Interviews: what's changed?

By Nhlanhla Maphetu

Many things have changed during the pandemic, and more things will. And although many things have changed about the job interview process, some essential things stay the same.

Here's a look at what to expect from interviews today.

1. Virtual interviews are here to stay

Most employers continue to use telephonic screenings, with the addition of conference video calls. The key is to have confidence to stand and shine while you face the camera and the interview panel, and to prepare sufficiently.

EMPLOYER INPUT: Charles Musto, COO at SOLIDitech

“Instead of our code challenge and face-toface interviews being conducted ‘in person’ we’re conducting interviews online via video conference.

2. Tech skills are more important than ever

With virtual interviews being the epitome of recruitment, additional skills may be required. Employers/ recruiters are looking for skills that will allow you to work productively in their company, especially considering that you might have to learn various new software quickly for a remote position.

EMPLOYER INPUT: Aarti Singh, PWC

"Remember that the use of digital tools, technology and automation will add another dimension to your skillset. If you have experience in, exposure to or even just dabble in any tech, please disclose this."

3. New types of questions

The employer might ask about the skills and experience you may have acquired during the pandemic – this is where you should be able to impress.

EMPLOYER INPUT: Geraldine Kwenda, SouthSouthNorth

"Questions now need to draw out more personality and encourage more engagement from the candidates. We also need to be more friendly, explicit and clearer, since a lot can be lost in translation or connection via an online interview!"

4. It is more difficult to "read" people

EMPLOYER INPUT: Geraldine Kwenda, SouthSouthNorth

"Conducting interviews in person before the pandemic was a much easier process as they allowed for a higher level of engagement and made it easier to build rapport with the candidate and made it easier to read non-verbal cues (body language).

5. Expectations have shifted

EMPLOYER INPUT: Charles Musto, COO at SOLIDitech

"Expectations have been adjusted as we know that completing studies during a pandemic has not been easy. Our evaluation of the required technical skills still remains much the same, although there is now an extra emphasis on soft skills as the need for excellent communication skills is even greater in a remote work environment.”

EMPLOYER INPUT: Geraldine Kwenda, SouthSouthNorth

"Because we are interviewing online, we expect the candidate to be punctual, well prepared, open and ready to ask us a lot of questions about the role, our organisation and its programmes. This shows us they have done their research and take the online interview seriously."

6. And some things stay the same…

Remember: You still need to make a good impression.

Either in-person or remote interview, impressions last forever. Dress for the occasion – no informal t-shirts! With several companies opting for remote interviews, it is still important to be punctual and respectful. You have little reason to be late – especially considering that you won't be able to blame it on getting lost or sitting in traffic!

WANT MORE ADVICE ON INTERVIEWS? Read "Preparing for interviews" www.careers.uct.ac.za/cs/interviews

Prepare for these PANDEMIC-related questions

How did the pandemic affect your career goals?

What the employer is really asking here is "Do we fit into your future?". Be sure to keep the role you are interviewing for in mind. If you are thinking of going overseas in the next three years, maybe don't mention that. Employers want to know that you are right where you want to be. You can keep it simple! It might be that you thought you would work best in a physical office, but have realised since that you would prefer remote work.

What have you learned during the pandemic?

You can answer this question in many ways, but keep in mind that the employer wants to know that you can see the light in a bad situation. Maybe you learned how to manage your time better, or that you need to maintain a balanced lifestyle to keep yourself healthy.

Do you prefer working at the office or at home?

Employers that ask this question normally want to know that you will be open to returning to the office at some point. Or, conversely, whether you will jump ship due to being lonely at home. Answer this one honestly. There is no point in saying that you would like working from home when it will drive you up the walls not being in the same space as other people.

What is a good thing that came out of the pandemic?

Would you make a good team member with the resilience to find silver linings? Because this question is tricky (it is very broad!), it's worth thinking about it ahead of time. It might be related to a personal thing (a new hobby or more time with family), or environmental (people became more conscious of our effect on the environment or remote work leading to less carbon emissions from traffic).

How did you deal with stress and uncertainty when COVID-19 first became a reality?

Or, in simpler terms, how do you deal when things get tough? Use the STAR technique. Explain the problem, how you decided to handle it, what action you took and what the result was. Maybe you learned how to practice self-care, or to see the best in the situation – or maybe you just decided to avoid news headlines for a while.

HOW TO USE THE STAR METHOD

SITUATION: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.

TASK: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation.

ACTION: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.

RESULT: Share what outcomes your actions achieved