Video interviewing is becoming increasingly popular with employers, particularly when there are large numbers of roles being recruited for. This blog is designed to give you some straightforward top tips to help you think about the importance of making a great first impression.
Tip 1 – Check out your body language (before your wreck your body language)
Are you sitting slouched over? Are your arms crossed? Do you appear approachable? These are all the questions that your future employer will be asking themselves when they see you for the first time. They are looking for physical clues for them to be able to listen and engage with you. If you open up your posture and appear relaxed and friendly they’re more likely to mirror that and be more accepting of what you say.
Tip 2 – Create positive eye contact (not the creepy kind)
We all know there’s a difference between creepy eye contact and positive eye contact. Your future employer is going to be staring straight into your face so make sure your expression is relaxed, friendly and smile. Pretend you’re talking to a friend and your audience will smile back – like yawning, it’s contagious.
Tip 3 – Be aware of your quirks
Before taking the video interview take time to review yourself in the video viewer. Do you raise your eyebrows when you’re surprised, do you frown when confused? Being aware of these impressions can help you shape your audience’s initial impression of you while helping you project self-confidence.
Tip 4 – What to wear and what not to wear
It’s difficult to listen to someone or take them seriously in an interview when they are wearing inappropriate clothes. This can be distracting and your future employer could find themselves focusing more on your appearance than on you.
Tip 5 – Location, Location, Location
Take some time to consider what’s behind you in the room you’re filming in since this will be visible on the camera. Your potential future manager doesn’t really want to see last night’s dirty plates on the side, your washing hanging out to dry or the rear end of your pet cat as it winds its way between you and the camera.
Tip 6 – Are you a waffler?
Do you want maple syrup with your waffle? Don’t be tempted to ramble on… and on… and on …. just consider the question and answer it. There’s nothing worse than listening to someone waffling away and never quite answering the question that was asked.
If you can remember all of the above you’ll be off to a great start, but the most important tip is to be genuine and be you. While being filmed might feel odd, this is an interview so act and react as you would in a face to face interview. If you’d like a little more information about this subject, why not watch this short video? http://bit.ly/1xq5BCs
Written by Georgina Saunders, Recruitment and Resourcing Manager for KCOM Group PLC. Follow her on Twitter @GeorginaJobs and @KCOMGroupJobs
