If you’re looking for a new job, there’s a good chance that you might be asked to participate in a virtual job interview at some point during your job search process. Rather than flying in candidates or sending recruiters out to job fairs and holding recruiting events all over the country, an increasing number of employers is choosing to utilize conference call technology to screen job applicants. This can certainly result in a significant financial savings for companies, particularly for those who do a good bit of recruiting outside of their local areas. Many companies actually utilize a combination of telephone and Web conferencing technology, which allows interviewers and job candidates to actually see and hear each other during the interview.
For applicants, the thought of having interviews via conference calls can be somewhat intimidating, because it’s so different from what they expect when preparing to sell themselves to prospective employers. However, there’s no reason to get stressed out if you’re scheduled to do an interview using telecommunications technology and equipment. The basic premise of virtual interviews is no different than that of traditional interviews. You’ll be asked the same types of questions, and interviewers will be looking for the same things. Make sure you prepare properly by researching the company, making a point of learning what’s involved in the job, and being prepared to answer questions about your work ethic and ability to do the job.
