We first wrote a post about video interviews a few months ago but thought it was worth sharing some further insights as it becomes increasingly common that employers conduct video interviews. Frontline, the leadership programme for social work, has recently introduced video interviews. We had a meeting with the Frontline Recruitment Officer for LSE, Andrea Boden. She shares her top tips.
“In this exciting digital age, it’s understandable that recruiters are now harnessing the power of technology to help them identify exceptional candidates. Video interviewing is fast becoming a key part of the graduate recruitment process. So far, at Frontline, we have found that it has been a really great way of bringing an application to life. For example, one of Frontline’s competencies is around empathy and relationships. If a candidate writes that they have strong empathic tendencies, we can often pick up on that to a greater degree by the way they communicate on screen, therefore giving us much better insight into a person, before we invite them to assessment centre.
However, whilst most of us are fairly comfortable with using technology, not everyone can claim to be comfortable presenting to camera. In fact, for some, the whole idea is terrifying! That’s why we’ve come up with a list of tips to help get you prepared for your on-screen début:
- Be prepared: Make sure that you are in a quiet, well-lit space where you won’t be interrupted – this includes any background noise.
- Do your research: Make sure you’ve got a good grasp of the industry and specific company you’re applying for and be ready to answer the questions you might be asked during the interview.
- Be natural: It may be the first time you have completed a video interview, but treat it as a real life conversation and maintain good eye contact with the camera.
- Be mindful of your tone: Don’t be scared to express yourself. Remember that you want recruiters to really pay attention to what you’re saying and how you say it plays a part in that too.
- Be presentable and look professional: Your video will be seen by assessors who will want to see your best self.
- Be aware of the time limits: Most video interviews will have timed answers, structure your answers with that in mind.
- Don’t worry if you make a mistake: Recruiters will be looking to see how you recover so try not to let it throw you. Take a deep breath and carry on.
- Strong internet connection: Ensure that you have a strong internet connection and a webcam. Some programs also allow you to complete the test on your phone, tablet or laptop. If you are using a phone or tablet you will need to adjust your settings so that you do not receive any texts, phone calls or notifications during the interview.
- Practice beforehand: There are websites that allow you to sit practice video interviews eg. interview4.com.
- At LSE Careers, we also have access to InterviewStream.
For more information about Frontline, visit their website: www.thefrontline.org.uk.
