by Sara Nichols and David Portney
Stiles Associates
Once you move on to the interview stage of the hiring process, it’s easy to get excited about meeting your potential new colleagues and joining a new organization, but you need to focus on making sure the videoconference goes off without a hitch. Putting aside the content of the interview itself, having the right “presentation” on a video interviewing platform like Zoom, Teams or Meet could end up being the difference between landing the role or the company moving on without you.
To ensure you maximize the opportunity to explain why you think you’re the perfect person for the role, ace the aspects of a video call you might not think much about:
The window with a great view is not your ally … unless it’s in front of you / behind the camera. You might think it’s a nice touch to have the window over your shoulder so the interviewer can enjoy the scenery, but think again. When the light behind you is brighter than the light in front of you, this will result in the subject, you, appearing very dark. The same applies for windows and extra light coming from an angle, which could result in half of you being significantly darker than the other half. What does all this mean? Keep the best lighting in front of you – even if it means closing a few blinds.
Natural light works best, but that’s not always possible. Ensure lamps and other lights are in appropriate places, and for rooms with low light, test out different brightness filters on the video platforms themselves. For example, on Zoom, open the app and head to Settings then Video and find the “My Video” section. Check the “Adjust for low light” box and switch it to “auto.” This lets Zoom decide how much of an adjustment you need, and it usually does a pretty good job.
A bookshelf has become a very popular background in the age of videoconferencing, and with it has come fodder for jokes and debates. If you have too many books it can come off as self-righteous, while some sit so close to the shelf the person on the other end can read the titles. If you plan on using a bookshelf backdrop, make sure you double-check the books for appropriateness. No one wants another person to make assumptions about their qualifications or fitness for the job because of a book title.
Even if you don’t use that backdrop, ensure any wall art you may have is suitable for the interview. That hilarious, yet mildly embarrassing photo from a birthday party you had framed may not instill confidence in your potential CEO.
Our best advice is to simply treat this Zoom room as you would an office at an in-person meeting. If you’re comfortable having the interviewer in that room with you then you should be okay. If you’re uncomfortable with the room, upload a fake background to your profile so no one can see what’s really there. Most, if not all hiring authorities are understanding of a person who doesn’t offer up their entire spare bedroom for viewing.
You put the cat away so he wouldn’t run into the room in the middle of an interview. You closed the blinds so the dog wouldn’t bark at anything and anyone she sees outside. But there’s one thing you forgot: the doorbell. Once that thing ding-dongs the animals in the house act like World War III is at the front door – and there’s nothing you can do to stop it that doesn’t take you away from the computer.
We’ll preface this by repeating an important point: Most, if not all, employers are understanding. Simply be honest and apologize for the disruption and it shouldn’t have a significant impact on the outcome of the interview. However, it is still the interviewee’s responsibility to minimize the distractions, just as it is the interviewers’ on their end.
This also applies to family members, plumbers, landscapers, etc. Try your best to either eliminate distraction variables, or find another place in the home or outside of it that can offer a quiet setting. Even among the most understanding of employers, you don’t want to be known as the interviewee who had a dog barking the entire time while the landscaper trimmed the hedges.
A simple phone interview can have you in pajama pants and an oversized t-shirt while an in-person interview generally necessitates business professional attire, so what does that mean for video interviews? Well, it depends on the company itself. Some are more casual in a short-sleeve collared shirt and jeans while others are dressed to the nines Monday through Friday; most are somewhere in the middle.
You can try getting a feel for the company by browsing their website and social media, but that might not give many hints. So what to do? Just ask! Ask the executive recruiter if you’re working with one, or ask the person you spoke with when lining up the interview. It might feel awkward at first, but understanding the expectation is paramount.
Also, in video, it could be tempting to dress the part on top with sweatpants on the bottom. After all, they’re not going to see below your waist anyway, right? Well, probably not but there’s no guarantee. Even by planning for every possibility, there’s still the unknown of needing to get up off your chair for just a second. If you’re caught in a moment that might expose your gym shorts, apologize and communicate with the hiring authority – then turn your camera off before getting out of your chair.
Books have been written about what to do with your hands, but people don’t generally focus on this as intently over a videoconference. Be aware of hand placement when you speak and ensure you’re not inadvertently using them to send the wrong message (e.g., placing your chin on your hand or crossing your arms).
Who doesn’t love their Tumblr loaded with stickers and insignia dating back to their college years? How about your interviewer. Water bottles have become a symbol of expression, which is great, but it could also be used to judge the owner of that bottle whether it’s fair or not. If you need a drink handy, it’s best to play it safe with a generic bottle.
This also applies to coffee mugs. Some are sassy and even downright vulgar, so be careful about what message that mug is sending.
The executive recruiting team at Stiles Associates has over 30 years of experience working with clients to attract the A-players. If you have a hiring need – whether now or in the near future – contact us right away to get the process started.