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Succeeding in the Virtual World: Online Interviewing Best Practices
VIRTUAL REALITIES
SUCCEEDING IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD: ONLINE INTERVIEWING BEST PRACTICES
Alexandra Nordberg, MD; Allison Beaulieu, MD; Viral Patel, MD; Richard Church, MD; Jennifer Carey, MD on behalf of the SAEM Education Committee
Whether you are interviewing for medical school, residency, fellowship, or your next job, an interview is invariably part of the process. This is a key opportunity for you to show your personal strengths and learn about the position. In this piece, we will review a variety of best practices to consider when preparing for your interview.
Preparation
Do your homework on the program and have several thoughtful questions ready for your interviewers. You can look at your list of questions between interviews, but do not focus on your list during the interview. This is a critical way for you to decide if this position is right for you, so use your time wisely and effectively! On the flip side, be ready to answer questions the interviewer may have for you. In general, you should be prepared to answer the following questions: • Who are you? (Describe yourself) • How did you arrive at this point in your career? • Why are you interested in this position? • What are your goals going forward? • What questions do you have about the program? • What would you bring to the department as a faculty member?
If you know ahead of time the names of the individuals who will be interviewing you, find time to read up on them so that you will understand their respective roles and can direct your questions to the most appropriate person.
Keep it Classy
Always look professional at an interview. This means dressing in appropriate attire and appearing well-rested and wellgroomed. You may have attended other virtual lectures or meetings in a dress shirt and your pajama bottoms, but don’t do that for an interview!
The Set Up
Crafting an appropriate set up for virtual interviews is essential. Select a location you are comfortable with and a place where you will be able to have a private, uninterrupted conversation. Review these five tips to ensure a successful interview day: 1. Lighting. Have a light source in front of you and avoid a light source behind you. Underlit spaces can make it difficult for an interviewer to see you, and lighting from behind can create a washed-out appearance. 2. Noise. To the best of your ability, control the ambient noise around you. If someone else is in the vicinity where you are interviewing, let them know so they won’t unknowingly disturb you. You can also place a “do not disturb” sign on your closed door or find another way to communicate
“please no interruptions.” Be conscientious of your pets; move them to somewhere they will not interrupt you. 3. Background. There are varying opinions surrounding this topic. Some individuals opt for a blank, neutral background, while others prefer to employ backgrounds that display their personalities and interests. If you are interviewing from your home or office, keep it tidy. Close your closet doors and put away that laundry on the bed behind you! If you do need to interview in a space such as your bedroom, consider positioning your camera so that your bedroom furniture is not visible. If you are unable to do so, you may consider selecting a virtual background. Test out virtual backgrounds ahead of time and ensure the background is not overly busy or distracting. 4. Audio. Test your audio with a practice interview session. If you are using earbuds or headphones make sure your Wi-Fi connection is secure and have a backup option available in case of malfunction. Make sure your headphones are fully charged prior to the interview. If you are unable to get your audio to work, message your interviewer and/or hold up a note with your phone number so you can continue the interview in a slightly different format.
5. Camera focus. Check your camera prior to starting a virtual interview. Ensure the camera lens is clean and your head and shoulders are in appropriate focus. Prop up your computer on a large textbook or elevated surface so the camera is close to eye level to avoid an upward angle towards your nose or in a way that only captures only part of your head and shoulders.
Minimize Distractions
Buzzing, dinging, and spilling water on your laptop can detract from the interview. Below are some tips and tricks to ensure the interview runs smoothly and without distractions. • Disable notifications on your laptop • Turn off messaging alerts and ensure they are not synced with your phone • Silence your phone or turn it off • Have a spare headset and/or earbuds handy in case you have difficulty with your sound • Keep your computer connected to a power source to avoid a low battery and needing to find a power source mid-interview • Stay focused on the interviewer and do not open additional screens • Sit in a non-mobile chair to avoid spinning or rocking from side to side • Do not have food or drink at your desk • If possible, use an ethernet connection rather than WiFi
Be on Time
No one plans to be late, so set yourself up for success by logging into the virtual platform a few minutes early. This will give you time to troubleshoot links and equipment and lets the appropriate staff know you are present. It is essential you have the correct time zone when interviewing virtually; however, sometimes life gets in the way. If you realize you are going to be even a few minutes late, make sure you contact the coordinator/ employer.
Body Language and Nonverbal Cues
It can be difficult to convey interest in a virtual format, so be fully present in the moment and convey interest in the interview, position, and institution. Make sure your entire face is in view, look directly into the camera, and interact with the interviewer as though you are truly face to face.
For both virtual and in person interviews, avoid fidgeting. Maintain good posture and eye contact and avoid excessive movement such as swiveling back and forth in your chair or clicking your pen. Silence your phone or turn it off.
Keep it Real
If you listed something on your application, you should be able to discuss it. This includes everything from research projects to craft beer brewing. Do not over emphasize something on your application if you are unable to speak knowledgeably about it during the interview. Additionally, if there are less desirable topics within your application, be ready to discuss these as well. Rather than avoiding difficult discussions and sweeping things under the rug, take ownership of them and discuss what you learned from the experiences.
Navigating “Illegal Questions”
The National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) Match Communication Code of Conduct includes question topics that are off-limits for interviewers. If you are asked these questions, there are different ways to respond: • Answer the question, but only if you feel comfortable doing so • Provide a response that does not answer the question • Deflect the question and move on with the interview • Inform the interviewer you do not feel comfortable answering the question as you were told by your institution that such questions are not allowed to be asked during interviews
Contract and Negotiations
In a job search, the interview may or may not discuss contract and salary details. If this is the case, the interview is largely for you to learn more about the position, the institution, and expectations. You want to make sure this would be a good place for you and the employer wants to make sure you would succeed in the position. After the interview, it is acceptable to ask for a copy of a sample contract for you to review. Additionally, salary details are typically negotiated after the interview itself. For residency and fellowship interviews, you should be provided a copy of the appropriate contract, benefits, and obligations.
Happy interviewing!
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Dr. Nordberg is an assistant professor and the assistant program director for the emergency medicine residency program at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, MA
Dr. Beaulieu is a medical education fellow and interim assistant program director for the Combined Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine Residency Program at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
Dr. Church is an associate professor and the University of Massachusetts Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director in Worcester, MA.
Dr. Carey is an assistant professor and the Director of Emergency Medicine Undergraduate Education at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, MA.
