Firstly, if you’ve secured a video interview for a role in Dubai, congratulations! More and more companies in Dubai are streamlining their interviewing process but conducting first-round interviews on Microsoft Teams or similar. This is great if you are interviewing from another country, but can also save time if you are already in Dubai.
In this article, we’re going to outline our top tips for making a great first impression in your video interview in order to secure that all important in-person interview and eventually a job offer!
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Just because the interview is happening online instead of face-to-face, it is no less important. You should prepare for a video interview in Dubai just as thoroughly (if not more) than an in-person interview.
Take time to understand the business and the people you are meeting with. Don’t just read through the company website but review LinkedIn, recent press articles and the company’s social media posts. If you know anyone who has worked for the company, reach out to them and get some insider information.
All of this information will make you better informed about what is important to the company and the interviewers and will help you focus your answers.
A great benefit of video interviews is that you can have more notes and resources with you. I recommend printing out your CV and also the job description and having these nearby. You can then refer to these documents during the interview if you get stuck.
You can continue to make notes throughout the interview. If the interviewer shares something interesting, make a note of it. You can then bring this up later when they ask if you have any questions. You could also make a note of things you don’t want to forget. Just make sure that you let the interviewers know you are taking notes so that they don’t think you are simply distracted.
If there are some key things you want to ensure you mention in the interview, then you could put some sticky note reminders around your screen. These could feature a key achievement you want to make sure you discuss or might be simple reminders like ‘smile’ or ‘eye contact’.
One of the biggest mistakes we see in video interviews is poor lighting. In an interview, first impressions are so important and if the interview cannot see you properly, this will create a poor first impression. What’s more, poor visibility will make effective communication more difficult for the entirety of your interview.
It’s always best to have your main light source in front of you, not behind you. If you have a window or lamp behind you, this will make you appear as a silhouette or shadow and the interviewers will have a hard time seeing your face clearly.
By comparison, a good light source in front of you will illuminate your face and will ensure the interviewers can see you clearly. If you are interviewing in the daytime, you could sit in front of a window. Natural light can be flattering. However, bear in mind that weather conditions can change resulting in inconsistent lighting throughout your interview.
In my opinion, the safest option is to set up a powered ring light directly in front of you. Ring lights are not particularly expensive and are a great investment for online meetings. Ring lights are generally more flattering than other types of lamps as they create even lighting across your face with minimal shadows.
If your interviewers can’t hear you clearly, or if you struggle to hear them, this can totally derail an interview. Clear communication is paramount and getting your audio set up correctly will ensure the conversation flows smoothly.
Firstly, choose a location for your interview that will be quiet and clear from disruptions. Ideally, select a private location where you can lock the door or inform others to remain quiet.
Put your phone on silent and mute any notifications on your computer.
I also recommend using headphones to further minimise any external noise. If you have a noise-cancelling option available to you then this is even better.
It can be helpful to enlist a friend to do a trial run and test your audio. When you do this make sure you test that they can hear you clearly and that you can also hear them!
Take note of what's on display behind you. One of the biggest differences about video interviews is that the interviewer is getting a glimpse into your personal life! Like it or not, your surroundings will make an impression on the interviewer and may consciously or unconsciously influence their opinion of you.
Before your interview, launch an online meeting and examine what can be seen in your background. Take time to remove any mess or clutter that could be distracting. If you have time, you could enhance your background space by positioning some nice objects and thinking about what your background says about you. A nice piece of artwork or a collection of interesting books can be a good talking point. Just make sure that there is nothing visible that you wouldn’t want your potential employer seeing.
If getting the perfect background is not possible for you then don’t stress. Make use of the ‘blur background’ option in the video settings and test this beforehand to make sure it is working effectively.
One of the biggest challenges of video interviews is connecting with the interviewer through a screen. The natural connection that comes with proximity is stripped away and so you will need to be more intentional at simulating connection virtually.
Eye contact plays a big part in this, but it’s not as straight forward as simply looking at your interviewer. Depending on where their face is positioned on the screen, looking directly at them could appear to them that you are looking off to a corner.
Instead, focus on directing your gaze to your camera. This way, the person you are speaking to will have the impression that you are looking directly at them. I find it helpful to set up my screen so that the face of the person I am speaking to is as close to my computer camera as possible. Another tip is to add a bright sticker next to your camera as a reminder to direct your eyes to that spot when you are speaking.
Once you’ve received a link for your interview, you’ll know what software is being used. This could be Zoom, MS Teams or something else. Don’t leave it until the last minute to open up the programme, even if you use it regularly. You never know when they’ll be a software update or technical issues. Clicking on the link an hour or so before your interview and ensuring you can sign in and open up the video call will ensure you avoid any last-minute panics.
The key to any successful video interview in Dubai or anywhere else, is preparation. Don’t leave anything to chance and make sure you make a fantastic first impression! At the end of your interview don't forget to ask about the next steps and leave a positive impression.
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