Mastering Virtual Interviews

If you’re looking for the next step in your career, you’ll probably come across online job boards like ZipRecruiter to search for available features that match your experience and your needs. As hybrid and fully remote working have become the norm, so has video-based job interviews. Phone screening has always been a typical step in the application process, and now it’s not uncommon for recruiters to keep candidates at home for all application rounds.

Some people thrive in a face-to-face interview environment, but virtual interviews also have advantages: you just need to be prepared. Refreshing your career experience and practicing your answers can give you the confidence you need for a successful job interview.

Here are some basic considerations and reminders to make a great first impression and capture your virtual interviews:

• Dress appropriately
• Make sure you are in a quiet and well-lit place
• Mute notifications
• Have a neat and professional background
• Make sure you have a strong internet connection
• Avoid public places like coffee shops
• Familiarize yourself with the video platform by testing your camera and microphone before the call

Prepare for the conversation.

Interviews usually consist of behavioral, technical, analytical, functional and open-ended questions. Employers want to get a better sense of your experience, how it applies to their open position, their office culture, and how you will react in certain situations.

Here are some questions to expect in your virtual interview and how to respond.

Why do you want to work here?

This question is about preparation. Study the job description and research the company. Interviewers can see when you took the time to learn more about the organization.

From there, you can provide examples of how the position aligns with your career goals, mention that you’re looking for mentorship or want your next move to include opportunities to build something.

What are you most proud of?

Talking about your achievements can be a great way to set yourself apart from the competition. Try to sound confident without appearing boastful. Share your most interesting, relevant and impressive achievement. It is even better if you can show an example or provide measurable results of your impact.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Interviewers ask this to understand your career goals and how you might fit within the organizational structure. Hiring can be expensive for employers, so they want to hire people who are more likely to invest in the company.

It’s fine to keep it general, but make sure your career goals align with what the company and position can offer you.

Tell us about a time you encountered a challenge and how you overcame it?

The interviewer wants to see how you manage yourself and deal with ambiguity. Your answer must follow the “STAR method” explain the situation, your role, the action you took and the results of your solution. Help your interviewers visualize your contributions by delivering measurable results.

What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?

Many candidates hate this question, but you can take advantage of it. Interviewers learn a little bit about self-awareness from this question.

Refer to skills from the job description to make a list of your strengths. Your weaknesses should not be something that disqualifies you from being hired and explain what you are doing to turn your weaknesses into strengths.

If you are still looking for your next career move, ZipRecruiter can help. It’s the top-rated job site in the US¹ and offers a convenient mobile app and one-tap applying, so you can apply for jobs anywhere with confidence. ZipRecruiter streamlines the hiring process and provides helpful resources such as resume templates and interview tips to help job seekers land their dream job.

^{1 Based on G2 satisfaction ratings as of January 1, 2022}