On November 10, 2020, our repeat guest speaker, Karen Moore, Employment Services Director of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Division of Vinfen shared with the group her tips on virtual interviewing. This was a very relevant topic for the group as some members are actively interviewing, while others plan to do so in the near future.

Karen emphasizes that similar standards apply to virtual, phone, and in-person interviews. As a job candidate, you need to make sure that you:

• prepare self for the interview
• learn about the company you apply for
• put your best self forward
• dress professionally for the interview
• practice sitting straight for the interview
• prepare your questions to the interviewer in advance
• have your resume in front of you
• have a glass of water and a writing pad with a pen next to you
• turn off your phone but have it close in case you need to call your interviewer if you get disconnected

She suggests to go for a walk before the interview to be more relaxed and at the same time – more alert for it.

Karen notes that she hears a new interview question these days, Tell me what you’ve been doing during the pandemic? She highlights that preparing an answer in advance can be helpful.

What is different about in-person and virtual interviewing? Well, you can’t shake hands. It might be harder to make eye contact on screen. Some people can be self-conscious about seeing self on camera. Also, you need to control for distractions such as pets, kids, and outside noises.

You get offered a virtual interview – what is the first thing you do? Karen suggests that even before replying and saying you are interested, read email thoroughly and see what they are asking of you. More specifically, what platform do they use and whether you have access to it.

Some platforms that are used for interviewing are:

• Facetime – only with Apple products
• Zoom
• Skype
• WhatsApp
• Webex
• Google Hangouts
• Google Meetings
• Duo
• MS Teams

You can download them for free on your smart phone and computer.

Karen points out that if you don’t have access to a video platform, you can inquire if you can do interview by phone. For example, I would appreciate it if we could conduct our first interview by phone. I hope you can see I am a worthwhile candidate. I am still available in person. If you are interviewing for a remote work, you can mention to the interviewer that you are going to look into technology required for a remote work. If you don’t have access to technology – talk to MRC counselor on how to access resources. Depending on MRC plan you may or may not be able to access technology with them.

Some other suggestions Karen makes:

• if you use a platform that is different from the one used by the interviewer, check with your interviewer if they can use your platform instead
• be familiar with your devices, practice!
• connectivity is a key – make sure your connection is good and stable
• use headphones and speakers
• the position of your screen makes difference – so practice in advance
• when talking – look at the direction of the camera, rather than looking up and down at the people who interview you
• put a sticky with important notes next to camera
• take notes – let your interviewer know that you are taking notes, You might see me looking down. If this is OK with you, I will take some notes.
• if you tend to be fidgety, put some fidgets next to you to play with
• in preparation for the interview, record yourself and watch yourself or ask someone to give you feedback
• dress well for the interview, as you would for in-person one (this includes both top and bottom!)
• use virtual background, if needed, or sit with camera facing the wall if you don’t want to show the interviewer your room

Group members asked Karen how to approach asking for references. Karen suggests the following:

• there are several types of references: personal and professional, both can be used during the job application process
• your MRC counselor, former employer, professor, clergy, people you know through volunteering etc. can serve as a reference
• when asking for a reference from someone who you did not talk to for a while: I know we have not spoken in about a year, I would appreciate if you can serve as a reference for me. Here are bullet points on how you know me, what you might want to highlight.
• when you are working on the bullet points for your reference, consider the job description: highlight for your reference transferable skills from the job description and one discreet example for each
• reference should speak to your character and ability
• think of reference as an elevator pitch: when you for reference, ask the person to highlight the most important things that are applicable to the job you are applying for

Karen also acknowledges that job search and interviewing are very stressful and encourages group members not to neglect self-care, when going through the process.

Photo by Ivan Samkov from Pexels