Avoid These Four Mistakes In Your Next Video Interview

Emanating from the onset of COVID-19, thousands of companies continue to operate under the work-from-home order. Unemployment remains at a high volume, and many organizations rely heavily on phone and on-screen meetings for their hiring efforts. If you are active in the job search, you can anticipate the use of Zoom, or another video conferencing platform, for the beginning stages of your interview process. While your content preparation remains unchanged in terms of having examples, answers, and questions readily available, your interview’s virtual aspect brings new challenges you may not expect.

Courtesy of CNBC Contributor John Bowe, we review four of the most annoying mistakes made in video interviews, as revealed by Zoom’s Head of Global Talent Acquisition, Phil Haynes. 

1. Fidgeting and glancing at your phone

Haynes advises: “With an in-person interview, you’d never sneak a look at your phone. It’s simply not a behavior you would exhibit in real life. So, we remind people: a video interview is still a face-to-face interview.” Don’t forget to smile – your face is still taking up most of your interviewer’s screen. 

If you know yourself to be easily distracted by technology and phone applications such as social media, sports updates, or a need to know who texted you, try muting your notifications. If you fear this won’t stop you, turn your device off or keep it in a different room. In the brief 15-45-minute conversation, there is unlikely to be an update worth more than your shot at a new job. 

2. Darting eyes across the screen

In a virtual interview, maintaining steady eye contact is even more critical than the typical in-person interview. Hiring managers often measure your level of eye contact to gauge your interest in joining their organization. Always looking around will make you appear disinterested or inattentive. One great tip you can quickly implement is to hide the ‘self-view’ feature during meetings. Removing the view will ensure you do not get caught staring at yourself and worrying about your appearance rather than actively listening. 

3. Visibly worried and distracted

Every job seeker fears the uncontrollable aspects of their interview, such as a child entering the room and screaming or a pet demanding attention. Since COVID-19 began shutting down offices, Haynes affirms, “the human element is just pouring through.” In many ways, the pandemic has defaulted a more real, human experience for both sides of the webcam.

What can you do to limit your home office-related distractions? Find a private space and request an hour of quiet from your family members or roommates. If this is not plausible for your current situation, consider completing your interview outside your home.

4. Boring, unenthusiastic answers

If you offer weak, lackluster answers, you will leave your interviewer with nothing of note. Be sure to have questions prepared for the end of your interview and answers for these commonly asked questions. What indicates a weak and ‘boring’ answer? You share too many details and focus on what you did in your previous role, rather than why you did it and the impact you had. However, you must not come off as too rehearsed or scripted in your replies. 

Comparable to how you must keep your body language engaged in conversation, your answers must keep your evaluator engaged. Think back to an obstacle you faced in your career and how you overcame it. Practice telling your story and speaking confidently about your qualifications. 

For more great insight and tips to review before your next interview, check out Bowe’s full article here. 

If you join the millions operating under the work-from-home order, check out these essential tips for Setting Up An Effective Workspace at Home.

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How to Answer “What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?” 

No one can express why you are qualified for a job better than you. If you are getting ready for your first interview with a potential employer, it is safe to anticipate more simple questions than complicated ones. However, a straightforward question, such as identifying your greatest accomplishment, still requires an elaborate answer.

While there is no ‘wrong answer’ in revealing your greatest accomplishment, a lackluster response could prove costly to your chances at the job. Your interviewer does not want to hear an over-personalized, watered-down approach that results in the listing of your day-to-day activities. Instead, he or she wants to listen to a compelling story with specific examples and key learning points.

With the help of our friends Rebecca Kraus and Alison Doyle, we highlight a few critical tips you need to review before your next interview.

Identify Your Accomplishment

Don’t simply blurt out the first thought that comes to mind. Utilize this time to meditate and have multiple responses prepared. Keep your answers specific and recent. This is your opportunity to stand out amongst a pool of qualified candidates, so it’s best to keep your response career-oriented rather than over-personalized. Sorry to say, but your interviewer will not find it unique that you found your soulmate, had a child, or broke a record for your high-school sports team.

From there, ensure your story aligns with the job description at hand. For example, if you are applying for an engineering role in the IT industry, your interviewer will not find value in the fact that you implemented a new layout for your local grocery store as much as an interviewer for an Event Coordinator role.

Consider The STAR Approach

Once you have your story, the most foolproof method for sharing your answer is implementing the STAR approach – Situation, Task, Action, Results. These four steps will allow you to walk through all the basic interview questions without rambling on. You can get your best stories out there and take advantage of every opportunity to connect with your interviewer, but leave it up to them to ask you for more details.

The STAR approach is defined as:

  • Situation – Set the story and provide all the necessary details of your example.
  • Task – Describe the responsibility given to you and, if applicable, how it’s tied to an overarching goal
  • Action – Thoroughly explain what steps you took and WHY.
  • Results – Reveal how the outcome was for the greater good of the company, not just yourself.

For a full breakdown of this method’s framework and real-life examples, check out these articles from The Muse and The Balance Careers.

Don’t Get Cute

Take this question seriously rather than making light of conversation through an attempted humorous approach. Don’t play the victim card. Your answer should undoubtedly portray yourself in a positive light, but be sure your story does not degrade a co-worker or manager. Your interviewer does not want to hear how you found success despite being micromanaged or how you carried the workload for an incompetent co-worker.

Avoid unnecessary details. Make sure your answer offers direct evidence as to why you are fit for the role at hand. No matter how qualified you may be for the position, always express a strong willingness to learn and take on new assignments. If your story portrays you merely as a delegator rather than an inspirer and achiever, your readiness level will not shine through. Illustrate confidence in your accomplishments and ensure that your actions reflect the proper signs of a leader.

Wrap Up

Avoid the cliché response to the cliché questions.

It can be uncomfortable and quite challenging to tout your accomplishments while maintaining a sense of humility and professionalism. Still, your interviewer won’t know the impact you’ve had until you share it with them. Often, the best route is to write out a story of triumph in advance and incorporate action verbs that define leadership. Practice your answer by repeating it back to yourself or recording your response until it sounds natural.

Lastly, if you are still struggling to identify your greatest achievement, reach out to your mentors, family members, or peers to aid your response. Even if you never get asked this question, identifying your answer will allow you to discover yourself and your values better.

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