Four tips for a successful videoconference job interview

The health crisis will have had at least the merit of popularizing digital practices that were hitherto marginal. Like teleworking, recruitment by videoconference has become more democratic. To familiarize job seekers with this method of recruitment, Pôle emploi has set up a catalog of tools (see elsewhere). Advisor to the Rethel agency in the south of the Ardennes, Pascaline Domingues de Barros talks about the tips to keep in mind before D-Day.

1

Taming the technique

A job interview takes preparation. Twice as much when it comes to a remote interview. In addition to preparing the background, it is necessary to tackle the form. "Preparation on the technical side is necessary", attacks Pascaline Domingues de Barros. It starts simply by “checking that we have a network”. “You have to know the platform used by the company to pass the interview. » Zoom, Teams, Skype, FaceTime, etc. the offer is very diversified. “If it's a platform that you don't master, it's important to look at its features before going into an interview. If you are used to using it, it will be necessary to check the pseudonym and the photo used for this profile so that they are not too familiar. The Pôle Emploi adviser invites candidates to carry out a final connection test about twenty minutes before the time of the appointment “to avoid additional stress”.

2

Check the frame

If videoconferencing makes it possible to make a meeting remotely in many places, it will be advisable to remain in a neutral universe and avoid any eccentricity such as "lying on your bed". It is recommended to connect via a stable support and thus prefer the computer to the mobile phone.

“The ideal is to position the camera at head height and not in a bird's eye view and to create a step back so that the employer sees the upper body and not just a close-up of our face. He will therefore be able to see our gestures. This will make the interview livelier. Be careful not to overdo it and move constantly at the risk of creating a blurry image. Another point of vigilance: brightness. The employer must hear you and see you. "Beware of backlighting", warns the adviser. Finally, as for a classic interview, our clothing must be adapted to the position for which we are applying.

3

Stay connected

Once connected to the discussion space, there is no question of going to sail to other occupations. Even if our interlocutor is late, you have to stay in front of his screen. “That's why it's important to make sure you're not disturbed. » Children or noisy animals can be entrusted to a third party during the interview.

During this wait, “some employers play music, it helps to clarify the steps”.

4

Remove Distance

Once in front of the recruiter, “you have to try to create a link” despite the physical distance and limited body language.

To do this, the Ardennes specialist has a few simple tricks such as “being smiling” and “not looking at the thumbnail at the bottom of the screen which constantly reflects our image. You have to try to fix the camera as much as possible. The employer will have the impression that you are looking him in the eye. »

The speech must be slightly revised with the digital tool. “You have to speak a little more clearly and distinctly and pay attention to your speech flow because the sound quality is not the same as if you were face-to-face. “Also, “you should not be afraid of white people because the response time is a little delayed in videoconferencing”.

For the rest, “the remote interview differs little from a traditional interview”, concludes the adviser.