I trust you have been having a great read from parts 1 and 2 of this series. if you have not read the first two parts of this series. Click to read part 1 and/or part 2. In this third and final part of this series, I will be sharing tips for online interviews and post-interview follow up. 

Online interviews

Someone said that COVID-19 was the innovation boost we needed. It’s no longer news that there’s been a significant change in the way we live and work, since the pandemic. However, the breaking news is that this is the new normal; we’re never going back to the way things were, so it’s time to embrace it and start thriving.

Online Interview Tips for Candidates

• Dress Appropriately: I know you’re in familiar territory; the comfort of your home. However, you’re still expected to look clean and presentable. To be on the safe side, please dress like you were invited for a physical meeting.

• Check Your Internet Connection: I do not think that I should say this but I will. I know a candidate who was not hired because he moved houses within his interview period and the network service provider he was using initially did not have a strong presence in his new house. On the day of the interview, they could barely hear him and even after they asked that he switched to a WhatsApp call away from the scheduled zoom call, they still could not hear what he was saying. He did not get that job at the Multinational Company. It is wisdom to learn from the experiences of others. Secure a backup internet service provider so that in the event that things go south, you’re still covered.

• Choose a Comfortable Sitting Area: As expected, your interview may last beyond an hour. You may want to select a convenient place during this time.

• Lighting: Ensure that the place you’re sitting is adequately illuminated and the interviewers can see you clearly.

• Be Prepared: This is the Boys’ Scout and Girls’ Guide motto. Ensure you have covered the bases before your interview. Go through the Company’s website, find out the job requirements, research the organization thoroughly and prepare your questions for the panelists. Interviews are not one-sided sessions. There would be time for you to ask questions and it is unprofessional if after all your research and responses, you do not have anything to ask your interviewers. You must have come across something of interest about the company or role you are looking to fill; ask them about it. Show them that you are interested in getting to know them just as they are doing during the interview. Please, under no circumstances should you ask about the salary on your first interview. It is important that you keep this in mind.

Post Interview

This is the phase a lot of people do not talk about. However, it is as important as the rest because the wait is usually longer. Take a deep breath; the interview is over. Feel free to give yourself a treat but I wouldn’t celebrate just yet. Don’t forget that there are still things to be done, at least until you hear the magic words, “when can you resume?”

First, it won’t cost you anything to send a thank you message to the Company for considering your application. Doing this might project you as a grateful and well-mannered applicant and even earn you some edge.

Also, right after the interview, recall what happened. What went wrong? What went right? What can be improved upon? These are questions you have to ask yourself and answer truthfully. This exercise will help you do better in your next interview, if you are not called back for the role.

You might also want to follow up with the recruiter if you haven’t heard from them, just to have some form of closure and move on, if the previous one didn’t work out.

I trust you have learnt a lot from this series. Feel free to share your thoughts or contribution in the comment section below.