How to Impress on a Zoom Interview

Modern interviews are much different than interviews your parents went through. And when you take into account the workplace restrictions surrounding Covid, then you will start to see how prevalent Zoom interviews have become.

It’s therefore very important that you know how to impress on a Zoom interview, because odds are that this is the way you will interview with your potential boss.

You might still need to do an in person interview, but the first event will always be either a phone call, or more likely, a Zoom interview.

And so it makes sense that you need to know how to impress on a Zoom interview.

Luckily, as someone who has prepped countless people for Zoom interviews, I’m going to help you out.

The tips are basically universal, so if you’re applying for an entry level corporate job, or a higher end executive level role, you can play off of all of these suggestions.

Step 1: Learn how to Use Zoom

Do a test run on Zoom. Most people will have used Zoom for some things, but in the event that you haven’t, or in the event that you’re not that experienced and only have used it once or twice then you need to do a prep Zoom call.

The fastest way to tank a Zoom interview is to not be able to set it up to begin with. If you’re unable to connect to the interview, or you log on and can’t be heard because you don’t know how to turn your microphone on, then you’re basically done for.

So, get a friend or family member and set up a Zoom call with them. You don’t need to have a professional, paid account with Zoom to do this. You can easily set up a a practice call.

When you do this, make sure you know how to log onto the Zoom call and are able to turn on and activate your microphone and video.

I would also advise that you check out a few videos online that can show you exactly how to operate Zoom.

Here’s a good video for starters.

Step 2: Prepare Your Background

Another way to impress on a Zoom call is to have a professional background. This does not mean that you need a virtual background.

Many companies have a stock background that they use when having conference calls. This is fine as well, but it does require a bit of sophistication in order to not look amateurish.

My suggestion would be to have your setup pretty simple. Just pick out a good plain background, a wall with a simple painting, or even a blank wall is perfectly fine.

Simple things like a houseplant, or a floor lamp is fine. What you don’t want to have is a large amount of clutter in your background.

The most important thing to avoid is clutter, excess people (as a rule, only you should be present in the video, never have your roommate, children, spouse walking around in the background).

If you are plannining on using a virtual background, please make sure to test it out. You do not want to encounter any mistakes like the infamous cat video.

Step 3: Make Sure Your Space Is Appropriate

This ties into the above topic. You want to make sure that your space is clean and professional looking. It’s not necessary that you have a professional home office, but you should have a space that looks pretty nice.

You do not have to clean your entire apartment. That is time consuming and can create a ton of stress. What I always suggest is to clean and make presentable an area of your space.

Then, make sure you test out the camera and see how the frame displays everything.

Spend a good half hour setting it up and checking angles. It’s worth it because you don’t want something in frame during the call that would somehow disrupt the interview.

If there is a bag of messy laundry even slightly in frame, then your employer will probably be turned off and consider you someone who would not be able to trust to be a competent employer.

So, clean the space and make sure there are no distracting objects in the view. This includes collectables, books or magazines that might strike someone as offensive (you would be supported at how many people are offended at the slightest thing.

Here’s a pretty good video from the Wall Street Journal

Step 4: Don’t Be Interrupted

This one is paramount. If the list was ordered by importance, then I would likely put this near the top. However, even though this is number 4 on the list, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take notice.

You simply cannot be interrupted. This means that you should make sure that your cell phone is off. You have to also not have any television or radio on.

Look, it’s bound to happen. There are even famous examples of newscasters and pundits being interrupted by their kids while giving interviews. However, you should try and minimize the chances that there is an interruption by planning ahead.

Finally, what you absolutely need to do is make sure that anyone else in your home is aware that they need to be quiet. You can’t have roommates wandering past the camera while you are explaining your experience as a project manager at your former job.

So, make sure all other people in your home know to stay clear of your camera space while filimg.

Step 5: Look Into The Camera!

Be direct and make eye contact with the people you are speaking with. You don’t want to look off into the distance, or look down, or avoid eye contact.

Don’t stare, obviously, but make general eye contact. People who do not look you in the eye while they are talking are generally not trusted. There are substantial studies backing this up.

In general, you want your interviewers to feel like you are a normal, socially well adjusted individual.

Remember, Zoom is used to gauge a person, not the resume. So, think of it like a regular in-person interview. You want to come off as likeable and normal.

Step 6: Don’t use your Phone or Tablet

If you are having a Zoom call, please use a computer. If you don’t have a laptop or desktop, then you obviously have to make do with a tablet or phone. But there are serious drawbacks.

The reason why I suggest always using a Laptop or Desktop is that they are more steady and will provide more professional camera quality for an interview.

If you must use a phone or tablet, make sure that you set up a secure holding place for the phone or tablet.

Some places sell small holders so that you can place your phone or tablet directly into the holder and then place it on a desk. This is what I would suggest. It’s a small investment and it’s really worth it if you are planning on doing a job interview.

Even if you land that first job with a single Zoom interview, the investment is worth it. You don’t have to go through dozens of interviews to make the small price worth it.

IF you have to use Zoom on your IPhone, here’s a good video where the host explains how to properly use a phone tripod.

Again, I’d advise that you try and use a laptop but if you don’t have access to a desktop or laptop computer for your Zoom calls, then make sure that you are using a phone with a steady base.

Do not hold it in your hand as it will look shaky and unprofessional.

Step 7: Record Yourself on a Dry Run

One of the cool features of Zoom is that you can record a meeting. So, if you set up a prep call with a friend, or even a one way test where you speak to the camera, you can record it and then play it back to view how you come off.

If you’re worried about accidently sending out a Zoom link to other people, you can always record yourself on your computers built in laptop camera. Then play it back.

This is helpful because it will help you gauge how much lighting you need, how much space you need, and the overall look of the frame.

Step 7: Be Prepared for the Interview- Research the Company

This isn’t necessarily unique to Zoom calls, but I would suggest that you always do some research on the company. This includes:

• Looking up the firm on LinkedIn
• Checking out the Company Website
• Making sure you know the names of the people you are interviewing with

Remember, even though it’s a Zoom interview, don’t consider it a “fake” or “pretend” interview. All interviews are important because they let you learn about the company and also from the companies viewpoint, they let them determine if you are a good candidate. A job interview is never a waste of time.

Final Tips: The Cheat Sheet for Crushing a Zoom Interview

• Have a Clean Space
• Practice a Dry Run Zoom Call
• Dress Well
• Don’t Have Interruptions
• Have Questions Ready

If you do these things, then you’re putting yourself in the best spot to crush the interview and land the job.