15 tips for performing well in an online job interview

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Online meetings have already become part of our daily work routine in the current pandemic and will be increasingly used in the post-pandemic period. This also includes online job interviews. Many candidates perceive the online job interview as more convenient and easier compared to the face-to-face interview at the company headquarters. However, this is a dangerous misconception. Through the online interview, the future employer gets a completely different and even much more impressions of applicants. To help you be convincing in the online job interview, our Life Sciences / Pharma expert and Senior Partner Peter Majer has compiled 15 tips for a successful first impression.

1. Test the functionality of the link sent to you for the online interview some time before the interview is scheduled. If it does not work, you still have enough time to inform your interview partner or adjust your system accordingly.
2. Pay attention to punctuality! Enter the meeting a few minutes before the start of the interview, but no later than the agreed start time. Do not let your interview partner wait.
3. Prepare for the online interview as carefully as you would for a live interview. Make a list of your questions and inform yourself about your potential future employer.
4. Make sure you are dressed appropriately. You don't need to sit in front of the screen in a jacket or suit, but a business shirt or blouse should do the job. If you really do have to stand up unexpectedly during the interview, the rest of your clothing should also be appropriate.
5. Place a glass of water next to the screen so that you can quickly drink something in case of a cough attack, for example. Please do not drink from the bottle or if you want to drink coffee, do not use a cup with "funny" slogans on it.
6. Pay attention to your camera setting. You should always be fully visible. Choose a frontal camera perspective that gives the same impression as in a live conversation. Avoid camera angles where your face is seen from "below". No future employer likes it when you look down on him from above.
7. Pay attention to your background. You should avoid an unorganized office or private pictures in the background. An appealing bright room, on the other hand, is perfectly fine. You can also set yourself a virtual background. Find out more about this in the settings of the respective meeting providers.
8. Make sure the room is well lit but avoid glare from sunlight or lamps.
9. Do not conduct the interview outside or in the car. Your new employer wants you to take your time and not just casually conduct the interview.
10. Make sure that you are undisturbed for the duration of the call. To do this, turn off the acoustic notifications on your computer and set your cell phone to mute. There should also be no other people in the room and certainly not in the frame.
11. Try to maintain eye contact during the online interview as well. This is hard Attaching a camera directly above the monitor can help. Most laptops already have this integrated.
12. Use the entire screen for the interview and do not open other applications that can distract you. The exception would be a split screen where you have a document open on the other half of the screen with important points for the interview (questions or bullet points) noted down.
13. Also pay attention to your facial expressions and body language during the online interview. So sit upright in front of the screen and don't loll around on your office chair, for example.
14. If possible, use a headset for the interview, as this filters out ambient noise.
15. If you are unsure about your impact in the online interview, do a mock interview in advance. e.g. with your partner and ask him or her for feedback on relevant points.

Some of these points will seem trivial to you, but perhaps at one of your next online meetings you will pay attention yourself to how many of the points mentioned are fulfilled by the participants in your meeting. You will be surprised.

Are you looking for new professional challenges and prospects in the fields of medical technology, healthcare, life sciences / pharma or IT / media? Then take a look at our current job offers. With a little luck, you will soon be able to demonstrate your newly acquired knowledge from the article in an online job interview.

Also read other important career tips in our journal:

• 10 tips for a successful home office
• The five greatest career myths - and how they can be avoided
• The Internet as a career promoter and killer