How to Prepare for a Job Interview on Zoom

The coronavirus pandemic has meant that many businesses have had to adapt to an online world, embracing digital strategies, working from home and a remote office set-up. 

As such, recruitment efforts have also had to turn to online platforms, meaning many companies are now conducting their job interviews through virtual platforms like Zoom. 

If you’re not familiar with Zoom interviews, then there are a number of steps you can take to make sure you’re well-prepared and enjoy an effective interview experience. 

Here’s how to prepare for a job interview on Zoom. 

Treat it like a face to face interview

The first thing to remember is that your Zoom job interview is every bit as official as a typical face to face interview - which means you need to prepare as such. 

Research the company thoroughly, analyse the job description, make plenty of notes and be sure to allocate plenty of time to your interview preparation. 

You should have a list of questions you’d like to ask your interviewers, a highlighted selection of your skills and credentials which prove you’re eligible for the role, as well as notes about any professional anecdotes you’d like to tell that highlight your career history. 

It’s also great to note a few facts or qualities about the company you’re interviewing for to let them know why you’re applying for the job in the first place. 

Dress the part 

You’ll feel more prepared for a Zoom interview if you’re dressed appropriately - so even though you’re only seen from the waist up on a video call, make sure that you’re suited and booted in your finest clobber so that you feel and look professional. 

Your Zoom meeting will still be your prospective workplace’s first impression of you, so it’s still imperative that you appear professional, approachable and well put together. 

Test your equipment

There’s absolutely nothing worse than having a technical failure while on a Zoom call - and it could make you look unprepared and unprofessional, so make sure you’ve done a dry run before the date of the interview itself to ensure that everything is in working order.

You’ll want to test your microphone, your webcam and your wifi connection, as well as making sure that your laptop or computer is plugged in and fully charged. 

That way, on your interview morning, you can simply sit down and rest assured that you’re ready to go. 

Choose the right environment 

Now you know that your equipment works - it’s time to choose the perfect environment to make sure that your Zoom interview is a success. You want to choose somewhere that’s quiet, has good lighting, won’t have any distractions in the background - including unwanted intruders and background noise! 

You want to be able to hear the interview questions clearly so that you can answer appropriately, and create an environment that lets your interviewer focus clearly on your answers without getting distracted by your background! 

Follow the above tips and you’ll be well on your way to setting yourself up for success when it comes to your Zoom job interview. Stay calm, take your time while answering questions and make sure you do your research and you could be securing a new job opportunity thanks to your Zoom interview in no time.