Protocol Tips for a Great Zoom Interview

The 2020 pandemic has limited in-person interactions to a minimum, with most countries declaring lockdowns or mandating a stay-at-home policy to avoid a wider spread of the virus. The result was people were unable to report for work or run non-essential businesses. Most turned to technology to work from home, and one that stood up to the challenge was video calling.

Amid the vast variety of video calling apps on offer, Zoom has done well with a lot of functionalities and features to meet the rising demand. After some initial hiccups concerning security and streaming glitches, the makers now offer end-to-end encryption for its users. It has a free version along with a paid premium one with additional features suitable for corporates.

The free version of Zoom allows up to 100 users to meet, but there is a 40-minute limit on meetings of more than two people.

Recruiters are now transitioning to video interviews to take advantage of a global skillset and make the process of hiring more efficient and streamlined. A lot of job interviews are now being conducted online. In a recent survey of recruiters conducted by tech firm Talview, 80% of respondents said their hiring process is fully remote, while 39% have increased their use of video conferencing software, like Zoom, for the interview process.

Certain protocols have developed around how to handle them. Here we bring you some dos and don’ts of attending Zoom call interviews.

When you have agreed to an online interview, the most important thing is to see that your gadgets are fully functional. See that the camera and audio of your laptop/desktops is on and working. The wi-fi connection is good and without any drops. Do a test-run with a friend or family to see it is functioning properly. Have a backup ready in case of unforeseen circumstances like power interruption, battery drainage, or the computer/laptop deciding to act up. Download the Zoom app.

• Check the time of the interview. If you are in different time zones, then doubly check and see that there is no confusion. There is nothing tardier than appearing for an interview late or missing it due to confusion over timing or dates.
• Be on call and ready for the interview at least 15-30 minutes in advance. Setting up a call takes time sometimes, and if you switch on with barely 5 minutes to spare, then you are bound to get hassled and appear frazzled on the interview.
• Gather all the relevant material and keep it handy in case you need to consult on something. Do not fumble around for papers, keep them neatly stacked near you with each having a stick-on with important points jotted down.
• This way you will not waste time perusing documents or riffling papers to get to the right one. A colored sticking paper neatly labeled is quick and easy.
• Keep your table neat with no clutter and have a neutral background. Have a glass of water handy, just in case.
• Dress appropriately. Loud prints and bright colors are distracting. Business attire or business casual attire is usually the best bet for job interviews. A suit, sport coat, button-down, or nice sweater are also acceptable. See that your background and clothes colors do not match.
• Watch out for your body language. Do not slouch in your chair, play with your hair, gesticulate, etc. Keep an easy eye-contact. Do not fidget and look away from the camera too much. Strictly no glancing at your phone.
• Be attentive, do not indulge in anything that conveys distraction or inattentiveness.
• Try to relax and not turn it into an interrogation. It is a two-way street with the interviewer also required to put in some effort, but be forthcoming and do not let the pauses be too long.
• Listen and focus on what is being said rather than answering by rote and giving pre-prepared answers.

If you follow these rules, your Zoom interview is bound to be smooth, easy, and impressive.

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