In today’s competitive job market, getting invited for an interview is a big deal even if it’s not a Multinational Company. Thus you definitely need to know how to prepare for an interview. An interview is simply the process of selling yourself to the company with your skill sets and achievements.
During this tough time, all the interviews are mostly held online and undergraduates like us are having a hard time preparing for it as we are not familiar with online interviews and the rules that we need to follow during an online interview.
So let’s make a list of things that might help to best prepare for an online interview for an undergraduate.
This might look like a lot of work but honestly, if you want to stand out of the crowd you will have to focus a lot on the presentation of your interview. As undergraduate students, we might not have sufficient job experience however, if we can present ourselves properly and professionally the company will surely give us a chance if suitable.
Let us walk through the steps so that it is easier for you to understand why these steps are needed to best prepare undergraduates for an online interview.
Stable internet connection
Firstly, being a student, I assume, we all can agree how important a stable internet connection is for any official work. So it is obvious that for an interview a stable internet connection is very crucial since that will be the medium for communication. A stable internet connection is also important for such online interviews because most of the online interviews are taken through Video Calls. This means a lagging will disrupt the interview that might cause a miscommunication which may then create a bad impression on the interviewers. Therefore having a stable internet connection is extremely important.
Proper lighting, background, angle of the camera, and environment
This might look like a long checklist of expensive items that need to be bought or some sort of a professional studio setup that needs to be done in order to give an interview, but it is not. If these things are maintained properly, the interview will look very tidy and professional even when done from home.
A good setup will show the interviewers how interested you are in working for the company. Proper posture and angle of the camera will make you feel more confident, and the proper environment, such as a quiet place while giving the interview, will help us concentrate on the questions rather than getting distracted by external noises.
Proper dress-up
Even though we will be preparing ourselves for an interview which will be taken online, we still have to focus on our dress-up. Especially for undergraduates like us, this information is very important as we do not come across much information that would help us, the undergraduates, best prepare for an online interview. Wearing decent clothing, keeping a neat hairstyle and minimum accessories will show a positive first impression which would increase the confidence and might result in a positive interview session.
Staying organized
Proper dress-up and lighting will create a positive first impression but may not give them the idea of how well you can handle the tasks they might have for you. Therefore if you start by keeping all your certificates and your CVs organized, research about the company beforehand, and organize your answers to some common interview questions, the company will be able to judge your organizing, researching, and time management skills. This is the most common thing that most companies try to find out and being an undergraduate this is another most important rule to keep in mind while preparing for an online interview.
Put a first overall good impression
The interviewers usually notice every small detail to see whether you are the perfect person suitable for the company or not. Therefore a few basic things should always be focused on at all times to ensure a good conversation and a good overall first impression.
Firstly, proper greetings. A proper greeting can change someone’s perspective about you and their first impression of you. So if you greet the interviewers nicely there is a high chance of having a positive outcome from the interview. Interviewers also appreciate honesty and confident candidates, so the best advice for an undergraduate while they prepare for their online interview would be to talk with a smile.
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Avoid going into arguments if you disagree with something that the interviewer might have said, rather try to make them understand your stand politely and professionally, and most importantly be confident while doing so.
If you are confident you will have a smooth conversation with the interviewers and have a positive impact on the interview.
Conclusion
During the interview, you should try to create a connection with the interviewer but not too much that they think you are a creep! They design the interview in a way that will make it clear to them if you are suitable for the job or not, and that is the whole point of the interview, right?
Always hope for the best as an outcome while you prepare for the worst!
