Interviewing via Teams/Zoom has been a new experience for most of us – which can be daunting, but why not use it your advantage?
Yeah, there’s the obvious challenges to think about. Like trying to read the interviewers body language so you know when it’s your turn to speak and making sure the kids/pets are locked away, to stop any uninvited guests.
But do you remember what interviews were like pre-COVID? Having to plan your route the night before, praying for no traffic, panicking because you forgot to iron your favouirte shirt and making sure you shake hands firmly, you know, to give off a good impression.
If anything, there’s less to worry about now.
One of the biggest perks, which I don’t think enough people take advantage of, is being able to have your CV and the job description on the screen in front of you.
But it’s pointless having your CV in front of you, if you haven’t read it.
I know it sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't read their CV before an interview.
I mean, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably forgotten half the stuff you’ve done and the added pressure of being in an interview won’t bring the memories flooding back any quicker.
So, make sure you read your CV before the interview and start to put together a cheat sheet.
You’ll have a limited time to impress, so pick out some of the more relevant experiences you’ve had and start to note down some project highlights you can refer back to during the call.
You don’t want to talk their ear off either, so maybe just put down a few bullet points for each project. Summarising some of the key wins, achievements and challenges you faced is always a good starting point – plus a hiring manager can always tell whether somebody has done their homework or not!
Make sure you focus on what you did, not what the rest of the team did. You wouldn’t see a Chef at NASA telling people they sent somebody into space, would you?
Remember, recruitment is a risk business. Hiring teams will typically hire you on the basis that they’re confident you’ll be able to come in and do the job.
If you can give numerous examples of work you’ve done which is similar, the less of a risk you’ll appear and you’ll increase your chances of picking up an offer significantly.
So yeah, there’s nothing groundbreaking here, probably more just common sense tips, but hopefully there’s at least one thing you can take onboard.
Any other tips are welcomed – Jack.
