- Real advice to find the perfect fit
- Is 70 the new 50 in the workplace?
- Can you get the message across?
- Job seekers and the privacy principle
- The kids are all right
- Time for a ‘slash’ title?
- Follow @phillycomjobs on twitter
Weekly Poll: What has contributed most to your being in your current job?
RELATED STORIES
Webcam interviews put candidates in the spotlight – and on the hot seat.
If you’ve been invited to a webcam job interview, view it as if you’d been asked to host a TV newscast.
At least that is how job interview guru and author Paul J. Bailo sees the challenge.
“You have to prepare for it as though you were a news anchor, producer, cameraman and more, all in one,” Bailo says. You must purchase the right equipment, prepare the set and develop a storyline about you and why you should be invited to a face-to-face interview.
Webcam interviews add more stress to an already stressful situation, but it’s a process that is becoming more widely used. Bailo offers some do’s and don’ts to help you look more polished on camera:
- Do invest in the right equipment. The webcam on your laptop isn’t going to cut it. You need a standalone camera and a good microphone. Bailo and others recommend the Blue Snowball microphone. A Logitech webcam is also popular for interviews.
- Don’t use a cluttered portion of your house or office. Select or create a spartan room. Clean up any visible clutter. You might even want to consider purchasing a backdrop.
- Don’t act nervous. Contain your nerves. That includes eliminating the ugly “ums” and “ahs” that pop up when you least expect them.
- Do practice. Ask a friend or family member to work with you. Tape yourself if possible, so that you’re aware of your general demeanor. You should look at the camera and speak clearly, but not too loudly.
- Do dress the part. Take care to project a polished, professional appearance, even for webcam interviews.
- Don’t forget to eliminate distractions before the call. Ask family members or housemates to remain quiet.
- Do control your environment. Put pets in another room or with a friend during the interview. Turn off phones, alarms and audible distractions.
- Do execute a smooth closing. Thank the hiring manager, offer a nod of the head to say thank you and close the interview.
- Don’t leave your seat until the video connection is closed. Wait until they end the call.
