Online Interview Questions and Tips

How to best prepare for common online interview questions. More and more employers
are using online job interviews as an initial screening tool.

If you are well
prepared and take the right steps to ensure the Skype or online job interview goes
well, it can be less stressful than an in-person interview and will get you the
results you want.

The key issue is confidence and feeling comfortable in front of the screen.
This is where preparation and practice enable you to present yourself in the
right way.

Prepare for an online interview by practicing your answers to these common virtual interview questions.

8 Online Interview Questions and Answers

1. Tell me a little about yourself

This question sets the stage for your online interview. The key things to
remember are to be concise and target your answer to the job opportunity. A full
discussion of how to best answer this question can be found at Sample interview answers for different situations.

2. Why do you want this job?

This is where your homework comes into play. Know as much as possible about
the job and the company before you sit down for your interview.

Focus on what
you can do for the company rather than what the employer can do for you.
Practice this interview answer beforehand so you can answer with confidence and
clarity. 3. Why do you think you are the right candidate for this job?

Discuss your related skills and experience. Highlight your on-point
competencies. Discuss your all-round fit with the job and company. Find your
unique selling point, something that can differentiate you from the competition. 4. What is your biggest accomplishment to date?

Your life is full of achievements. Focus on a relevant work-related
achievement to discuss. If you have little work experience consider a personal
goal you achieved. 5. What motivates you?

Motivation is crucial in every job. Expect online interview questions that explore your motivation. The passion and energy you convey in
answering this question will add credibility to your answer. Sample Interview Answer

6. Why do you want to leave your job?

There are some key pitfalls to avoid when answering this online interview
question.

Avoid saying anything negative about your previous employer, focus on
the future not the past and ensure that the things you say you are looking for in a
job can be met by the position and company you are interviewing with. 7. Where else have you applied?

Interviewers ask this to determine how interested you really are in
their job opportunity. They want to know if the types of jobs you have
applied for are in line with this position. Sample Interview Answer

8. Do you have any questions?

It is critical to have a couple of insightful questions ready to ask. Prepare
these ahead of time. Avoid asking anything that has already been answered during
your interview or something you could easily have picked up from the job
posting.

Here is a comprehensive list of good questions to ask in your online
interview.

Prepare for these online interview questions related to the pandemic

You are likely to be asked some online interview questions related to the COVID pandemic. The world of work has changed and this will be referred to in your interview. Here are some pandemic-related interview questions that you can prepare for ahead of your online interview:

How have you adapted to working from home?

What have you found to be your greatest challenge during the pandemic?

How have you handled stress associated with the pandemic?

What have you learned about yourself ?

Tips for Answering Online Interview Questions

• Sometimes it is difficult to make out what the interviewer is saying. Don't
  attempt to answer a question that you have not heard properly. Ask for
  clarification or for the interviewer to please repeat the question and avoid
  answering incorrectly. 
• Avoid talking over your interviewer, there is sometimes a time lag so be sure
  they have finished speaking before you respond. Pause, silently count to five and
  then answer.
• You need to speak very
  clearly and avoid mumbling or talking too fast. Avoid "ums" and "uhs" in your
  answers, they are much more noticeable in an online interview. Interview Communication Tips

• It is more difficult to convey enthusiasm from a distance than in-person.
  Make sure you show your interest by using the right facial expressions and through the
  tone of your voice and the right words.
• Keep your answers concise. Most of your online interview responses should be
  no longer than 1 or 2 minutes at a time. The interviewer can always ask for more
  information.
• When the interviewer is talking, display active listening by nodding your head and making good eye contact.

• Be aware of your interviewer's body language and understand and act on the
  message you are receiving. Find out more at Interview Body Language
• Avoid making jokes about having an interview online. Comments about how weird
  it is to be in an online interview make you appear inexperienced and
  unprofessional.

Essential Skype Interview Tips

After Your Online Interview

Just as with an in-person interview it is essential to follow up after your
online interview with a well written interview thank you note or email to your
interviewer.

Wait for a reasonable time period to lapse and then be
proactive about following up on the progress of your job application with an interview follow up email

How to Prepare for Online Job Interviews

Be ready for any interview question you may have to face in your online interview.

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