and how he has overcome the lows during his amazing career to date.
Read more →
Online interview tips for Finance Executives
/in Advice & Information /by Jodie FoxGold service provider winners!
/in Advice & Information /by Jodie FoxWe are proud to announce that we have been listed as a gold service provider again, in the Institute of Interim Management Survey 2020.
A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the IIM survey (over 2,000 interim managers), and the interim community that voted for Chilworth Partnership and Venture Recruitment Partners. Read more →
‘Recasting your workplace for pandemic resilience’ ~ Online Executive Learning Seminar!
/in Advice & Information, Company News /by Jodie FoxRead more →
Mindfulness webinar ~ navigate the uncertainty towards a new normal
/in Advice & Information, Company News /by Jodie FoxWe would like to invite you to a Mindfulness webinar, hosted by Mindfulness Coach Hazel Todd. The webinar will look at how Mindfulness can support post lockdown leadership, supporting you as leader and the wellbeing of your teams as we all navigate the uncertainty towards a new normal back in the physical or remote workplace. Read more →
MEET THE LEADERSHIP TEAM
/in Advice & Information /by Jodie FoxThriving in the Disruption Age – Online Executive Learning Seminar!
/in Advice & Information, Company News /by Jodie FoxWe would like to invite all our clients and candidates to join an online seminar on developing a strong entrepreneurial mindset hosted by Southampton Business School via Zoom.
Wednesday 17th June 2020
Time: 13:00 If you would like to attend as our guest, free of charge, please respond to Ruth Snell Email: ruth@chilworthpartnership.co.uk Read more →
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK – MINDFULNESS WEBINAR
/in Advice & Information /by Jodie FoxDate: Tuesday 19th May 2020
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Hosted: Via Zoom
Book your space by emailing Ruth@chilworthpartnership.co.uk
Mindfulness can be an antidote to uncertainty in a VUCA* world
Understandably, there’s a lot of uncertainty, anxiety, fear and roller coaster emotions around right now. Our brains like to seek certainty and acts to protect us from harm so living in a perpetual state of uncertainty takes us into survival mode and activates our threat systems which can be stressful and exhausting.
*VUCA – Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous.
Online Interview Tips for Finance Execs.
/in Advice & Information, Company News /by Jodie FoxIn today’s uncertain climate, technology has ironically made it both easier and more difficult to land your dream role. To help, Ruth Snell gives her top tips for success when attending online interviews.
1 Set the scene
Try to create the perfect setting in which to hold your video call. Keep the background behind you as simple as possible, this reduces distractions for the interviewer.
Do as much as you can to control the environment including lighting, (source in front of you, not from behind), minimise background noise and the chance for interruptions.
2 Practice the Tech
Creating a strong first impression is of course paramount and preparation is key. Being part of a glitchy conference or video call can be a frustrating experience for all participants so you want to do your best to ensure your interview goes smoothly. Your meeting might be scheduled on a conference tool new to you or potentially your WiFi isn’t quite strong enough for the application.
So, it is prudent to download the software you might need for the interview and test it in advance. You could do a trial with the recruiter, in order to do a ‘practice run’ before your interview session and, agree a back-up plan if the tech fails.
To ensure your Wifi is at its optimum, ask members of your household to avoid streaming content during your interview.
As with any meeting, it’s important that you prepare. For a video interview, you may need to think even more carefully about your plan. Have your elevator pitch ready. Know your CV inside out, be able to talk through your career history chronologically and succinctly in no more than 15 minutes.
What’s your beginning, middle and end? What key relevant parts of you experience do you want to get across? During a video call there is generally less flexibility to overrun as they tend to be carefully scheduled and limited to a set time period.
You may need to spend more time repeating yourself, perhaps due to sound quality. Be sure to prepare effectively, remain flexible, but give thought in advance to what you would like to cover during the online interview. Keep an eye on the clock to proactively manage the time available.
4 Build rapport
Ice breaking and relationship building is critical to creating a positive impression during any interview, but of course is harder to do remotely. The distance and aloofness that occurs, compared to a physical meeting, creates a need to put extra effort into rapport building and creating a scenario in which your discussion can flow easily.
Apart from acknowledging that additional time maybe needed to be allocated for small talk to find some ‘common ground’ between you and your Interviewer to establish good ‘chemistry’, I also suggest that you do your research utilising online social media platforms such as LinkedIn and think extensively about what kind of ‘ice breakers’ might get the conversation moving along smoothly.
5 Watch for visual cues
It is much harder to read body language via video call and more difficult to interpret the interviewer’s visual signalling. It is also trickier for the parties involved on either side to remain in sync with each other. If possible, mirror the interviewer’s pace of talking. Make a conscious effort to ‘read the mood’. If your interview ‘leans in’ whilst you are speaking, pause to allow them to interject. It is also polite to try not to talk over the interviewer when they are speaking. If you successfully pick up and respond accordingly to the interviewer’s body language this will make for a more satisfying experience and demonstrate your EI.
Read more →
ONLINE EVENT – UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
/in Company News /by Jodie FoxRead more →