Video conferencing etiquette is something we all need to know and practice. Whether you have been working remotely for much of your career or your job has become remote recently due to the pandemic, you have probably found yourself in a video meeting or even a video interview. It has become essential in the current business world, with a 535% rise in daily traffic in 2020! In addition to this, 60% of hiring managers use or have used video interviews in the hiring process. With the growth of these statistics, it’s important that you practice proper video etiquette. See below for advice on both video meetings and video interviews.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Video Meetings

1. Test your technology
Whether you are preparing for an interview or joining an important conference call, be sure that your technology is running smoothly. Be sure to check that your internet connection is strong, your computer battery is fully charged, and that the platform you are using is working accordingly. Before any important call or interview, we recommend that you test the video calling platform beforehand. Call a friend or a family member so that you can familiarize yourself with the platform and ensure that everything is running smoothly and won’t cause any issues during the actual call.

2. Be on time
This applies to both in-person and video meetings. When joining a video meeting, it becomes much more obvious and visible to others when you arrive late. Be sure you are on time and ready to contribute once you join the meeting.

3. Find a quiet and private space with minimal distractions
When working remotely and joining your regular video meetings, it’s important that you have a proper set up in a quiet space with minimal distractions. Be sure that your background is not too busy and distracting. If you don’t have a background such as this, platforms such as Zoom allow you to place in a custom background of your own. This is great for those who have busy and distracting workspaces.

5. Dress work appropriate
While working at home seems more casual, it’s important to still dress work appropriate for those video meetings. Another thing to be sure of is how your clothing looks on camera. For example, if you wear glasses, be sure the glare isn’t too distracting.

6. Mute when other people are talking
If you are in a video meeting and there are many other people attending, it’s a good idea to mute yourself until it’s your turn to talk or until you have something to say. Your computer’s mic can be very sensitive and pick up any background sounds and movement. This is distracting and disruptive when others are talking, so clicking that mute button when you’re not talking is a good idea.

7. Look into the camera and pay attention
It’s very easy to tell if you aren’t looking directly into the camera when you are speaking. You should always be aware of where your camera is, especially if you have multiple monitors in front of you. Paying attention during meetings may be obvious, but it’s important! Pay attention to every detail and take notes if necessary.

Video Interviews:

Many of the points above also apply to video interviews, such as testing your technology and dressing appropriately. However, video interviews do have some rules that may not necessarily apply to your regular team meetings. See below for the do’s and don’ts of video interviews.

1. Dress to impress
We’ve already established how important it is to keep your video meeting attire work appropriate, but this is especially important in video interviews. You want to dress to impress and treat your video interview as if it’s an in-person interview. Dress professionally from head to toe and you’ll set a good impression to the hiring managers interviewing you.

2. Show up 15 minutes early
When it comes to video interviews, it’s possible for you to experience some technical difficulties with your computer or the video software you are using. The good news is this is completely avoidable. When preparing for your video interview, log in 15 minutes early to ensure that your audio and video functions are working properly. This also ensures that you aren’t late to your interview.

3. Prepare as if it’s an in-person interview
Just because your interview is occurring over Zoom, or any other video platform, it doesn’t mean it’s not a real interview. You should prepare yourself as if it’s an in-person interview. Thoroughly research the company and the role you are interviewing for, prepare yourself to answer common interview questions, and think up some questions you have for the hiring manager(s) as well. Prepare, prepare, prepare, and you’ll be golden.

4. Be aware of your body language
Whether it’s an in-person or a video interview, you should always be aware of your body language and facial expressions. Be sure to smile, have good eye contact, and show enthusiasm when necessary. Always show that you are engaged in the conversation.

5. Have a pen, notepad, and resume on your desk, but be careful…
Because this is a video interview, it’s easy to keep a lot of notes and information on your desk because no one can see it. Although this is true, hiring managers are able to see when you are looking down at your notes. We recommend that you have a few notes in front of you, but to look at them sparingly. You should also be sure to have a pen and paper in front of you to take notes as well as a copy of your resume just in case.

With video meetings and interviews being the new normal, it’s important to have proper video etiquette. If you have any questions about video interviews or future job openings to advance your technology career, feel free to contact us.

Sources:
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/dos-donts-video-conferencing-etiquette/story?id=69836253
https://resources.owllabs.com/blog/video-conferencing-etiquette
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/video-interview-guide
https://www.themuse.com/advice/video-interview-tips

About Precision
Precision Technologies Corp. (PTC) is a leading full stack IT Company with a diversified portfolio of agile transformation, application & mobile development, the PMO suite, automation, analytics, salesforce solutions and technology staffing services. Since 2010, our clients have leveraged our staffing and consulting experience to obtain escalated technical services across the industries. We often are told that our solutions are very precise, cost-effective and process driven, thereby delivering intended results. https://precisiontechcorp.com/