How to Impress on a Zoom Interview

I have worked full-time in the HR field for over 15 years so naturally I have done my share of interviews, both as the interviewer and interviewee. A huge part of my professional world is building relationships, strategizing and coaching. Two years ago, if you asked me to do that all from a virtual world I would have doubted it could be done. Fast forward two years and it turns out, it can be done; it just takes some time to shift.

Not only have I been the interviewee twice during the pandemic, I have been on multiple panels as the interviewer. While a virtual interview is different than in person, you have the same ability to make those connections and shine as a candidate.

Here are 10 ways to impress.

Wear real pants. Please, wear pants in general but even more specifically, wear a work type pant. Sure, the panel can only see you from maybe the chest up. But wearing a non-jogger type of pant will likely make you feel more polished and able to really have your game face on.

Have a neutral background ready. Make sure your background isn’t going to distract away from you. It’s obviously ok to show you are in your living room and that you are a real person with real mis-matched furniture. However, things like piles of clutter may distract both you and the panel. Virtual backgrounds can be a great way to ensure that doesn’t happen. Just be aware they can look a bit funny with movements so be sure to practice ahead of time.

Try to be kid free. Even if the job you are interviewing for is a virtual role, remember that remote work is not a substitute for child care. Sure, kids are going to be there before and after daycare/school and there will be days they are sick and home with you. But unless the employer has set other expectations about it, I suggest doing your best to ensure you are undistracted and kid free during the interview – just as you’ll be during your work time.

It’s ok to mention your kids. Sure, it’s ideal to not have kids distracting you during your interview. But you also want to know that your potential future team is going to value all that a working mom can bring to the role. I suggest weaving it in if you get a question about your interest into the role or when you are going over your background. Do not make it a focus but mentioning it can also help you form connections. Chances are that someone on the panel is also a working mom. The other way to do this could be to ask questions about the culture of the team. Typically, there is time for questions after the formal part of the interview is done.

Have notes ready. Most interviews allow the candidate to not only take notes but to have notes to refer to. I always recommend jotting down notes as you are given a question to ensure you answer it in full. Additionally, be sure to have your resume nearby as well as a few key projects and experiences you can pull from to answer the questions. This will help you to be more organized if you have that list ready and can quickly find something that fits the question they are asking.

It’s ok to ask them to repeat a question. When I am the interviewee, I almost always ask them to repeat each question one time. This gives me some time to digest it but also to write down a few of the words to help ensure you answer in full. When I am interviewing, I always tell my candidates that it is ok to ask us to repeat.

Silence is ok. This can feel particularly awkward in a virtual interview, but I assure you it is not. I appreciate when candidates take a couple of breaths to really think about what example they want to use when answering a question.

Join early. Sure, it’s a little awkward sitting there waiting for the panel to join. But it would be more awkward to join on time and realize your camera is having issues. Mute yourself and take the 8-ish minutes to go over the notes you have about your background and experience. I have been on panels when the candidates join late or have camera issues. While it is not a deal breaker, it certainly doesn’t get the candidate off to a relaxed start. Avoid the stress and join early.

Make glances from the screen to the camera. It likely feels most natural to be looking at the screen straight ahead. But making glances to the camera that is slightly higher than eye level can help ensure some good eye contact connections throughout the interview.

Be yourself. Yes, come prepared and take it seriously. But remember, they selected you for this interview. You are qualified and you belong. Take a deep breath, don’t be afraid to show your personality and be the shining star that you are!