There are all kinds of advantages to attending interviews for your next job online. You don't have to leave the house, and you don't have to take time off your current job. A lot of big companies are taking advantage of video chats when they recruit staff, says Gerhard Winkler, a German career adviser who works near Berlin. But that doesn't lessen the importance of making a good first impression. Don't be lulled into a false sense of complacency just because you're talking by Skype or with Google Hangouts. There are just as many details to remember as with an in-person interview, from the way the camera is set to the lighting behind you.
Know what you're getting into: There is no set format for how an online interview proceeds or what software to use, so get some information from the employer beforehand about what they are expecting, advises Winkler. How will the interview work? Does the company use an easily accessible application like Skype, or does it have its own software?
Have a professional presence: Whether using Skype or Google Hangouts, make sure you set up a professional profile specially for interviewing purposes out there on the internet, with your full name and an sober up-to-date photo, not your last party snapshot. Be careful what you write in your profile: "Cover yourself when it comes to writing about your plans to switch jobs. This revelation could be a shock to both colleagues and your present employer."
Stick to the facts, not small talk:Video interviews tend to get to the point. "There is almost no small talk, it's more of a fact check than a conversation," says Winkler. He advises interviewees be to the point and concise when speaking. Avoid long-winded answers.
Dress appropriately: Give some serious thought to your wardrobe. "The same code applies online as for any job interview," says Sigrid Frank, a career adviser from the central German city of Paderborn. The appropriate outfit will depend on the position for which you're applying and in which field.
Eliminate distractions: Webcams can show more than you'd prefer. "I would get rid of anything that could distract or confuse your interviewer," says Frank. She recommends neutral, tidy backgrounds. Use the right lighting: "A lot of people underestimate the impact of lighting in a video interview," warns Frank. Being lit from behind turns the interviewee into a spooky silhouette. If the light comes from above, it creates the impression of dark bags under the eyes. If it comes from the side, it might appear too theatrical. She recommends warm light coming from in front, lighting up the face in a balanced manner without washing anything out or casting too many shadows.
Camera at eye level: Expressions in video interviews can sometimes send the wrong signals. If you're looking up into the camera, you can appear subservient. If you're looking down into it, you might look arrogant. That's why it's important to set the camera so it's at your eye level, says Frank.
A steady gaze: It takes some practice to learn to stare straight into the camera. "That's the only way your conversation partner gets the impression that you're looking directly at them," explains Martina Lenz, a media coach based in Cologne. Destress: Even if it's in front of a webcam, an interview can be stressful. That's why you should practice your technique and the impression you convey on camera with friends before the real deal, recommends Lenz. It's a good way to check how loud and fast you speak beforehand. But what happens if stage fright only sets in immediately before the interview? "Treat stage fright as your friend," says Lenz. "The adrenalin rush wakes you up and helps you to give your best."
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