Many employers have adjusted their recruitment and selection methods in the past month and have switched to more virtual approaches to assess candidates’ suitability for vacancies and their ‘fit’ for the organisation. Alongside telephone interviews, virtual interviews via video conference platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype have become the new norm. Whether you are already actively preparing for an upcoming video interview or would just like to brush up your understanding of good video interview etiquette, the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team at LJMU has lots of great resources to help you get started.

One of the benefits of telephone and video interviews is that you can participate in them from the comfort of your home – for many interviewees, being in familiar surroundings will both boost their confidence and remove any potential worries over getting to the interview on time or not feeling comfortable in the interview environment. However, this does not mean that your preparation for a virtual interview is any less important or should be less comprehensive than for a face-to-face interview! Employers will still want to explore your suitability for and interest in the role in depth, while also assessing your motivation to work for their organisation.

Our recent blog piece on telephone interviews includes some great tips to get your preparation off the ground, and our mini guide to interview success introduces you to both commonly-asked interview questions and lots of useful links for further research and practice, including our interview simulator.

Alongside your preparation for employers’ likely questions, also bear in mind a few key practical considerations:

• If using the webcam on a laptop or a separate webcam, put your laptop/webcam on top of a pile of books so that you can look more or less straight into the camera. If using a smartphone or tablet for the interview, rest this against some books at an appropriate distance and angle to save you holding it in your hand for the duration of the interview – you’ll be surprised by how quickly your phone will start to feel heavy otherwise…
• Check what platform or software the employer is using for your interview. Will you need to create an account on Skype or Zoom? Make sure you install any software in advance and test it with a friend or family member to ensure your sound and video are working well and that you are familiar with the interface.
• Ensure your laptop is plugged in or that the phone/device you are using is fully charged, so you don’t get cut off mid-interview!
• Think about basic ‘broadcasting’ skills: is your face and the rest of the room well lit? A desk lamp might help if it’s not a bright day. What can the interviewers see behind you? Is the background neat and tidy? Are you sat against an overly bright/dark background? Anything distracting?
  Also think about the clothes you’re wearing. Professional attire will help you feel the part, but remember that you might need to get up for something during the interview, so make sure that you are dressed professionally both top and bottom – we have heard tales of candidates in smart shirt and tie revealing pyjama bottoms when having to get up unexpectedly! Lastly, think about patterns on clothing that might look slightly distorted on camera or could be distracting for the interviewer.
• Make sure any flatmates or family members know not to disturb you during your interview. If you have a weak internet connection or issues with bandwidth, ask them not to stream any online content or video-call people while you’re on your virtual interview.
• Pause for a moment before starting to answer the interviewer’s questions to allow for a potential delay (depending on your internet connection) and avoid interrupting or talking over the interviewer by accident.
• Although it may seem more impersonal to be interviewed virtually than in person, build a rapport with the interviewer(s): smile and keep eye contact by looking into the camera. You might find it helpful to attach a photograph of a friend/family member or a sticker next to the camera – this makes it more likely that you look directly into the camera rather than your own image on screen, and as a result the interviewer will feel a better level of engagement and rapport with you.

With Personnel Today reporting a 67% increase in the use of video interviews in March 2020 alone, their more widespread use across all sectors might well result in increased popularity even when we have returned to face-to-face interaction. With many employers likely to have seen the benefits of virtual interviews, brushing up on your video interview skills now will be a great investment in your future career!

If you have any further questions on virtual interviews, simply email us at careers@ljmu.ac.uk

Further advice and information

The Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team is available to help from 9am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

The Careers Team is offering remote appointments by telephone, video or email; these are particularly useful when you are exploring your options or starting your own business.  Call 0151 231 8740, email careers@ljmu.ac.uk or visit the Careers Team website.  Also, check out our programme of webinars (online classes) which can help you navigate the current graduate recruitment landscape.

For advice on starting your own business or freelancing, contact LJMU’s Centre for Entrepreneurship at: startup@ljmu.ac.uk.