The Interview - By video call

Before the video interview

Check your tech: Be sure the technology being used for the video interview is installed and working before your meeting. Test the connectivity, as well as the microphone and camera. Technology glitches on the day of the interview create the wrong impression, casting doubts on your interest in the job, your technological skills, and your ability to problem solve. Have a back-up plan just in case something beyond your control goes wrong the day of the interview. (For example, phone numbers to continue the conversation)

How to test your tech: Be sure you've downloaded, installed, all the relevant software/app (i.e. Skype, Zoom, Teams, Hangouts, etc.) well before your interview is scheduled.

Location, Location, Location: Choose a location that looks professional. The ideal would be an office or conference room but as this is not always available, the key things to remember is to choose an appropriate background: a blank wall, a book case, office space, are all acceptable.

• Connection: remember it’s not all about your download speeds, upload speeds matter too. You can test your connection speed with www.SpeedTest.net
• Camera: the image should be clear and respond when you move in front of it without a delay. Try to position the camera so that the lower edge of the frame is in the upper part of your chest and the top of the frame about a hand's width above the top of your head. The camera should be as close to eye level as possible so that you do not have to look up or down. Body language is even more important in an online interview so remember to sit up straight and keep eye contact by looking at the webcam and not your computer screen. Don't slouch, get too close to the screen, or shift around too much.
• Lighting and sound: the interviewer should be able to see and hear you clearly. If the speakers are not enough try using head phones or a headset.
• Microphone: your voice should come through without any echoes, hums or buzzing. If in doubt, invest in a headset. It's better to wear one than to have poor sound quality that will distract from what you say. Try as much as possible to eliminate “um” and “uh” from your sentences, keep your answers as succinct and to the point as possible.
• Practice makes perfect:Video chat with several friends to make sure everything is working properly on a variety of systems. Ask a friend, family member, mentor or recruitment consultant to interview you. Make sure you ask someone who you can trust to give honest feedback, not only from a technology perspective but also how are you coming across.
• Take 5: Five minutes before the interview go to your prepared room and shut out all distractions. Remember to turn off all sounds and notifications from devices and anything else that might interrupt the interview.

During the video interview

Personal appearance: First impressions are lasting impressions, even via video, so ensure that you dress in appropriate business attire for your video interview. Ensure your clothes are ironed.

Don't get distracted: Many people find the image of themselves on screen distracting; if this happens to you during your practice sessions try putting a post-it note over the image or select speaker-only view.

Relax: Let your personality shine through. Look at the camera, be yourself, smile, speak in your normal voice at normal volume, take your time, finish the interview by thanking the caller for their time.

Interaction: Listen to the questions being asked and answer directly. Find the balance between a one-word answer and going off on a tangent or providing superfluous information.

Competency Based Questions:these are often used to score candidates on a scale so that direct comparisons can be made between interviewees. For example: ‘Have you been in a situation where…?’ ‘Yes, I used it on a project recently where we did x, y, z…’ Give confirmation and a succinct answer. If the interviewer wants to know more they’ll ask, and this will make the interview more conversational and comfortable. You can research these and prepare answers in advance – they can be tricky to think of on the spot sometimes.

Tell me about yourself: The interviewer is as interested in you as a person as much as your skill level and they’ll be looking to see if you fit their company’s culture and will get along with other members of the team. It’s a good idea to prepare a 20 second ‘marketing statement’ detailing some personal and professional attributes.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? Use your CV to pull out your star attributes and have 2 or 3 of each and reasons why. Don’t forget to turn the negative to a positive.

Tell me about a recent problem and how you solved it: Be specific and describe what YOUR actions were and how they influenced the outcome.

What do you know about our company?Ensure that you’ve done your research so you can give them some background, industry awareness, current news, or other insight.

How long have you been looking for a new job?This can be tricky if you’ve been looking for work for some time, but be honest. If you have been away on a extended holiday or done some voluntary work, you could mention this.

Why should we employ you?The answer to this question should be based on your previous experience and achievements that relate to their company and the role. At the end you might want to add that you think there is a good fit between you and the job.

What can you contribute? This is your chance to shine. Tell them about your achievements in your previous position(s), which are relevant to the new position you are applying for.

Why do you want this job? What can we offer that your current role doesn’t?Stress the positive points that attracted you to the role. Do not dwell on the negative aspects of your current job. Stress specific opportunities for personal growth, new challenges, what you’ll bring to the role... etc.

What was your greatest success and how did you achieve it? Pick an achievement that is related to their needs and describe your personal involvement.

Behavioural questions:

• Give me an example of how you exercised leadership in a recent situation.
• Tell me about a decision you made recently and how you reached it.
• Tell me about how you persuade people to accept your point-of-view.
• Tell me about a time when you were under a great deal of pressure. What was the source of the pressure and what did you do?
• What failures have you experienced? What have you learned from your mistakes?

Any questions for us? This is asked at nearly every interview. Come up with four or five good questions about the job and company, write them down and take them with you. This will remind you of what you are hoping to find out from the interview and also shows that you are well prepared.

• 'What goals might I be set for the first 6 months?'
• 'What percentage of supervisory positions are filled from within the organization?'
• 'Are there any plans for new goods or services?'
• 'Who are the key reports into this role / managers / key business stakeholders?'

After the Interview

After your interview, call your Required IT consultant and give your feedback while it's fresh in your mind. They will use this to negotiate the best offer.

On receipt of an offer, the key things to take into account are:

• Is the new role taking you in the direction you would like your career to go?
• Is the role meeting your needs for job satisfaction, career development, training etc?
• Do you need more information to make the decision?
• Is the salary on offer in line with your expectations or the market?

There are online resources you can use to check salary, but they’re only a guide and many factors will affect the salary package offered.

Required IT experts place IT professionals into new roles on a daily basis, so do not hesitate to ask for advice or share any concerns you may have. We're here for you, and will be able to help you more effectively if you give us all the facts.​