landing the job in the digital age

​Nothing is safe in the digital age, and recruitment is no exception. Gone are the days where employers rely solely on face-to-face traditional interviews.

Now you’ve got phone interviews, conference calls, Skype interviews, online or virtual aptitude tests and cognitive tasks.
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So, how do you prepare?

​Get yourself familiar and comfortable with whatever tech you’re expected to use well ahead of time. This means no last minute scares because things aren’t working, minimised chance of technical issues, and you won’t be panic downloading add-ons and software with minutes to spare.

If you’re expected to make any accounts or work with a video conference call system like Skype, make sure you have a sensible username or email address ready to go. Nothing funny, punny or risqué.

It’s not cute, and the recruiters won’t think it is either.

In case of telephone interviews, have a few dry runs with family or friends so you get used to talking confidently over the phone. Not many of us like the idea of it, but practice makes perfect, after all.

Whichever kind of remote tech-based interview you might be asked to take part in, remember our key piece of advice: take it as seriously as a face-to-face interview.

Prepare for it in exactly the same way, i.e. know your CV, cover letter and the job description or requirements inside out. Have a list of questions prepared. Google some common interview questions, and plan answers for them. The quirkier the better – recruiters love a good “how would your best friend describe you?”

If you’re in a video call, make sure your surroundings reflect the kind of environment you’d expect to have a traditional interview in. A private office or conference room. So think a quiet, tidy, neutral, well-lit space, with a desk or table if possible, with nothing too inappropriate visible in the shot.

This might sound silly if you’re on the phone, but no matter what, make sure you look the part. Wear smart clothes to get yourself into the interview mindset, especially if you’ll be visible on camera.

Lastly, make sure to smile! Even if it’s a phone interview and it seems like that’s entirely pointless, smiling makes a real difference to not only your mentality but also the way you sound – you will genuinely seem friendlier and more positive to the person on the phone.

And positive people come across as interested, engaged and the kind of people who employers want to hire.
Need some more interview prep tips? Head here for all our best advice. 

Author

LUCY HARDING is the Editorial manager for Push. She is an English Literature grad and an MA Publishing student at UCL. She is passionate about international relations and cultural diversity, having worked closely with her university’s Erasmus society to support European students. She also spent a year abroad studying at California State University: Long Beach