Avoiding the Embarrassment of an Unexpected Zoom Interview — The 5 Top Ways
Rachel May @LRDG
Going from a phone interview to a Zoom interview with one minute’s notice is every job hunter’s nightmare.
This actually happened recently to one Reddit user, who wrote: “Over the last 2 days I have had scheduled phone interviews with a Senior Director of Sales and VP of Sales switch from regular phone interview to Zoom within one minute of the scheduled time to interview.”
Fortunately, this Reddit user was prepared (and fully dressed), but his story highlights the frustrations of job interviews in the era of Zoom interviews.
What can you do to make sure you avoid the embarrassing situation of an unanticipated Zoom interview?
Do the right research before the interview
When applying for a job, try to communicate with your potential interviewer beforehand to find out what type of interview will be conducted (phone or Zoom interview), and who will be conducting the interview. Career Contessa also advises doing a LinkedIn search for the job title of the person who will be interviewing you, so you can prepare for the type of questions that may be asked.
Do a LinkedIn search for the job title of the person who will be interviewing you. (photo: freepik)
Always treat a phone interview like a potential Zoom interview
Even if the phone interview doesn’t turn into a Zoom interview at a few minutes’ notice, you should still be totally prepared for the interview as if it were a live one. Forbes advises, “Shut out distractions and eliminate background noise (for example, from young children and pets). Have a glass of water handy… Be ready 10 minutes early, so you don’t sound rushed.”
Get ready for every phone interview in your interview attire. (photo: freepik)
And of course, as our Reddit user learned, get ready for every phone interview in your Zoom interview attire, just in case you are asked to switch to Zoom at a moment’s notice!
Try to groom yourself the way you would on the job
If you usually dye your hair when at work or are clean-shaven when at the office in-person, keep up those practices as best you can while job hunting, even if you are unemployed and at home.
Keep up all grooming practices as best you can even at home. (photo: freepik)
As an article in Fast Company explains, implicit bias against job applicants due to physical appearance still unfortunately exists, even in the world of virtual interviews; so make sure your Zoom interview attire and other grooming habits are similar to how you would present yourself at the office.
Try a new hiring solution
Geekbidz is a new skill-based direct-to-hire job platform that invites job seekers to do a skills ranking online. Then the platform uses AI to pair employers with the candidate most qualified for their job posting and allows the employer to invite the candidate to an on-the-job evaluation.
Geekbidz is a new skill-based direct-to-hire job platform that invites job seekers to do a skills ranking online. (photo: freepik)
Geekbidz completely eliminates all forms of interview, from face-to-face to Zoom to phone. What better way to avoid embarrassing situations than this method of skipping the interview altogether and going straight to an on-the-job evaluation?
Do an “AI job interview”
Slate explains that Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being used in the hiring process: “A.I. interviews are also being used for internships and professional positions, especially in the age of social distancing.”
A.I. interviews are also being used for internships and professional positions (photo: freepik)
Being interviewed by a bot recruiter could certainly help you avoid any of the embarrassing moments that can crop up on virtual interviews with a real-life interviewer. Also, bots don’t care about your Zoom interview attire.
Plan Ahead and Try New Hiring Solutions to Avoid the Embarrassment of Zoom Interviews
Unforeseen Zoom interviews can easily result in some embarrassing scenarios, as the Reddit user mentioned at the beginning of this article discovered.
Researching, preparing, and maintaining your appearance will help you feel more confident in advance of a possible Zoom interview, but don’t forget that potential new hiring solutions might help you avoid sudden Zoom interviews altogether.
Photo Credit:
Adobe Stock
Using laptop photo by yanalya — freepik.com
Business lady photo by senivpetro — freepik.com
Office photo by azerbaijan_stockers — freepik.com
Using laptop photo by wavebreakmedia_micro — freepik.com
Computer with coffee photo by katemangostar — freepik.com
Girl photo by tirachardz — freepik.com
