Today’s job market looks drastically different than it did ten years ago with the exponential increase of jobs that are posted on the internet, candidates that are interviewed virtually, and roles that are filled by telecommuting.
This increase in flexible and/or work from jobs is a blessing to military spouses with our ever-changing home addresses. However, technology has affected not just the types of jobs available but also the ways in which employers screen potential candidates.
In-person interviews in today’s world are often eschewed for more digital-friendly ones, from phone interviews, video meetings, or entirely digital interviews. Here are some tips to handle your next interview, whatever the format.
1: Phone Interview
Phone interviews can be nerve-wracking, due to the lack of being able to gauge someone’s reaction in person and nerves over having a phone conversation with someone you’ve never met. This type of interview is generally conducted as an initial interview to screen you for the position and go over any questions needed to confirm your candidacy.
Prepare by printing out a copy of your resume and re-familiarizing yourself with what’s listed on it so you can quickly respond to any questions about prior jobs. Additionally, if you get nervous over the phone and tend to over-compensate with “filling the silence” and talking too much, practice calmly answering any questions you think might come up.
Don’t be afraid to show your excitement of being considered for the position and convey your interest for the company over the phone as well. A great way to do this is to research the company prior to your phone interview and bring up something you found interesting about the company’s background.
And remember to smile! You can hear smiling over the phone. 🙂
2: Video Interview
With the boom of more and more companies operating almost entirely in a virtual space, video interviews replacing in-person interviews is becoming more and more common.
Prepare for a video interview the same way you would prepare for an in-person interview. Although the interview may feel more casual because you are attending the meeting out of your own home, you should still dress to impress (at least from the waist up anyway!). Dress for the interview the way you would if you were meeting the interviewer in person and take care to have a polished, clean look.
Make sure to have printed a copy of your resume to have handy and practice making eye contact with your laptop (or whatever device you will be using) while answering potential questions in order to develop a rapport during the interview. Prior to the interview make sure that your camera and microphone are working and pick a quiet, clean area of your house with good lighting to attend the interview in.
3: Digital Interview
Relatively new to the playing field, but growing increasingly more common is the digital interview, in which companies ask candidates to submit a video where they answer a list of prepared questions to be considered for a position. Prepare for this interview much the same way you would for the video interview.
Dress to impress and find a quiet, clean area of your house with minimal distractions and good lighting to take the video in. Practice answering the questions multiple times prior to recording the video and keep your answers short but detailed. Also don’t be afraid to let your personality show during this interview by expressing your enthusiasm for the position and desire to be part of the company.
Regardless of the type of interview conducted, remember your conduct after the interview can play just as important of a role as during the interview. Aim to send a short but enthusiastic follow up letter, (email these days is perfectly fine at most places), expressing your gratitude for being considered for the position and reiterating any special points you may have touched on during the interview that make you stand out as a candidate for the position.
Good luck!
