娇色导航

As the popularity of video interviews increases, so do chances for major 鈥渙n-air鈥� bloopers. IT recruiting, staffing, consulting and research company asked more than 600 senior-level managers to describe the most cringe-worthy video interview bloopers.

鈥淭here are so many horror stories around video. These all can be avoided if candidates recognize that they have to take this seriously 鈥� just because it鈥檚 not in-person doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 not a 鈥渞eal鈥� interview. There are three major areas to focus upon that will ensure these don鈥檛 happen to you.

• Test your technology well in advance to make sure everything works properly
• Find a place where you can be free of any and all distractions
• Dress professionally, just as you would if you were going on a live, in-person interview.

The only thing that鈥檚 missing is the handshake,鈥� says John Reed, senior executive director, Robert Half Technology.

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One candidate picked up and showed off the family cat. Another鈥檚 dog walked in front of the camera during the interview. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 time for show-and-tell. Make sure you鈥檙e doing the interview in a room that your pets can鈥檛 access,鈥� says Reed.

One candidate was eating breakfast on-camera during the interview. 鈥淛ust don鈥檛 do this. Eat before or after your interview. The only acceptable item is maybe a small glass of water, which you should sip very sparingly,鈥� says Reed.

A candidate鈥檚 phone rang 鈥� it was his girlfriend. He took her call during the interview. In another instance (not related to the Robert Half survey), a candidate鈥檚 wife got out of the shower and walked past the camera in the buff. 鈥淓ither make sure you鈥檙e alone and can do the interview uninterrupted, or make sure other members of your household know you鈥檙e not to be disturbed while you鈥檙e doing the interview,鈥� says Reed.

A candidate鈥檚 child walked up to the camera and asked, 鈥淢ommy, what are you doing?鈥� Again, says Reed, make sure you鈥檙e not disturbed or interrupted during your interview.

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A candidate鈥檚 home was undergoing renovation, and the entire interview included the sounds of saws and hammering. 鈥淚鈥檒l repeat 鈥� find a quiet, preferably isolated space where you can do the interview. If you can鈥檛, consider explaining the situation and rescheduling the interview,鈥� says Reed.

The doorbell rang, and a candidate answered it, signed for delivery of a package and then returned to the interview. 鈥淭his happened to me personally 鈥� I was on an interview, and the candidate said, 鈥楨xcuse me for a moment,鈥� went and answered the doorbell and we could hear him signing for a package. That鈥檚 a huge no-no,鈥� says Reed.

One interviewee was wearing a tank top and flip-flops; another was getting dressed while the interview was happening. 鈥淔inally, treat this just as you would an on-site interview. Today鈥檚 culture is so much more casual and open, but make sure you鈥檙e still adhering to a company鈥檚 dress code, and even err on the side of formality to show you are taking this seriously 鈥� wear a dress shirt, or a suit and tie,鈥� says Reed.

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