Has anyone had a job interview over Zoom?

Yes. Use your laptop. Use your laptop's mic. Test it out to make sure it works first if you want.

You'll be fine. I actually prefer it.

Don't use your phone. Get a friend to try out Zoom with you first and figure out what audio options work best for your circumstances. There's no way anyone here can know for sure.

Yes, make sure to test it out first. I thought I knew how to use Zoom and then i had a scheduled chat with a friend over the holidays and the audio didn't work.

Make sure you delete the cat filters, and dog ones too!

Don't masturbate during the interview.

LOVE zoom interviews! Go to settings and test your video with various lighting and make sure you like what tgey can see behind you and that your face is lit but not washed out. it's easy if you get comfortable ahead of time.

you can do this!

OK I will test it out on my laptop with someone before the interview. I just hope my laptop’s camera is good quality. It’s only 3 years old but I’ve never used it.

R6 Thanks for the tips! Do you have any advice on lighting and what I should do if I look washed out?

I had to download google chrome to get audio for my first zoom meeting to work. Be sure you have the right web browser.

There's a setting in Zoom to touch up your appearance. Don't be afraid to use it. (It won't make your face beautiful, but it might make it a little less ugly.)

R10 LOL OK good to know.

Just move the lighting around. I got an external camera with a light ring but I zoom a lot. I like also, lighting behind to one side sort of towards the ceiling but I have a small room with black wooden screens behind where I zoom.

Feel free to putz around A LOT a few times a day to see what works. my first times I downloaded it on my laptop and with a different email, downloaded it in my phone and zoomed myself.

also, don't be hyper critical about your appearance or voice. test various clothing on zoom once you decide what space you will be doing it in. nothing too busy (I know you know that as a styling choice, I mean even more because even a bit of print looks busier on a small screen)

Thanks again for the info Rescue-Chick! Can you post a link to Amazon to the external camera with light ring that you use? I’d like to know in case my camera sucks so I can order one with 2 day shipping if necessary. Thanks!

I got this one but really any usb camera should be fine! make sure you know how to futz with your volume and microphone too. just go nuts testing. the more you screw up beforehand, the less flustered you will be when you screw up live!

OP, you type old.

Or maybe, I’m just bitter I may be having to do my own Zoom interview for the second time this pandemic.

A 3 year old camera should be fine, throw a nice shirt and put your mic AND camera on!

you also will do great r16. carry on :)

A higher camera angle is more flattering. If you don’t need to use your keyboard during the call, raise your laptop on some books. Try out lots of different lighting, including taking the lampshades off. Have more than one light source to minimize shadows.

R16 Dear, be happy you are on to your 2nd Zoom interview this pandemic - because this is my first! And this is actually a job I want.

R15 Thank you!

Everyone wish me luck!

I hired someone after a Zoom interview... was a big mistake.

R21 = Asshole boss

I had a series of interviews last November and the final one was a zoom interview.

I used my laptop and I actually hung a solid light-colored blanket behind me since I had better lighting coming in from that specific area (where I would have had a white wall backdrop wasn't the best at the time.) I'm glad the blanket didn't decide to come tumbling down during.

Still surprised I got the job.

R21 What happened?

Besides, I’m the potential employee, not the employer so who cares? I just need a damn job!

Most of my interviews now are just phone interviews. They don’t even bother with Zoom.

I've done a few interviews via Zoom. First off, install zoom asap and test out your camera. Some computer (iMac) cameras have a very wide camera angle, and they will show the entire room behind you. So you might want to move your desk so that there's a clean wall behind you (instead of clutter). Then there' the lighting. A ring light is the best option, but if you can't afford that, then you should be seated facing the window. Open the blinds so they lie flat horizontally; that will diffuse the light, which is a flattering effect (as opposed to the sun's rays hitting you directly). Or, if you have a gauze curtain, that also diffuses the natural light entering the window. DO NOT have your desk pushed up against a wall with the window behind you or on one side of you; the lighting will be horrible, and it will make you look bad.

On my interview, a panel of four people asked me questions. All the camera feeds were arranged onscreen Brady Bunch style, and it was just as intimidating as sitting in a conference room with multiple people asking questions and staring at you. You do have the comfort, however, of being in your own home. If you have cats, lock them in a bedroom with their toys, and put a fan in front of the door to drown out their meows.

What is Brady Bunch? Do I need to buy it for Zoom?

r26, good advice re the cats

Another thing that may seem silly to ask but I’m not sure about is am I supposed to look at the camera lens at the top of the laptop or do I just look at the main laptop screen to make it look like I’m speaking directly to the interviewer?

R29, I go back and forth.

Eye contact isn’t that much of a thing via Zoom. Just don’t appear distracted, and looking into the camera directly when you’re feeling most confident.

OP, Zoom interviews are SO much easier than doing it live. You are in total control or how you look and come across, and you can even have cheat notes hidden away to aide you!

There are lots of free online sites you can use to test yourself on camera.

do you have to wear a suit and tie?

OP here - Zoom worked well and I’ll know how to use it in the future, but didn’t get the job.😑

Zoom nude

Sorry about that, OP.

Yes I have. I use Chromebook and it worked fine on that. Just as others mentioned don't use it on a phone. Too hard to control the camera that way.

Sorry to hear that OP- you have a good outlook on it though! I had at least a dozen interviews (and tgen additional second round) before I was hired where I am now and I have never been happier at a place. Your place is out there!

Sorry, OP.

R35 R37 R8 Thank you for the encouragement. I was so disappointed because I really wanted this job, but like I said the one good thing that came out of it was that I know how to use Zoom for my next interview.

Oh and I actually just used my phone and it worked out well!