Despite what many people may think, a video conferencing interview is not the same as a face to face interview. During a face to face interview you are present with the interviewer but during a video conferencing interview you are not actually in the same room as the interviewer which can bring a false sense of security which trips people up. On the other end of the scale it can make people overly nervous which causes people to make schoolboy errors. Here are 7 major mistakes made whilst conducting a video conferencing interview.
1. "Showing up" late
It's one thing to be late for an in-person interview. While the interviewers aren't going to care that there was traffic or you spilled coffee on your pants, those are actual reasons for being late. Being late for a video conference? Unacceptable. If you're not on screen at the scheduled time, you can pretty much forget about getting the job. How can an employer trust someone that can't even turn their computer on promptly
2. Having too many distractions
If you're being interviewed from your home computer, make sure you're not going to get interrupted. If Fido has a tendency to have an insane barking fit every time a chipmunk runs by, let him spend the half hour in the garage. Don't think a video conference means you don't need a babysitter - the last thing you need is a screaming child running through the room while you're discussing why you'd be an ideal candidate for the position. Try to be home alone, or at least have another adult take care of kids and pets while you're in a closed room.
3. Not doing your research
You might think you can use a reference sheet for company info and job description during a video conferencing interview, but the interviewer is going to notice your awkward glances downward. It doesn't look professional when you're looking down for information every few minutes.
4. Not completely dressing the part
Some people think video conferencing means you only have to look good from the waist up. Not true. For one thing, what if you have to stand up for some reason? Do you want the interviewer to know about your cartoon character pajama pants and bunny slippers? Probably not. Besides, dressing the part - from head to toe - helps get you in the right mindset to be interviewed.
5. Forgetting to make eye contact
Eye contact is natural in face-to-face situations, but people often forget about it during video conferencing. Remember, you might not be in the same room (or maybe not even the same country!), but you're still looking at each other in real time. Maintain eye contact as you would in person, and don't forget to smile.
6. Yawning
It seems so simple, but let's say you're video conferencing for a job halfway across the world. The difference in time zones means you're probably up in the middle of the night, and you're tired. It makes sense that you're tired, but you can't show it. Schedule far enough in advance so you can plan sleeping enough prior to your interview. It may seem silly, but think about how unprofessional excessive yawning would seem to an interviewer.
7. Not asking questions
This is a common mistake in any interview, and video conferencing is no exception. If you don't ask questions, the interviewer is going to assume that you're not interested in the company or the position.
Make a list and practice it before your video conference interview. Be prepared. If you avoid these 7 mistakes, you will prevent yourself from falling into the pitfall which many candidates fall into and will therefore have a distinct advantage over many other candidates before the interview even begins. Now that you have read this, start preparing!
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