Have you applied to lots of remote internships and/or graduate jobs and failed at the video interview? Here, we share the biggest mistakes people make when doing an interview in a digital era.
They Don’t Research the Company Beforehand
This seems like an obvious one but many people don’t bother to look at a company’s website before the job interview.
By spending some real time on the company website and social media channels, you can gain an insight into the company and have some points to talk about in the interview.
They Don’t Choose Their Location Wisely
Making sure you have a good backdrop for your interview is extremely important. Cafes and restaurants are not a good place to have a video interview. Anywhere with lots of background noise is distracting.
The ideal place would be at home or somewhere like a special interview booth at a university library.
They Don’t Use a Headset
Using headphones can help both you and the interviewer to focus more. The built-in microphone on your computer or phone can often pick up a lot of background noise like trains, planes or your mum putting the kettle on next door.
They Don’t Switch on Their Camera
Having your camera on makes the interview seem like a “real life” face to face interview which can help you feel more in the zone.
It also helps to make a better impression; the interviewer can see you react to things and to see your smile!
They Don’t Test Their Internet Connection and Make Sure They Have a Stable Connection
There is nothing worse than getting on to a call and it being pixelated with poor connection. It is a waste of time to the interviewer, who may have several more calls lined up afterwards.
Make sure to test out your connection beforehand to avoid having problems during the interview.
They Rush Their Answers
Many people act like answering questions in an interview is a race and the faster you respond, the better candidate you are. This isn’t the case.
Taking your time to answer with the best response you can will earn you respect and praise from the recruiter or hiring manager.
They Ask About Salary in the First Interview
It is generally an unspoken rule that salary isn’t mentioned until the second or final interview.
Bringing up pay too soon can make you seem like you’re only interested in money rather than the ethos of a company and what you can do to make a difference to the firm.
They Don’t Ask Any Questions
Saying you don’t have any questions can often make you seem arrogant (you know everything) or even uninterested (you don’t want to know anything else).
Have a few questions up your sleeve that you can ask when prompted towards the end of the interview.
They Don’t Follow up With the Recruiter/Interviewer Afterwards
It is important to send a follow up email to your interviewer after the interview. It leaves a good impression and it’s polite to thank them for their time.
They Don’t Ask for Feedback After Being Rejected
Many people are often ashamed and embarrassed after being rejected from a job. Asking for feedback can be valuable and help you to improve for next time.
Feedback is invaluable and can help you to know what to focus on to practice ready for your next interview.
Avoid these mistakes and you’ll be well on your way to bagging a remote internship or job opportunity.