I recently experienced a job interview that lasted 5 hours. It sounds weird at first pass, but, given how COVID has changed so much about how the working world operates, it makes sense. Between social distancing and extra steps around mask wearing and the sanitizing of hands, businesses are having to figure out different ways of identifying and recruiting new talent. Even something as simple as a handshake is now only referred to in nostalgic remembrance. During the time that I have spent looking for new work, I have had a job interviews take some new and interesting forms. Phone screens are about the same as they were before the shelter in place way of life I have had onsite interviews where there were modifications to the conference room to partition spaces for individuals to be seen through plexiglass during panel interviews. I have had socially distant interviews where there has been several empty seats in between participants. The most interesting twist on the panel interview I have experienced was a virtual interview that took five hours. It sounds intimidating and really arduous, but I found the experience to be very pleasant. The interview was broken up into half hour increments and I met with people in different areas of the business that I would potentially be working with and people who current have the role that I am applying for. Even though I talked to ten people, it was not as stressful or pressure loaded like a traditional panel interview can be. The questions were more handled in a more conversation way and it made the whole process more organic. I think that I did better being interviewed in this format. It was more relaxed and even though I saw that same sorts of questions being asked, I was able to answer based on who was asking. From the side of the people doing the interviewing for the company, sometimes instead of listening to the answers to questions asked by others on the panel, they focus on the question they are waiting to ask. From the perspective of the person being interviewed, it can feel like a board of inquiry. Even though it seems like a huge amount of time, the people who were conducting the interviews were only committed to a 30 minute intervals, so their working day was not horribly interrupted, and in talking to people from different elements of the business, I got a very good sense of what the culture is like. I can also make some different, informed decisions about if the company feels like a good fit for me. Considering that job interviews should be just as much about the candidate evaluating the company as it is about the business evaluating the applicant. Since I think that the process of interviewing for jobs is heading toward this direction, here are some tips for getting yourself and your space ready for a remote interview.

1) Make the space your are interviewing in as comfortable and visually appealing for the camera. I am not talking about cleaning up the whole space, but think about what the person on the other side of the camera. Keep it simple, clean and uncluttered. You don’t want the person you are talking to pay more attention to what is behind you than what you have to say.

2) Test your camera set up before the interview. Remember that you are trying to make a good impression to the person you are interviewing with. Technical problems will get the interview off on the wrong foot. It is not just if the camera or the internet work, but test what the other person will see. Most of us don’t have a video studio we can interview from. Make sure the lighting is brighter on you than it is behind you. You don’t want to look like a silhouette or have shadows obscuring half of your face. In my case, I have a window behind me when I am sitting at my desk. I closed the curtains behind me and I have an LED ring light that I clipped to the other side of the desk to make sure that the right amount of light is in the right places. It is also a good idea to check to see how well your microphone works. This will tell you if you need to use a different microphone than the one that is built into your computer. It makes sense. You want to make sure that the person on the other side of the internet can hear you.

3) Dress as though you are meeting in person. The adage is to dress for the job you want. Virtue interviews are not an exception to that rule. Not only does the visible part of you have an impact on the impression that you make, it also gets you in the right mindset for the interview. Some might think that they could get away with a dress shirt, tie and pajama bottoms. I would not recommend that. The frame of mind is a lot more important and, you can tell if someone is wearing the proper pants on camera.

4) Eat before and have water with you It seems obvious, but being at home can cause some behavior patterns that are really different from the life of being in public. Sleep schedule and eating routines are usually the first to go. A light, protein loaded breakfast will help you stay focused during the interview and prevent audible stomach growling. Even if it isn’t picked up on the microphone, it can distract you as you are talking. Having water with you in the room is a good idea. It is totally acceptable to sip water during the conversation and water will not leave visible stains like coffee might. I recommend a container with a lid. You want to drink the water, but the computer does not. This is especially important if the interview is booked for longer than an hour. Just because you have the water does not mean that you have to drink it all before the end of the interview. A bathroom break in the middle of the interview could leave a negative impression.

While the methods and use of technology may be changing how job interviews are conducted, the end goals are really the same as they ever have been. The perspective employee and the business are interviewing each other to see if working there is a good fit for both parties. Doing it over the internet is not any easier or harder than doing it in person, only different. The need for preparation and professionalism on both sides are unchanged. This is just another adaptation to how the world has changed.