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#JobSearch : Five Steps For Nailing Your Video Interview, No Matter What Your Age. The Whole Key to a Job Search is Mindset, No Matter What your Age.

In today’s remote working reality, an online presence can be a two-edged sword. Done right, and you own the space. Done haphazardly, and your professional persona could be doomed. If you are interviewing for a job in this competitive COVID-19 environment, mastering online presence is critical. If you are an older candidate, it is non-negotiable.

“The job search can leave us feeling especially vulnerable,” said Natalie Venturi, an executive presence coach. “Because most job interviews today are over Zoom, feeling confident and self-assured makes it easier to focus on connecting with the interviewer and leaving no doubt that you can do the job.”

Due to stereotypes about candidates age 50+ not being tech savvy, mastering an online presence is even more important. Showing comfort on camera and easily navigating remote tools helps you own the space.

Venturi outlines five critical areas to help you nail your next video interview.

Intention: Take a few minutes to consider the outcome you want from the interview. How do you want to show up? What one thing do you want to project more than anything else? While your intention might be nailing the interview and getting the job, Venturi recommends that you focus on what you can control. Perhaps you want to convey focus, curiosity, engagement, or authenticity. Whatever the intention, write it down to help you remember. Let that be the last thing you reflect on before starting the interview.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Interview Prep: When you research the company, take note of the organization’s values. How can you align your values to theirs with examples of your work? What kind of stories can you tell to emphasize those values in action? Personal examples are powerful, but Venturi cautions brevity – no more than 60 seconds for each response. Once you feel ready, record a mock interview with a friend. Watch it afterward to evaluate where you have room for improvement.

“The whole key to a job search is mindset, no matter what your age,” said Venturi. “Feeling competent with your online presence gives you a professional advantage whether interviewing for your dream job, leading a team through organizational change or delivering a sales presentation.

On-Camera Set Up: Before the interview, take a moment to notice your surroundings. How do you look on screen? Your set up should allow you to look straight into the camera, versus up or down. Lighting and background are crucial, according to Venturi, who suggests you skip the virtual background and opt for a solid backdrop instead. Youtube offers plenty of short tutorials on background, lighting, webcam, sound, and clothing choices – like this one from the Wall Street Journal. Before the interview begins, test your on-camera presence, check sound, and make adjustments as necessary.

Physicality: Physicality is about how you take up space. Show engagement by leaning into the camera instead of sitting further back. Use a chair without arms to allow yourself to move more freely. Physicality is also about your appearance and how you sound. Whiten your teeth, enunciate your words and dress for the part –but don’t wear a suit unless you are in banking or finance.

Energy: Everything is energy, according to Venturi. Engage with energy. Use your intention to project the kind of energy that leaves recruiters and hiring managers feeling comfortable in your presence and reassured with your abilities. Be fully present, maintain eye contact and project your voice. Leverage this energy to drive the conversation, find out what the interviewer needs and then succinctly convey how your skillset will enable you to meet the need – and then some.

“The whole key to a job search is mindset, no matter what your age,” said Venturi. “Feeling competent with your online presence gives you a professional advantage whether interviewing for your dream job, leading a team through organizational change or delivering a sales presentation.”

 

Forbes.com | November 18, 2020 | Sheila Callaham

#JobSearch : 5 Ways to Prepare for a Video Interview. Great Two(2) Min Read!

With “social distancing“, face-to-face interviews are on the decline. However, companies still have job openings to fill. Just look at a job board and you will see thousands of positions available.

Even if you aren’t part of a video interview during this global crisis, chances are you will be sometime in the future. The good news is preparing for a video interview is similar to preparing for a traditional interview.

However, here are some aspects you don’t want to overlook.

Invest in the Proper Technology and Applications

Ask the potential employer which application they use for video interviews so you can download it and explore it ahead of time. Applications like Skype and Zoom are the most popular since they are easy to use. You also want to make sure your computer is fast enough to handle a video interview so there are no delays or lag times.

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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Continue of the article:

Test the App Prior to the Interview

Testing the application involves making sure your camera works correctly, ensuring you can connect to the application and determining whether there are any transmission issues. You don’t want to be struggling with navigating through the app during the interview, so testing well in advance will make the process seamless. 

Practice With a Family Member

You may have shared your executive profile with a family member or friend to proofread, and now you can use them again to practice for a video interview. The things you should be looking for are camera angles, lighting and whether or not there is lag time when communicating. Even a one-second lag time can make it seem like you are interrupting the interviewer, so you don’t want that to be an issue. 

Look Presentable

Your LinkedIn profile should have a professional headshot, and you need to match the professionalism in your video interview as well. Just because you are interviewing from your home doesn’t mean you should dress casually. It’s tempting to wear shorts and only put on a nice shirt since the interviewers will only see your upper body. However, if you have to get up for any reason, the embarrassment of not having on dress pants could be devastating. 

Eliminate Distractions

Finally, look around the room and eliminate any distractions you may have. Is there a clock that makes a sound at the top of each hour? What about any clutter in the background? All of these may seem normal to you since you live with them but can create huge distractions during a video interview. Take the advice from the best professional resume writers and make the room you’re interviewing in look like a professional environment as much as possible.

Just because you are sitting in the comfort of your own home, don’t let your guard down. You need to prepare as though you were traveling to an in-person interview. Make sure your technology is working and that your personal appearance is professional. You want them to remember you for the right reasons.

FSC Blog Author: Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | March 24, 2020