How to Prepare for a Digital Interview Effortlessly

Posted by IntroMagic Team on December 28th, 2021

The corporate landscapes are constantly evolving and with it, are evolving its ways. Many companies are switching up their strategies to make way for newer possibilities.

This has also inevitably started to reflect in their hiring and talent acquisition techniques, wherein they are adopting newer technology everyday to make the procedure less time consuming and more efficient in as many ways as possible. This is where Digital Interviews have come into the picture and stirred up quite a revolution in the employment market/system.

Traditional interviews are costly and time-consuming for a number of reasons for the company and for the person being interviewed – because, in most companies, the interview process is unstructured and inefficient.

Face-to-face meetings are generally unplanned, unscripted, inconsistent and completely dependent on the skill and bias of the interviewer.

Without real scalability, companies are wasting time and resources on a process that doesn’t always lead to great employees. This is why more companies are exploring digital interviews as part of their recruitment strategy.

What is a Digital Interview?

As you may have observed right off the bat, a digital interview can be quite versatile as opposed to its traditional counterpart. While they may have proved to be quite a rocky road in the past, the advancements in technology have made the process more seamless and reliable.

Furthermore, it comes with the added advantage of its widespread accessibility and ease of operation. Its simplistic maneuvering across various platforms for all participants involved has made it a go-to solution for most companies looking to upgrade their talent acquisition procedure.

Digitizing recruitment: A digital interview is an interview on the digital medium that the employer arranges online and sends to candidates

During the digital interview, candidates can chat directly with the members of the recruitment team on their webcam (if it’s a live interview) or record their answers to the questions listed out by the employers for the recruitment team to review at their convenience.

One of the most essential differences between traditional in-person interviews and digital interviews comes in the form of wide range accessibility to the means and ends of the recruitment structure.

On-demand or pre-recorded interviews involve a set of questions asked by the hiring team which are expected to be recorded in a video format while live interviews are considerably more similar to in-person interviews where there is a direct conversation happening between the employer/s and employee.

The gap between the interviewer and the interviewee however, is not so much of a physical gap which considerably takes away from the nervousness involved in the process.

Through digital interviews one can take part from wherever at their own convenience over and above business hours, which greatly expands the avenue for a wider range of prospects.

How to Prepare for a Digital Interview?

Although the digital interviews have brought in a world of advantages with them, they are not without their speed bumps but fret not, all it takes is a little adjustment to it and you’ll be acing your interviews before you know it.

There are a few pointers you need to take care of before and during your online interview (recorded or otherwise) to make sure you are putting your best foot forward. We have compiled our own little to-do list to help you with this.

Advance preparation for digital interviews:

Make sure you have access to a stable internet connection and a device with a properly functioning camera and microphone. As a digital interview involves being in live connection with your interviewer or submitting a recorded video of you answering the listed interview questions, a video recorder with a microphone is an indispensable commodity.
Make sure your background is as formal and non-distracting as possible; preferably a blank wall would be an ideal choice to go for. It is vital to create an undisturbed environment for the duration of the interview, which means no children running around or pets looking to get some of attention that distracts you or your interviewer(s) from the interview at hand.
Decide an outfit in advance. You don’t have to wear a full formal outfit but make sure that you look presentable. Because as much as it is a less formal setting than an in-person interview you want to make a good first impression or at least seem to look serious about getting the job which, believe it or not, shows in how you carry yourself even through a camera lens.
Run a few practice mic and camera checks so that you are as comfortable with the technology and are not fussing with it during the interview, it chips away at your confidence. We would recommend getting yourself familiar with the tech so that you are at ease during the interview and fully focused on the matter of the interview.
Prepare your material well in advance of the interview. Research for a few common interview questions and find out about the hiring company as well. Even Though the platform is different as compared to a walk-in interview, your recruiters are no less serious about screening the best candidates for their company. So if you really want that job, fasten your belt and show up fully prepared to get that dough, even if it’s just for the camera.

What to do During the Interview

It may seem odd to be talking by yourself in front of the camera if you are not very used to it. Take a few deep breaths before you hit that record button and make a few rough videos before you submit your final one. So that by the time you get to your third or fifth video you seem like you’re a natural at it.
Speak slowly and clearly. It’s very important to articulate your words properly while you’re recording your interview answers or even if you are on a live video conference with your interviewer. The microphones are not usually adept at picking up clear sounds and you don’t want to be misheard, so, do a mic check beforehand and even then speak loud, clear and slow.
Be clear about your goals and remain consistent with what you have submitted in your written résumé. You don’t want to show a drastically different version of yourself and confuse your recruiters since they may be referring to a written CV that you may have sent in during your job application.
Add a few well thought-out examples while explaining your case. It helps to put yourself in the job perspective as if you are already in the role to showcase that you are perfect for the part. It’s easier when you look like you’re a part of the narrative already, although don’t seem over-confident as humility too is a valued attribute.
Make sure you act as if in a normal interview. It is often very easy to lose the human touch when presenting in front of just a camera, but don’t forget that real people will be reviewing you on the other side of the screen. Smile at appropriate times, occasionally shake your head or try to show different expressions. Working to uncover simple concepts will keep your interviewer interested in seeing and hearing you.
Finally, work on your body language. In addition to your answers, you will be judged based on how you respond nonverbally. Talk with your hands. Sit straight in your chair. Do not cross your arms when you are not talking. Instead, place them on your lap or anywhere else that is comfortable.

Benefits of Digital Interviewing

They help in diversifying the workforce, giving opportunities to a lot more candidates looking to apply for a position irrespective of where they are in the world. The internet of things has enabled us to conduct job interviews from within the four walls of our homes or even when we are at a remote location.
They help in minimizing hiring bias. A structure and well planned-out digital interview would help reduce the perils of hiring bias. It is scientifically proven that digital interviews often include interview questions and rating systems that are consistent and equitable. The structured process also improves efficiency and cooperation within recruiting teams.
Savings on travel expenditure. Unlike an offline interview, a digital interview is conducted remotely that allows the candidates to save on the travel expenses.
Easy to organize. Thanks to modern technology, setting up a digital interview is as easy as conducting a personal interview gets. There are many different types of software that may be used depending on the business needs.
Digital interviews save a lot of time. It not only cuts down on the time needed to travel and wait for your turn as you can submit your interview at your own convenience but it also saves time spent on unnecessary exchange of pleasantries and more time is spent on discussing matters of more importance.

Common Digital Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

However much you prepare for an interview you never feel too prepared but that’s okay! As long as you have done ample amount of research and know how to approach answering questions in a smart way, you should be fine.

We have compiled together ten of the most commonly asked interview questions and tips on how to go about answering them.

If you have to submit a pre-recorded interview answer we would recommend roughly sticking to a script based on the core values you want to portray for the hiring team to consider; make sure they are in alignment with the company’s core values.

1. Tell us/me something about yourself?

While it may seem like one can answer this question without a second thought, this question is always problematic for many candidates. Many people flop in this question because they usually give out irrelevant personal details. Well, the main point is to understand why you are being asked the question in the first place.

Tips:

The key point is to precisely understand why you are being asked the question in the first place.
If your resume is shortlisted to land you an interview, it is important that you don’t waste their time and yours by squabbling about pieces of information that are not relevant to the context of a job interview.
Answer truthfully about your educational background and show conviction in your claims about your suitability for the offered role/position.

2. What do you know about our company?

This is another very common question that you are very likely to tackle in an interview. Overall, this question presents an excellent opportunity for you to show how diligently you are following the progress and successes of the company in question.

Tips:

Please make sure to do your research beforehand from reliable sources like the company website and social media handles.
You could show off your insights into the company values and tell them how it makes you excited to join them.
It is important for recruiters to know that you understand their reputation well and abide by their belief systems in your work ethics.

3. Describe your work ethics

Speaking of work ethics, make sure to keep your narrative genuine and simple by highlighting your work ethics to match with their expectations.

Tips:

Companies most often look for good work ethics in their prospective candidates so as to get an optimum work environment.
Make sure to bite only what you can chew; set reasonable expectations so that you’re always able to deliver upon them!

4. Where do you see yourself in the next (number of) years?

These types of questions should always be approached in a broad-gauging manner

Tips:

Keep your answer abstract to suit the expectations of the recruiter.
Keep it personal to reflect your individual drive and ambition while at the same time highlighting your dedication towards the role you’re being offered.
While no good company would expect a worthy talent to stay stagnant in their careers, they would at the same time wish for their recruits to make a worthwhile contribution, given their job.

5. Why do you think we should hire you?

While being one of the trickiest questions of the lot, this question also gives you the best opportunity to express why you deserve the job in the most direct way possible. However, it is also important to stay relevant to the role while selling your best attributes.

Tips:

If you are applying for the position of a brand strategist, show them through your past success projects/moments how valuable you can be in a professional setting given your skill set.
Tell them how you’re able to improvise for any curveball thrown at you. It goes to show that you are capable of handling tough situations.

All in all, at the end of the day, a digital interview is a method for companies to find the best fit for their company. It just suits the need of the hour to conduct digital interviews that turned out to be very convenient at the same time. So, calm down, do a little relaxation exercise to sit for that interview. All the best.