Jorge (fictitious name) made "several bulk mistakes" in his last job interview for a position in the purchasing department of a large supermarket chain."The first and fundamental is that being by video call I relaxed more than the account and I did not prepare it as I should," explains this 29 -year -old, a degree in Business Administration and Management.«It happened to me everything.I was interrupted by the connection, I didn't hear my interviewer, my partner entered the room, they asked me questions that caught me totally in the game ... just missing that they asked me to get up and see me in short pants, ”Remember with a certain embarrassment.

Jorge's case is more common than we think, especially when the personnel selection processes are made by video call.«We cannot forget that it is a job interview.The one done through another format does not make it less important or more informal, ”says Gina Aran, executive director of the Inginium Human Resources Consulting and professor of management skills at the Oberta Universitat de Catalunya (UOC).For the expert, the key to any work interview is "the previous preparation."«Before starting any selection process, applicants have to keep in mind 'Triple A'.It is about demonstrating our aptitude, attitude and creating communicative affinity with the person who interviews us, ”says the associated teacher at the ESADE Business School.

In this sense, Gina Aran recommends "first of all" to review the professional career (achievements and strengths), inform yourself about the company (trajectory, recent history, values) and practice, practice and practice.«We can all intuit what kind of questions are going to ask us, so the best thing in rehearsing what we are going to say.Talking out loud, recording ... practice will make us win confidence and when the time comes we will be much more agile in the answers ».To avoid a situation like the one lived by Jorge a few weeks ago, it is important to follow the recommendations of the staff selection experts about how a work interview should be done per video call.

THE KEYS

We must make sure that day and at that time we will have a good Internet connection. "If we have any questions, it is best to look for another place to connect with all the guarantees," says the author of the book 'Persuasive communication for the work interview'. It is also important to verify that we know the program to be used. «It can be Zoom, Meet, Teams ... whatever the platform through which they call us, we must previously verify that we know how to use it. And that includes knowing how to share a screen, write on the chat and send documents ». Experts recommend placing the device camera used for the interview - whether it is a computer (the most recommended), tablet or mobile - at the height of the eyes and with an approximate separation of the face of about 80 centimeters. "A trick for when we do an interview by video call is to" minimize the screen on which the image of the interviewer appears and place it as close as possible to the device's camera, in this way it will be easier to be able to look in the eye when we talk, " Gina Aran specifies. And very careful if we have created a user profile in the application with which we do the interview. "Let's try to make the photo professional, just like the text of the State."

The place chosen to do the interview has to be as neutral as possible and with good frontal lighting. "It can be indirect, but that is not projected from a side or from below and much less focus the camera towards a window because then our silhouette would be seen," explains the expert. The most practical thing is to use a table and a chair to do the interview, «nothing to sit on the couch. "We must not forget that we are in a job interview, so the stay must be ordered and without ambient noise." And very important, «Arréclate in the same way you would do it if you were to the face -to -face interview. From the feet to the head. I repeat, from head to toe. First, for the respect that the situation deserves and second because by fixing our attitude is another, ”says Aran. Of course, avoid garments with too many prints, squares or stripes because they make muaré (optical effect) on screen and is very upset for the interviewer. "If we decide to make up, we have to do one or two tones above the usual because the camera eats the color." It is important to do this type of tests before the interview.

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It is true that in video call interviews, part of nonverbal communication is lost, so important when evaluating a candidate.«Nothing happens because gestures, you draw in the air or emphasize with your hands.Now, do not do it in front of the camera because, in addition to being annoying for the interviewer, you cover your face, ”recalls the UOC teacher.Aran also recommends "giving a little color to our tone" to avoid being monotonous.«The video calls tire a lot, so it is important to be slow, vocalize well, but not speak too slow to not sleep at your interlocutor.You have to do without the crutches because the camera amplifies them.The candidates say a lot of voucher, ok and very rarely thank.Remember those details ».

And as the final recommendation of the expert: «Listen well the question, tells you to two and answer.It is very common for video calls to carry a certain delay, so it is a good idea to make a small pause before answering not to overcome your interviewer and make sure that it has finished the intervention of it ».

REMEMBER

Collect and order

Make sure everything around you is collected and in order.Do not appear clothes lying on the floor or food on a table.Try, as far as possible, do the interview alone.Without people passing from behind or pets walking through the keyboard.

The perfect frame

Get away from the camera about 80 centimeters, the distance enough for the frame to reach the third shirt button, more or less.When you gesture with your hands you do not do it in front of the camera but at chest height.

Dress as if it were face -to -face

«If a job interview is not in tracksuit or pajama pants, why do you wear like a video call?Imagine that you have to get up for any circumstance.

Prepare the answers

«Es habitual que en las entrevistas te digan eso de 'y ahora háblanos de tí' o incluso que te pregunten sobre cómo has llevado el confinamiento. Prepare the answers y si haces alguna pregunta, que sea profesional y no una trivialidad», alerta la experta.