Your Guide to Video Interviews in Ireland

Your Guide to Video Interviews in Ireland

Most of us are adjusting to new ways of working amidst the global pandemic that is currently keeping many countries in lockdown. Due to Covid-19, many employers are changing the way they conduct interviews, and moving towards video interviews as a practical alternative to interview job candidates remotely.

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“Video interviewing is fast becoming the norm in the current climate out of necessity in order to keep recruitment moving forward. Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, video was starting to become popular with progressive employers and for recruitment from remote locations. My assessment is that this will become a much more prevalent tool when we move beyond the crisis and move beyond we will. We expect a slow down in closure of recruitment assignments, but a good recovery once restrictions are lifted. This is evidenced by the willingness of clients to keep critical interview processes moving forward, said Ken Murphy, Director of CareerWise Recruitment. “Preparedness, a good well lit, undisturbed environment (challenging in current circumstances) and building a good rapport with the interviewer are critical.”

Here at CareerWise, we always like to stay ahead of the game, and we’ve found that video is an excellent way to enable us to maintain the personal touch while we continue to offer a full and effective recruitment service. Read on to find out more about video interviewing and see how it can be a vital tool in securing your new job.

How to make video interviews work for you

It may feel like a strange time to look for work, but with a little flexibility, there is no reason why you can’t prepare yourself for your ideal job. Companies still need employees, especially those who can work from home, and taking an adaptable approach to the current crisis will make resilient and forward thinking employees of the future stand out from the crowd.

Interviews can be stressful at any time, but the idea of video interviews may make people feel very anxious indeed. There are, however, several hints and tips that can help you to feel more comfortable with video interviewing. Here, we will discuss the ways in which video interviews differ from face to face meetings and help you to excel in this new medium.

Preparing for a video interview

The key to success here is to practice, practice, practice, so enlist the help of your friends and family members to help you out as you work through the following until you feel comfortable with every step of the process.

- 1. Familiarise yourself with the technology. It’s well worth taking the time to get to know the technology that employers are using for this purpose, so it’s good practice to find out in advance how the interview will be carried out and do a trial run with a family member or friend to ensure you are comfortable with it. It’s a good opportunity to practice your camera manner and interview skills, as well as ironing out any teething issues that you may have with the technology being used. If you are using an external webcam, work out how to get the best lighting and eye contact, and always position yourself so that the camera is slightly above your eye-line, angled downwards, rather than below, which never produces a flattering result.

- 1. Stay professional. Moving to a video interview format does not mean you should adopt an informal attitude to the process. Make sure that your username is professional and suitable for sharing with potential employers, and don’t be tempted to turn up for a video interview in your pyjamas, coffee in hand. Give yourself the best chance of success by treating a video interview just as you would a face-to-face interview, taking time to prepare, dressing appropriately and adopting a professional and respectful manner throughout. It’s important to be on time, to demonstrate your professional attitude and avoid putting your interviewer off before you start.

- 1. Pay attention to your location. The situation may be unusual, but the way you respond to the Covid-19 crisis can demonstrate to a new employer that you are resourceful, flexible and forward thinking. Take care to create a space for your interview that is calm and quiet, and ensure that it is clean and tidy to give a good impression on the screen. Check what can be seen in the background, and consider how you can make adjustments to the lighting to give a natural, well lit image. You will need to ensure that you are not disturbed during the interview, so ensure that all alerts and notifications are turned off, and enlist the help of all other people in your home to keep the area quiet. Make sure that everyone – especially children – is aware of the importance of your call.

- 1. Dress for success. Dressing appropriately for an interview is not just about making a good impression on your interviewer, but also about getting yourself into the right mindset to succeed. You should take the time to select an outfit in the same way that you would for a face to face interview, and avoid very bright or heavily patterned tops that may be distracting on the screen. Looking like a professional will make you feel like a professional, so don’t be tempted to keep your pyjama trousers on just because they can’t be seen on camera!

- 1. Remember that body language and eye contact are important. It’s tricky to maintain eye contact during a video interview as it often feels a bit unnatural, but it will help your interviewer to build a connection with you. Look directly into the camera rather than at your screen or towards your own image, and try to sit still and avoid fidgeting. Good posture is a great way to show that you are confident and in control. Sit with your back straight and feet on the floor, hands resting on the desk or your lap. Try to stay relaxed throughout the interview process, and don’t forget to nod, smile or reply when your interviewer speaks to show that you are paying attention.

On occasion, an employer may use a pre-recorded interview format, in which you will join the interview and receive prompts to answer pre-recorded interview questions. You will need to record your answers, for the interviewer to watch later. This type of interview can be nerve-wracking, but it is easily manageable if you find out all you can about the process beforehand, including time limits and whether you can re-record any answers that go wrong. In this situation, the same rules apply as for a live video interview, so follow our guide and give yourself the best possible chance of success.

Pre-video interview checklist

Before you get online and aim to impress your prospective employer, it’s a good idea to run through this quick checklist to make sure you haven’t made any simple errors:

- - Are you in a good location, which is well lit and quiet?
  - Is your internet connection working well?
  - Have you checked your computer audio and webcam?
  - Have you closed all tabs and applications you don’t need?
  - Do you have a pen and paper to hand?
  - Is your phone/laptop set to silent or notifications turned off?
  - Is your laptop/phone fully charged?

It can be helpful to have a copy of your CV or application on your desk to help you out if you panic midway through, and you can keep a few important notes here, too. Take a few deep breaths before you start, and remember to make eye contact and smile!

Troubleshooting your video interview

Technology is not always easy to handle, especially if you are not used to using video calls or your computer audio. Internet connections can also be problematic on occasion, especially in recent weeks while so many more people are online during the day than usual. This means that problems can crop up during your video interview, even if you have done all of the above. Here’s what to do if things don’t go to plan:

- - Be prepared. Before the interview begins, ask the interviewer if they can provide you with a phone number in case the video call fails. If you experience difficulties with the video call, you can then telephone this number and discuss whether it is possible to continue by phone or set another time to try again with the video interview.

- - Keep calm. Don’t panic if something goes wrong, just take a deep breath and see what can be done to fix it. If the interruption is due to an external noise, for example, you should apologise and wait for the noise to pass, and mute your sound for a moment if necessary.

- - Carry on. Your interviewer will also be aware of the pitfalls of technology, and you may find that an interruption comes from their side, too. Whatever the problem, whether someone has entered the room or the wifi connection has let you down, simply apologise and move on without allowing yourself to get stressed out.

After your interview, follow up with an email to thank the interviewer for their time and provide any further information requested. This will help you to remain in front of mind for the interviewer, and gives another positive impression of your professionalism.

Looking For A New Job In Ireland?

CareerWise Recruitment is Ireland’s leading specialist recruitment firm, based in Cork, Shannon, Galway, Mayo and Dublin and our professional team can help you to find the new job you want. We take the time to get to know our clients so that we can be sure of positive results, and we offer support throughout the application process, including CV advice and interview guidance.

Talk to our experienced team to find out more about jobs in Ireland, and we can show you that video interviews are a great option right now. From Engineering and Supply Chain to Science/Pharma, IT and Accounting, we work across many key growth areas in Ireland and we can help you to secure the position you want.

Joe Robbins

(Director) BBS (Hons), MBPICS – Shannon Office

Joe Robbins is co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment. A graduate of the University of Limerick (Degree in Business Studies, 1985), Joe worked in the UK for five years where he specialised in materials management, production management and plant management for a number of companies.

He returned to Ireland in 1992 to become Operations Manager for a Cork-based start-up, FMC Automotive Division which was subsequently taken over by Snap-on Equipment. Joe managed the business re-location of this company to Shannon in 1997 before setting up CareerWise Recruitment in 1999.

He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mid-West region, and a former Director and Vice President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce. Joe is former Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Camogie Club and current Chairperson of the Clare County Camogie Board.

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