Have you ever been guilty of sitting hunch-backed, with extremely poor posture, nervously biting your fingernails, and staring at your laptop screen in sheer anticipation of what awaits? Even as someone who considers herself fairly composed and suave when tackling unforeseen challenges, I have experienced such a nerve-wracking sensation firsthand. 

In an increasingly digitised world where artificial intelligence has captivated the attention of everyone, from pupils to entrepreneurs, my first tryst with this revolutionary concept was fairly mundane: a virtual interview. As part of the application process for an internship opportunity, I needed to complete an unsupervised and unmoderated virtual interview.

However, having never given a virtual interview before, I was unsure of what to expect and how to prepare before my interview. Hence, cue the poor posture and anticipation-filled grimace. Therefore, to keep your fingernails perfectly manicured a little longer, I will share all the tips and tricks you will require to ace your first virtual interview!

What can I expect from Virtual Interviews?

There are numerous parallels between traditional supervised video interviews and virtual interviews on platforms such as interviewer.ai. Both interviewing formats are employed in the context of recruitment and selection and enable remote assessment of candidates. Additionally, both interviewing formats allow employers to evaluate candidates beyond their resumes, observing their communication, critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving capabilities. 

Much like typical interviews, in virtual interviews, candidates will be asked questions to gauge their qualifications, skills, and fitness for the role. However, while an interviewer questions the interviewee in real-time in traditional interviews, virtual interviews use preset. The key differentiating factors include: 

1. Automated Interviewing Process: Platforms for virtual interviews employ artificial intelligence to proctor the interview. You will receive an application link for your desired position. Fill out the application form as required. Predetermined or pre-recorded questions are displayed on the screen.
2. Flexible Scheduling, Video Recording, and Response Time: Candidates can complete the interview at their convenience within a specified time window. Candidates record their responses via webcam, which are then saved for later review by recruiters and hiring managers. Therefore, remember to allow access to your camera and microphone before starting the interview! You will also have a specific set timer for preparing your answer to the question and recording your answer.
3. Assessment and Scoring: You can expect a personalised assessment report from interviewer.ai sent directly to your email! Interviewer.ai provides automated scoring of candidates based on their responses and offers feedback in the form of comprehensive reports to candidates, helping them understand their strengths and areas for improvement. Interviwer.ai uses artificial intelligence to analyse and evaluate your performance. Let me share some key tips to achieve the ideal test score! 

How do I prepare for Virtual Interviews?

1. Attire: Business formal attire is crucial to appear professional and present yourself as a suitable candidate for the role you are applying for. You may choose to wear a chic blouse or button-up shirt, but I highly recommend wearing a blazer or tie along with it. A blazer adds flair to the outfit and makes you appear more confident and prepared! A polished and sophisticated attire enhances your score in the personalised interview evaluation report interviewer.ai generates.
2. Setting: Avoid taking the interview from an informal setting, such as from the bed or couch. Ensure you are seated on a desk with a neutral, clutter-free background. Virtual interview platforms do not permit you to edit your backdrops like other video platforms like Zoom or Skype do. Therefore, ensure you are seated in front of a white wall or front of another professional setting. I recommend taking the interview in a quiet atmosphere with minimal distractions. Although most virtual interview platforms permit retaking your responses, answering without distractions the first time communicates your authentic responses. Authenticity and genuine responses are looked upon favourably by interviewers. 
3. Laptop Set-up: Ensure your laptop screen, or any other device you are using for attending the interview, is situated at your eye level. Keeping the device in the eye-line aids you in appearing at a natural angle on the screen. Ensure you have a stable internet connection and test your audio and video before taking the interview. We also recommend not having any unnecessary applications open while taking the interview. You may also choose to use a high-quality external microphone and webcam. Although, you do not require it provided your laptop’s audio and video quality is crisp and clear. Do not have any notes or other material to refer to near the device. Interviewer.ai and other virtual interviewers value authenticity in their responses. 
4. Demeanour: The primary benefit of giving virtual interviews on platforms like interviewer.ai is the liberty to re-record your responses. Re-recording allows you to tailor and improve how you present yourself in each retake. However, to limit the number of retakes, maintain a professional and confident demeanour throughout the interview to make a positive impression. Speak clearly and concisely, yet ensure you do not rehearse your responses. Try to maintain good posture and eye contact with the camera throughout the interview. Furthermore, avoiding fidgeting or excessive hand movements conveys engagement and attentiveness.  
5. During the Interview: During the virtual interview, adopt a professional and courteous tone while using appropriate vocabulary. Try to speak clearly and articulately and avoid informal language. Your voice modulation should convey enthusiasm, confidence, and interest. However, remember to maintain a balanced tone that is neither boastful nor overly self-deprecating. Candidates have approximately a minute to prepare their answers before recording. During this time, formulate an action plan and curate some key points you would like to address in your answer. Try to link your answers directly to you as an individual and why you are well suited for the role. 

I hope these tips boosted your confidence and made taking a virtual interview slightly less daunting. A sincere good luck from the team of interviewer.ai for your first virtual interview!

Interviewer.AI is a technology platform purposely built to support Recruiters and HR teams in finding top talent for their companies. We also work with universities to help them with admissions and coaching, helping them use technology to solve for talent and training. Our mission is to make hiring equitable, explainable, and efficient. to screen in advance and shortlist the candidates that meet the criteria set. 

Also see: 10 common job interview questions and how to answer them.

Anvita is a student currently pursuing the rigorous IBDP curriculum. You can often find Anvita immersed in fiction novels or at the skatepark attempting to befriend concrete. She considers herself to be an aspiring social entrepreneur and an avid blog author.