How to prepare for virtual interviews

As NORDEN is a truly global organisation, you may be invited to participate in a virtual interview through Microsoft Teams. Interviewing for a job virtually can sometimes be more challenging than in person but we will do our best to make it a good experience for you. 

Below are some tips and tricks to prepare for the virtual interview. Please note that the basic preparation for an interview also applies before a virtual interview – see the section “How to prepare for an interview”.

Setting up for the virtual interview
  1. 1. Choose a good location for setting up your computer. Find a quiet, neutral and professional-looking setting with good lighting. If it is not possible for you to locate yourself in an appropriate setting, we recommend that you use the Teams function to change your background.
  2. 2. Test your equipment. Make sure that your laptop is fully charged, and that you take the call in a place where your internet connection is at its best. Test you microphone and camera beforehand. Do not have any other applications running on your computer and keep your phone on silent mode.
  3. 3. Attend the meeting in good time. We recommend that you are ready some time in advance to avoid technical issues taking time out of the interview. It is possible to log into the meeting before, and we recommend that you do so no later than 5 minutes before the meeting begins so you have time to fix any last-minute issues.
  4. 4. Keep your printed resume, notepad and pen close. Before the interview, write down a short list of your qualifications, skills, and questions specific to the job you are being interviewed for and keep it close at hand. However, note that we recommend that you look as little as possible in your notes, as this gives the impression that you are well prepared. Have a glass of water near in case your throat feels dry.
  5. 5. Dress as you would for an in-person interview – this also give us an expression of who you are.
  

Connecting in the virtual interview
When being a part of a virtual interview, it can feel more difficult to connect with the interviewers. However, a few tips can accommodate this. 
  1. 1. Keep your camera on. The camera allows us and you to see reactions, body language and facial expressions. During the call try to nod your head when appropriate and avoid staring blankly at the screen.
  2. 2. Keep the eye contact as much as possible. We know that this might feel difficult and forced to do virtually, but a good tip is to look at the screen and camera as much as possible to show that you are actively listening and are being attentive to the interviewers.
  3. 3. Be prepared to have to repeat yourself if necessary – sometimes interviewers ask the same question but in a different way to make sure they get all the details and nuances in the answer. If you need a few seconds to gather your thoughts, don’t worry.

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