The good news is that you’ve applied for your dream job and received an invitation to an online job interview. There are many advantages to doing a video job interview from home, although there are also pitfalls lurking. This article will reveal what these are and what applicants should watch out for.
Online job interview: Home is where many are more relaxed and authentic
Many candidates are more relaxed when they can introduce themselves online from home in familiar surroundings – and thus appear more natural and authentic. Traditional job interviews at the company’s headquarters, by contrast, make many applicants feel nervous and tense. In addition, an online interview eliminates the need for travel and any delays caused by traffic jams or public transportation. The job interview from home is especially convenient if you live far away from the potential new employer.
Disadvantages of a video job interview: the first-hand impression is missing
A video job interview also has disadvantages for applicants for all its advantages: a personal first-hand impression is missing. Only on-site can you get a first impression of the working atmosphere and the premises. It is difficult to judge from home whether one would feel comfortable there.
If you’re lucky, you could catch the first glimpse of your potential colleagues on site and maybe even get to know them and see how they work among themselves. That, too, is decisive for the question of whether one would like to work at a particular company – and that aspect is completely omitted in the digital job interview.
Before the call, it is also essential to do a test run. Turn on the camera and check what your counterpart will see. Can you be seen clearly? Can you see the head fully, or is it cut off to one side? And how does the light work? Since laptop and tablet cameras usually film from below and thus not at the best angle, it is worthwhile to set up the device somewhat elevated.
For the interview, you better use either a large monitor with a webcam or a laptop with a camera. Possible and, in many cases, useful is also to use an external camera. We would only resort to tablets and smartphones with an appropriate tripod. Otherwise, the image will wobble, and you will quickly become distracted.”
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