5 Tips how to prepare for a virtual job interview

Test Your Technology
The minute you agree to a virtual interview, test your technology to ensure you’re set up for success. 

Set the Scene and Minimize Distractions
While testing your technology, determine where to take the interview. Find a room with optimal lighting, preferably near a window, or a blank wall to guarantee you’re the focal point of the conversation.

Practice, Don’t Memorize
You don’t want to sound robotic throughout your interview—whether answering or asking questions or giving your elevator pitch. It’s easy to tell if you aren’t being genuine, so it's a good idea to run through a few practice rounds with a friend or family member.

Make a Connection
You never know how many interviews a company may conduct for a position. You might be at the end of a long list of people the hiring manager spoke to that day. This is why it's important to make a connection.

Be Yourself
A key task for a recruiter is determining whether you would be a good fit for the company’s culture. This can be challenging during a virtual interview because there is a physical disconnect.

Continuously cultivate and demonstrate a growth mindset.

Embrace Challenges: View obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow rather than as setbacks.

Be Open to Feedback: Actively seek and constructively use feedback to improve their skills and performance.

Stay Curious and Adaptable Continuously learn new skills and stay updated with industry trends.

Build a Strong Network: Cultivate professional relationships and seek mentorship to expand opportunities.

Showcase Problem-Solving Skills: Highlight their ability to overcome challenges and contribute value to prospective employers.

By fostering a growth mindset, you will be better equipped to navigate the job market, seize opportunities, and achieve long-term career success

Don't make these 3 mistakes when making a CV

You might not expect it, but your resume could actually decrease your chances of landing that dream job. So, make sure you avoid the following three mistakes:

1.Lengthy bullet points
Do you have a lot of bullet points on your resume?
While this is the best way to neatly list your experiences, it's better not to make it too long. Stick to a maximum of two lines. You only want to mention a few key points and achievements that reflect your strongest skills.

2.Too many different fonts
It's better to avoid using overly large fonts and too much bold, italic, or underlined text. Remember: less is more. Often, it's overwhelming and unnecessary, unless you're applying for a position that requires visual creativity (such as a graphic designer). If not required, keep the style and formatting as simple as possible and use attractive fonts.

3.A multi-page resume
You don't need to worry immediately if your resume is longer than one page, but try to keep it to a maximum of three pages. If you've had many previous jobs, remove the ones that are unrelated to the position you're applying for. Know which skills are most relevant to the job. Good luck!

Don't make these 6 mistakes during a job interview

Not being prepared for the question
‘Why do you want to work here’? Every recruiter will ask you this question. Do your research about the company before going to the interview. Who is the business? What do they stand for. How big are they? Who is in charge? Who are their competitors.  These are some things you might want to research.

Not listening carefully to the questions to give the right answers
You might have prepared answers to common questions but listen carefully at what you are being asked. Keep your answers concise and stay on topic.

Don’t criticize your old job
The recruiter might ask you why you want to leave or did leave your current role. If there are any, never mention the negative sides of your current/former job. Avoid being critical and talking bad about former employees. Instead give suitable reasons, like; you want a new challenge, you want to grow or you want to work in a bigger/smaller company.

Arriving late
A job interview is your first impression, so no matter what, do not arrive late. Leave on time, taking possible delays into consideration. Arrive a little bit earlier and wait in the car if you need to. 

Not asking questions
At the end of the interview the recruiter will ask if you have any question. Ask at least one or two questions to highlight your interest in the position and the company. Ask questions related to the job, the company and the industry.

Don’t lie or over exaggerate
Keep yourself to what you wrote in your motivation letter and what is in your curriculum vitae. Just be yourself and do your best pitch. Discuss your skills and how you can use them in your new job.

Curriculum Vitae

Don't forget to regularly update your CV, at least every 3-6 months. It's crucial to ensure your contact details, like phone numbers and email addresses, are current to avoid missing out on potential job offers.

What makes YOU a great fit for a role?

Highlight the skills you bring to the table that will make you a great fit and how they will translate to impact your role and the company.

Talk about what excites you most about this opportunity. Discuss a specific initiative or work tasks that excites you. 

In a competitive job market, employers have a lot of awesome talent to choose from. They want to hire people who are low risk and high reward. The more you can do to show off the impact you can have and minimize any concerns about your ability to contribute, the stronger your chances are of getting hired.

Emphasize on soft skills

Although employers seem keen to invest in upskilling and reskilling efforts to fill the skill gaps that exist within their organizations, their hiring efforts will focus on finding candidates who can bring the right combination of soft skills to a role. It’s much easier to train someone to use, for example, a new computer program than it is to teach them to become more empathetic in the workplace. And these soft skills—such as emotional intelligence, adaptability, effective communication, and conflict resolution, to name a few—are essential for professionals across all levels to build positive workplace relationships, foster a collaborative environment, and adapt to the evolving demands of the modern workplace.

Confidence is key during a job interview

A strong "30-minute pitch" can make a lasting impression. Practice makes perfect as they say, so start practicing today. You will be more confident during your job interview and can anticipate on the questions that the interviewer can ask you. 

Focus on outcomes

One of the best ways to stand out from the crowd is to explain the outcomes of your work through your accomplishments and contributions. These details provide the necessary context for hiring professionals to truly appreciate your skills and the value you could bring to their organization. When you’re facing a competitive job market—something job seekers should anticipate in the new year—there is no better way to catch the attention of employers than by helping them connect the dots between your skills and their impact. Anyone can say they have great sales skills or are a whiz at finance, but it’s the candidate whose résumé offers proof of these qualifications who will receive the most attention.

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