The past 18 months has seen the way workplaces run change dramatically.

A huge portion of the population currently works from home, meetings are more often virtual than not, and programs of all descriptions have adapted to be online… as has interviewing!

Many job interviews are now conducted virtually using the likes of Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Skype.

So, how can you best prepare for an online interview to ensure you put your best foot forward?

Get yourself set up right! Find a quiet room where you won’t be interrupted, where you can concentrate, and the interviewers can hear you clearly. Consider the view the interviewer has of you – make sure the space around you is tidy, there are no distractions behind you and the space is well lit.
Stay hydrated! Interviews involve a lot of talking, if you were at a company’s office you would typically be offered something to drink. Prepare yourself with a cup or bottle of water at your desk so you can have a drink in between questions.
Practice makes perfect! Make sure you allow time to do a test run before the interview. Check in advance that you can access the platform the interview is being held on (sometimes a download is needed!) and that your sound & video are working.
Be on time! Just like a face-to-face interview, always arrive early! Make sure you log on at least a few minutes before the start of your interview so that if there are issues they can be resolved and you aren’t stressed that you will be late.
Dress to impress! Treat this like any other meeting – you may only be visible from the waist up but still ensure you look professional as if you were meeting the company in person.
Technical Difficulties! Communication can be the hardest part of an interview online- be prepared how to handle the situation if things aren’t perfect. If you don’t understand what is being said by the interviewer, don’t be afraid to ask to have the question repeated rather than give an incomplete answer. If there are technical issues (slow internet or video is dropping out) pause in between a question to ensure they have finished speaking and slow down your answers, so it is clear for the interviewers to hear your answer.
Smile! Don’t forget this is the first and potentially only opportunity this company will have to meet you, so make sure they know how excited you are about the role. Smile and be enthusiastic with your responses.