Preparing for a Video Interview: 16 Tips and Techniques

A video interview is no easy thing these days! A lot of people like to think it’s a challenge because you are not just dependent on yourself but also circumstances. The internet connection, the quality of your camera including the sort of makeup you use matters. Plus there are also several pitfalls of attending a video interview. So yes! You have to be very careful out there! And in case you are about to have a one very soon, then don’t worry because here are some tips and ideas that should help you.

The Ultimate Guide to Stress-Free Video Interview Success:

1. Look straight at the camera and not at the screen: When you are attending the interview on Skype, make sure to look at the camera first. In that way you will be making direct contact with the person who is interviewing you. It makes you look good as well. Making eye contact with the camera is very important. There are people who don’t have enough eye contact. There are people who lose out on landing a good job because of the way they look.
2. Be careful of what you are saying: You should be careful of what you are saying when you are in front of the camera. Use the right words and acronyms. Don’t use any slang words and if you can, improve your language before the interview. That will also help you in several ways.
3. Be calm and composed while speaking: Don’t ever look too hyper and over excited during an interview. You should be calm and composed for as long as you can. In fact, we would suggest you to stay calm throughout the video. People who can show off their personality while handling a level of professionalism will definitely help you land the interview of your dreams.

4. User better makeup: It doesn’t matter if you are a guy or a girl. If you are doing some makeup, kindly avoid anti shine makeup. There are people who read shiny faces as sweaty faces. They will also read a sweaty face as a face that is nervous. Videos always amplify the degree of shine that you could have on your face. It will also distract you. You just don’t want people to glare at you as if you are nervous and sweating. Plus make sure there is a good balance as it is very important.

5. Take a close look at your strengths and weaknesses: Since this is a high tech interview you will be asked more than just traditional questions. The common question here to ask is… “what are you strengths and weaknesses?”. And it is your job to answer like a pro. So make sure you have prepared answers like this. A whole variety of questions will be asked, so practice enough at home. Analyze yourself too.

6. Do enough research before attending the interview: Before you attend a video interview, make sure you have done enough research. It is important to learn and gain enough knowledge on matters like this. There are several clients who give the candidate a chance to ask them questions. So don’t get all caught up while thinking what you should be asking your recruiting manager. Instead go ahead and prepare a couple of questions from beforehand on something that you will not be able to research on your own.

7. Glasses and contacts are also important: How you present yourself is also important. Glasses and contacts are something that should be taken care of. If you wear glasses, then make sure to get a frame that suits you and looks good on you. And the best thing you can do in situations like this is wear better contact lenses instead of wearing contacts. You will automatically look more attractive in that way.

8. Wear better clothes: Wearing better clothes is also highly important if you didn’t know. If you want your recruiting manager to have a good impression, then make sure you have dressed yourself accordingly. What you wear and how your present yourself is extremely important. So dress yourself right. If you can, do purchase new clothes or clean and iron clothes thoroughly.

9. See how you are sitting: The way you are seated in front of your future boss also matters. Before the interview begins, turn on the camera and see how you are looking. You should look presentable while sitting. Sit straight as it always says good things about you. Slouching and looking away is never a good idea. So never make the mistake of trying something like that. Plus always remember that when you are attending an interview, you have to look like you are in a professional room and not in your personal space. So choose wisely.

10. Get good internet connection also: Now this is also something that you should remember. Having a good internet connection is highly important. It should not look hazy when you are on Skype. Having 4G or 3G is always a good idea. If you have WiFi, then nothing like it. Just make sure you have everything taken care of before attending an interview on camera.

11. Don’t use hand gestures while speaking: A final tip would be to avoid gesticulations of any kind. Hand gestures are appropriate when you are making conversation among your friends but during an interview, it will not make you look professional and smart. So avoid that!

12. Clear the area and make it look neat: Before you sit for an interview on Skype, make sure you have cleaned your room. Having a neat, clean and tidy room is very important. You should always make sure your room is looking good in front of the camera. Your interviewer is going to notice every single thing that they see on camera so don’t have the expectation that an unkempt room shall go unnoticed. They are going to check and see every single thing. So make sure to clear the area and keep things neat. It will help you make a good impression for sure.

13. Be confident on camera!: Being confident on camera is very important so if you want to make a good impression, just make sure you are following the two golden rules. First of all, you have to sit and smile. Make sure there are very few and limited hand gestures. And when you are answering a question, do not say more than three important things. After you have stated your three points, then stop speaking. We tend to babble too much during interviews and that is something that we should never do.

14. Don’t keep any overhead lighting at all!: An overhead lighting is something that you should avoid. You may also do a dry run before any interview or check what kind of lighting flatters you the most. You can do better with some kind of side lighting or lighting that is down below. If you think moving around the lamps would be a good idea, then there is nothing like it.

15. Sit in a place where you are comfortable enough!: You should also be seated in such a location where you are comfortable enough to speak. You should be relaxed while speaking. Fidgeting too much while talking is never a good idea. So make sure you are feeling relaxed and comfortable while speaking.

16. Take a trial run too: A trial run is also a very good idea before you sit for an interview. You should definitely do that before going online. In that way you will also be able to avoid embarrassing mistakes as you will be more aware of yourself. Practise always makes you perfect so a trial run is really what you need in order to get there.
Video interviews are a great chance for you to show your talents and skills from the comfort of your place. So smile and be confident and make sure you are well prepared to ace your interview using the technology that you have. Plus having the right connection will make things easier and comfortable. With that, we would like to bring this post to an end. And if you have liked this post, then please comment below. We would love to hear your feedback and know whats on your mind. If there are a few questions that you have in mind, don’t think twice before posting them as well. We will try our level best to answer all of them. Till then, good luck and prepare yourself better for the interview..























How To Get Hired Today Blog

Video Interview, Tips and Techniques for Interviewing, Getting the  Job

How To Make Money When Unemployed---With Uber, Flexible Work Helps Families Turn Car Payments Into Paychecks

How To Make Money When Unemployed or When You Need Extra Money

With Uber, Flexible Work Helps Families Turn Car Payments Into Paychecks


Cars are one of the most expensive assets a typical American family buys and maintains — yet they sit unused 96 percent of the time. There is no other item in which we invest so much money that we use so little. Driving with Uber means people can get more value out of this expensive asset. It means they can turn their car into an income generator. And riding with Uber can mean not having to own a car at all.

Increasingly, people do not talk about becoming “an Uber driver.” It’s a much simpler decision: I’m going to make some money while using my car. And for riders, it’s less about “do I take an Uber or a taxi” and more about “do I want to drive myself or take an Uber” and “which will save me time and stress?”

This answer to this question is beginning to have a real impact on personal car ownership - especially among millennials. Ten percent of millennials who ride with Uber have already changed their car ownership behavior, choosing to get rid of a personal vehicle or choosing not to make a car purchase because of Uber.

What this shows is something I know very well from studying political research for decades: universally and unequivocally, most people in America say they have too little money and too little time, and the two are closely connected. They wish they had more control of both. Uber and platforms like it helps solve for both of these pain points.

 Even though millions of jobs have been created as the economy has recovered, wages are growing at around the same rate as they did in 2010, and 47 percent of people in the U.S. say they would struggle to handle an unexpected $400 bill. One-third of those say they would have to borrow to pay it.

What’s clear is that demand for flexible, independent work has been swift and significant: Uber currently has 1.1 million active drivers on the platform globally. Here in the U.S., there are more than 400,000 active drivers taking at least four trips a month. Many more take only a trip or two to earn a little extra cash.

 On average, half of all drivers in the U.S. drive fewer than 10 hours a week. More than 40 percent drive fewer than 8 hours per week. This is crucial: for most people, driving with Uber is not even a part-time job: it’s just driving an hour or two a day, here or there, to help pay the bills.
And it adds up: so far in 2015, drivers have earned over $3.5 billion in the U.S.

Many people are driving with Uber to get the pay raise they have not received in their other jobs. Or to help themselves when they get in a tight spot. And drivers consistently report that what they value most about Uber is the flexibility of being able to work around their job, family, school, and other obligations.

In fact, nearly 90 percent of drivers say they choose Uber because they want to be their own boss and set their own schedule. This is in contrast to many other jobs that use “on-call” scheduling, where employees are called into work on very little notice when demand is high. In fact, a study by the University of Chicago found that half of all hourly workers now have no input at all over the schedule set by their employers.

With Uber, there is no schedule. Ever. People who drive with Uber decide for themselves whether they are going to work at any given time, and for how long. This flexibility and independence is key. Around 65 percent of drivers vary their hours from week to week by more than 25 percent. In other words, they want work that fits around their life — not the other way around.

Some approach work in the on-demand economy as if it’s a problem that needs solving. But when you look at the full picture of how people are using these platforms, it’s clear that these flexible, independent opportunities are part of the solution. As more drivers use the app to reach their income goals, and more riders rely on ridesharing to meet their needs, it’s not hard to imagine a future filled with more seamless, stress-free, and affordable transportation.

 What this shows is something I know very well from studying political research for decades: universally and unequivocally, most people in America say they have too little money and too little time, and the two are closely connected. They wish they had more control of both. Uber and platforms like it helps solve for both of these pain points.
 Even though millions of jobs have been created as the economy has recovered, wages are growing at around the same rate as they did in 2010, and 47 percent of people in the U.S. say they would struggle to handle an unexpected $400 bill. One-third of those say they would have to borrow to pay it.
What’s clear is that demand for flexible, independent work has been swift and significant: Uber currently has 1.1 million active drivers on the platform globally. Here in the U.S., there are more than 400,000 active drivers taking at least four trips a month. Many more take only a trip or two to earn a little extra cash. By David Plouffe







How To Get Hired Today Blog   How To Make Money When Unemployed or While Doing an Internship


 

Casual conversations at work can have a lasting impact on how people perceive you, so keep it professional.

Phrases That Make You Seem Unprofessional at Work, Networking and Job Hunting





When making conversation at work, we often don't realize how much of an impact our words can have. Let's take a look at nine phrases that make us look unprofessional to others without our even realizing it.
1. "I'm so tired."
When we tell fellow coworkers how exhausted we are at our job, we are indirectly shedding light on the lack of enthusiasm we have for our work. Seeming dispassionate is definitely not the path to success in a workplace.
2. "Don't tell the boss."
Trying to loop your coworkers into a rebellion against authority is an immature way of dealing with workplace problems. If there's something you don't want your higher-ups to find out, keep it to yourself or come clean about your problems. Your boss--and coworkers--will thank you.

3. "Can you believe that?"
By asking someone the above phrase in an incredulous tone, it's clear that you're asking for his or her complicity in berating something or someone. Whether it's a task that must be completed, the boss, or another coworker, the phrase makes you seem irritable and quick to judge.
4. "I'm bored."
Letting others catch wind of the fact that your menial office job isn't actually what you dreamed of doing with the rest of your life is definitely not the quickest way to win people over. They say to fake it until you make it--and there's definitely a method to the madness.
5. "I'm so stressed."
Need a way to let everyone know that you may be incapable of handling your workload? Telling them you're stressed is an easy way to go about it. The feelings of losing control and drowning in what you have to do without doing it accompany being stressed. It's not a great image to present to the workplace.
6. "Trust me. I know."
Whenever this phrase is inevitably used, it is often accompanied by the immediate embarrassment of the speaker when the thing he or she is talking about does not go the way planned. Check your arrogance. Don't let people think you're closed off to the ideas of others.
7. "I just don't get how to do it."

 

Unfortunately, our responsibilities as humans are to adapt to whatever life throws at us and make it work. Our job in the workplace is no different. If we don't have the knowledge to perfectly complete something, we need to figure out how to learn it. Don't sit there and complain instead.
8. "Let's pretend like it didn't happen."
A willingness to look over mistakes shows a kind of complacency and carelessness that simply isn't tolerable in any workplace. Showcasing your lack of respect for doing things right can only hurt, not help you, in the end.
9. "Oh my god! Did you hear what happened to __________?"
Gossip never got us anywhere--and that certainly is no different at work. Although trying to regulate it is quite the feat, we can all try to police our mouths at the end of the day. Bosses and coworkers alike have no interest in petty drama. Spare them, and keep it to yourself.  by Peter Economy LinkedIn






How To Get Hired Today  LinkedIn, Keep It Professional at Work, Networking and Interviewing
 

The Hidden Downsides to Working From Home

For an estimated 3.7 million American employees, home is where the office is, at least half of the time. The number comes from Global Workplace Analytics, and the research shows that employees who are not self-employed are working from home at higher rates.

But for all of its allure, telecommuting might not be as good an idea as you might think. A thorough review of past research on telecommuting is published this month in Psychological Science in the Public Interest (PSI), and it highlights a few things to keep in mind if you are one of the around 3.7 million.

The study, authored by the professors Tammy D. Allen, Timothy D. Golden, and Kristen M. Shockley, reinforces the idea that people who telecommute once in a while are generally happier and perform better than they would if they constantly worked in the office.
In 2014, approximately 25 million people worked remotely at least once a month. But those who telecommute about two days per week or more were found to be less satisfied than their cubicle-bound counterparts. According to the research, telecommuting is a dish best consumed in moderation.

Why?

For one, telecommuting can be socially isolating, and can potentially decrease productivity. There are also health considerations, like the way a desk or chair is set up.
“Another topic is the impact of telecommuting on physical activity,” the authors write. “This issue is important in that the health risks associated with extended periods of time spent sitting—such as excess weight gain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and premature mortality—are becoming increasingly well known.”
As noted by the Atlantic, telecommuting can also turn into a schedule that's erratic, which can exacerbate a disorganized or "all over the place" feeling in people who telecommute frequently.

RELATED: What It's Really Like to Work at a Call Center

The PSI study shows that working from home does have notable positives. Employers who allow their employees a choice in how and where they worked saw reports of increased job satisfaction, as well as loyalty. The results suggest that these factors could play a roll in reducing turnover for employees; if workers are allowed a say in where and how they work, they will stay with an employer longer, which is better for everyone involved.
Additional research conducted by other authors also suggests that people who telecommute are more likely to receive higher performance evaluations.

What can you do?

If your employer doesn't currently offer telecommuting and it's something you'd like to try, consider suggesting it to him or her. If the opposite is true, and you don’t have a choice in working from home, make sure to set up a sweet home office that will help keep you on track.

Diana Crandall







How To Get Hired Today Blog           work from home, telecommuting,  job search, productivity

Why You Should Get Back in Your Box

Why You Should Get Back in Your Box

Certain business phrases have entered our business vernacular and unfortunately stayed there. Like the notion of “work/life balance,” people who are “born leaders,” or the fallacy that “there are no new ideas.” Not only do they start to lose their meaning, many of them are just plain wrong most of the time.

Case in point: “Think outside the box.”

What is wrong with that one, you ask? Shouldn’t people open their minds to fresh ideas and new experiences — and not be confined to their own rigid ways? There is nothing wrong with thinking creatively, expanding your mind, taking chances. I think you should.
My problem with that expression is that it is not fair to the box, which has earned an undeserved reputation for small-mindedness and a stifling incapacity to allow growth. On the contrary, I find that the box is not such a bad place to be.
Before becoming the CEO of Aha! I spent many years working on corporate strategies and building great products. The more time I spent focusing my attention on key company and product decisions, the more experienced I became. Spending my time there actually led to the idea of creating a better tool for product managers to do their jobs. It also helped me understand the strategic framework that separates good teams and products from great ones.
Here is why I think everyone would benefit from spending more time working in their box:
Laser focus
People who are comfortable working in their box have confidence in knowing who they are and what they are meant to be doing. It gives you a framework to practice and perfect your art with concentrated focus. That repetition gives way to self-assurance and mastery that can only come when you are working in your zone.
Deep knowledgeEver hear the expression “Jack of all trades…master of none?” Generalists may boast of a wide range of experiences, but they lack the deep knowledge necessary for excellence. It is better to become an expert on a few things than to know a little about many things. Working and thinking inside your box allows you to dive deeply into your chosen field.
Quick decisions
Spend enough time working in the box, and you will hone your ability to make fast decisions. You will make quick decisions with confidence because you have seen the question before. Since you already have built clear decision frameworks for yourself based on previous patterns, you do not have to waste time agonizing over all the possibilities. You can respond immediately with assurance, and return your focus to the work at hand.
Sharp instincts
Most experts do what they do so well because of their experience and pattern recognition. Think of a veteran doctor diagnosing an illness or a conductor leading an orchestra. As a result of spending countless hours working in their narrow field, their senses are so well-trained that any anomalies immediately jump out and catch their attention.

The world’s experts know something that the rest of the world has not caught onto yet. They understand that there is a certain beauty in knowing what you know.

Sometimes that means focusing on one area and consciously eliminating unnecessary pursuits and distractions that only take you further away from where you want to be.
The next time you feel like you are being pulled in several different directions, get back inside your box and see what happens. You might be pleasantly surprised with the clarity you gain and progress you make towards being your best.
Have you ever tried to get “back in the box?”








How To Get Hired Today Blog             Job search, dream job, resume, goal setting, interview

How to Find and Get Your Dream Job

In a recent post I suggested the primary reason Why Good People Underperform is that the jobs people were hired to do were poorly defined before the person was hired.

As a result of this post a lot of job seekers cried out for help.    

It’s a big problem – getting the right job – and it's one I’m working with Prof. Todd Rose at Harvard University to help solve. Rose is the author of the soon-to-be bestseller, The End of Average, and president of the Center for Individual Opportunity. He is currently focused on figuring out how work can be better designed to maximize individual performance rather than force-fitting candidates into ill-defined jobs. He contends that this is one of the reasons the workforce is highly disengaged and why good people underperform.

Until a solution to this problem is available, here’s the advice I offer job seekers to get a job that better matches their needs and interests. 

Define your ideal job but don’t tell anyone…yet.

First figure out what you like to do most and what you do best. There needs to be a big overlap here or this “get a better job” exercise is a big waste of time. Define all of the technical skills required to get this job, the non-technical skills (formerly known as “soft skills”) and the size of the teams you’ve successfully worked with and led. You’ll need to fill in any skills gaps before anyone will take you seriously so get started with this right away. Maybe Lynda.com or some other online training portal can help here. 

At some point in time, you’ll need to prove you’re competent to do the work you’ve just defined. I suggest candidates prove each strength with a real accomplishment. Here’s a slide deck you can use to get prepared for this. It will guide you through the whole interviewing process.

Find companies that do what you want to do.

Start looking for jobs that best match your interests on Indeed and LinkedIn but DO NOT APPLY! You’ll use these as leads. More companies are using microsites or talent hubs to group similar jobs. Start digging into these and become very familiar with the types of work the companies are doing and any new company initiatives underway. It’s a clue that these companies are expanding if they’re hiring lots of sales people, so check this out, too.

Then follow these companies. LinkedIn has a new feature for recruiters that prioritizes candidates based on their skills and how long they’ve been following the company. So this will help you get higher on the list if you do apply.

Get noticed and get referred.

Still don’t apply.

Instead you need to get referred to people who work at the targeted companies. If you have the skills, are following the company and are referred by someone in the company, you will be at the top of the list. Recruiters always review referred candidates first. However, you’ll need to own this networking advice before getting referred: 

Networking is not about meeting as many people as possible. It’s about meeting a few people who can recommend you to other people you don’t know.

Here’s a video on how to implement this 20/20/60 networking plan I advocate.

Make sure you’re interviewed properly.

Make sure you’ve practiced the interview tips in the PowerPoint guide. But the big one is to ask forced-choice questions. At the beginning of the interview ask the interviewer to describe the job and some of the challenges involved. You’ll then need to prove you can do the work by giving an example of something you’ve accomplished that’s most comparable. To ensure all of your strengths and interests are covered, just ask the interviewer if the strength is important for success. Then describe an accomplishment proving you possess it.

Too many interviewers will ask you questions that don’t relate to real job needs, so this more direct approach will ensure you’re assessed properly.

Negotiate the job content, not the compensation.

The essence of a more “dreamlike” job is doing work that better matches your skills and interests. I suggest a career move needs to offer a 30% non-monetary increase. This is the combination of job stretch, job growth and a richer mix of more satisfying work. If you’re being offered a job and have the opportunity to negotiate the terms, focus more on modifying the job in some way rather than emphasizing more money. Not only will the hiring manager be impressed with the approach, you’ll also be more engaged and more productive.  

Design, find and get your dream job.

While getting a great job isn’t easy, it’s a lot better than taking a series of lateral transfers and five or ten years later wondering what happened. The above is a realistic way to get a better job. Surprisingly, now is the perfect time to get started finding it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Get Hired Today Blog    Get Hired, Interviews, Job Search, Resume, Dream Job

5 Things You *Must* Do to Follow-up After an Interview

You’ve made it through the last round, and now all you have to do is play the waiting game. It’s a nerve-wracking time, and you may jump every time the phone rings, but keep your cool and make sure you’re not breaking any of these interview follow-up rules:
1. Thank them within two days. 
Thank whoever interviewed you on the day of or, at the very least, the day after your interview. Thank every person who interviewed you. It’s best to send them individual thank-you emails or notes. Only send a thank-you note if you can drop it off in person, because if you snail mail it, it might arrive late.
2. Follow up within two weeks. 
Follow up after your thank-you note anywhere from a week after the interview to no later than two weeks. Don’t bombard them with emails and if you haven’t heard from them after the thank-you note and the first follow-up, wait another week to two weeks before doing one final follow-up. If you don’t hear back from them, it’s probably time to move on.
3. Choose the right person. 
Don’t follow up with everyone you met up with. Pick a person who’s in charge of following up with you. At the end of the interview, you can ask what the next steps are to clarify who should be reaching out to you. Most likely, you should follow up with either the hiring manager or the HR contact.
4. Use the same medium. 
If your interviewer seems to prefer a certain medium, like the phone or email, try to stick to that when reaching out to them. If she reaches out to you via email, respond with an email. If she calls you and leaves a voicemail, get back to her by phone.
5. Be careful with language. 
Choose your words wisely and be wary of sounding impatient or even putting pressure on the person you’re speaking to. Hiring managers need time to make a decision, and they may still be interviewing other people, so be patient. Meanwhile, keep looking for other job opportunities while you’re waiting, so you’re not pinning all your hopes on one position.



How To Get Hired Today Blog        Job Hiring Process, Interviews, Resumes, Recruiters