Virtual college interviews have become increasingly common over the last four or five years. If you have a virtual interview coming up, you may be wondering how to prepare. To guide you through the process and make sure you present your best self, we’ve provided you with a list of dos and don’ts as you prepare to talk to admissions officers or alumni online.
In order to make a strong first impression, you should dress appropriately—as you would for any other interview. Even though you will probably be in the comfort of your own home, it’s still an interview, so dress for the occasion. Look professional, wearing a nice sweater, button-down shirt, or blouse on top and avoid overly casual outfits.
There are factors to consider in a virtual interview that wouldn’t come up in an in-person interview. Before your interview, ensure that your Zoom username displays your full name only, and doesn’t have any nicknames or inside jokes. Take the call from a room with a stable internet connection so that you don’t have to worry about any technical difficulties on top of everything else. Use a computer that you’re familiar with, one you know isn’t slow. Keep your cell phone on silent mode, but close by, in case something does go wrong with the Internet. Find a spot with good lighting (make sure you can be seen!) minimal distractions, and no external noise.
Maintain eye contact with the camera so that your interviewer can tell that you are engaged and interested. Even though it can be hard figuring out exactly where to look during a call, especially if your notes are written down elsewhere, you must not appear distracted. Try to keep your eyes on the camera as much as possible and practice in advance.
Remember to prepare questions for the interviewer at the end, especially ones that demonstrate your genuine interest in the school. Browse the college website and research so that you can ask questions whose answers aren’t easily available. The admissions officer or alumni will better understand your interest in the college if you ask about specific opportunities and take note of your curiosity.
Practice, practice practice! For an interview that takes place online, why not practice online as well? Before getting on a Skype or Zoom call with an alumni or admissions officer, you can ask a friend or family member to interview you using the same software. Provide your practice interviewer with a list of possible interview questions so that they know what to ask. This way, you’ll not only have practice answering different questions about your interest in the school and prospective major, but you’ll also have a sense of any technological difficulties that you might encounter during the actual call.
Although some things (such as the predictability of your Internet connection) aren’t in your control, you can make sure that your environment is as distraction-free as possible.
Sit in a quiet spot with minimal background noise. Let your family members know that you’ll be on a call. Take the call in front of a neutral background that doesn’t distract the interviewer, and again, check that the lighting is good and you can be properly seen.
Finally, don’t stress in advance in anticipation that anything less than ideal may happen, but at the same time, prepare yourself. In an interview over video call, your video could get stuck, or you might face an unexpected incident that disrupts the interview. No matter what, don’t panic. Once you’re back on the call, calmly let the interviewer know about the situation.
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