Online video interviews - the coming thing?

A participant in a recent workshop told me about his experience applying for a job with United Health Group. He said "It was the weirdest thing ever!" He received emailed instructions to go to a specific website and login from a computer or tablet with a webcam. Once logged in he was presented with a series of questions to answer verbally by speaking into the camera within a fixed amount of time, I believe it was 3 minutes per question.

To make it even more stressful, up in the right corner he could see the timer clicking down from three minutes for each question. He said it was a horrible experience and in retrospect he wishes he would have just withdrawn and refused to do this impersonal version of an interview.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?

I have heard of a number of larger companies using this technology to allow them to screen candidates without the expense of bringing them in for an interview. It is probably even cheaper than a phone-screening interview, because the online video version is saved, and can be reviewed off line at the convenience of the reviewer.

Face to face interviews are stressful enough, but at least it is mostly a known process. You don't always know the exact questions that will be ask, but when it is face to face you have a human to interact with and get immediate feedback from non-verbally. This new wrinkle requires a different kind of preparation. Let's look at the key differences and how to prepare.

1.  The cold eye of the lens. Not everyone feels comfortable in front of a camera lens. When it is a webcam, it can be even more intimidating. If you are not familiar with using a webcam, you will need to play around with the hardware by skypeing a few friends or relatives and getting comfortable with how it works. Learn to look at the camera lens rather than at all the other things going on the screen. This will look more like you are actually making eye contact with whomever is reviewing the recording later.

2. Comfortable private setting. Make sure you can find a quiet, well-lighted room with no distractions. You will want a plain background. When practicing skypeing, get feedback on how you look on camera. Some experts recommend being visible from the chest up and not just a headshot.

3. Speak conversationally. Practice speaking in a normal conversational tone of voice. Don't speak too loud, like some people do when they are on a cell phone, as if you don't think they can hear you. If you can, imagine you are speaking to someone who knows, likes and respects you. Some people even tape a photo next to the camera lens to make it seem like you are speaking to this friend.

4. Dress up. It is a good idea to dress up with a sport coat and tie to look professional, just as you would at a face-to-face interview.

5. Notes? It is ok to have some notes available as long as you won't over rely on them. You will seem less prepared if you are looking around for notes. Mock interviews and practice, practice, practice are still the name of this game.

6. Smile and relax. Keep your posture straight, lean slightly forward, and don't forget to smile at the camera as you would a person in front of you.

7. Close other applications on your computer. Before you login be sure to exit any other computer applications you may have running. You don't want your email program beeping that you have an incoming message.

Good luck and get used to it, because this technology will only become more popular in the future.

The balance of power

One of the worst feelings about the job search is when you feel that corporations have all the power, because they are making the decision about hiring you or not. The company is in the driver's seat, and they sometimes don't even respond to your application at all. So, you start to feel less confident and less significant. After all there are hundreds of applicants for a single job. And after a number of rejections it wears on you.

But don't let these distressing emotions derail you from believing in your own value. The reality is that the hiring process is a mutual decision. Just as an employer is evaluating you, you are also evaluating the company, the culture, the team and all the other aspects of the job posting. Let's face it, there are some positions or companies you would turn down if offered a job - right? Or perhaps you would never have even applied there in the first place.

There is an amazing diversity of occupations and jobs in our economy, and we need to believe that there is a place for each of us in the workforce, and that through persistence and positive expectation we will find it.

So, keep focused on what you can control and and on your own value. Good things will happen.

Decision strategies

I have been reading a book called "The Decision Book: Fifty Models for Strategic Thinking." The authors are Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschäppeler. I'm a big picture kind of guy, which means before I dig in to learn something, I like to understand the context and how it fits in with other things I am interested in. So, I love studying models that help me understand things.

One of the models in the book caught my eye because of how it can relate to job searchers. The model is called "The rubber band model: How to deal with a dilemma." A dilemma is usually a decision we have to make that seems evenly balanced for or against. The rubber band model shows how we are often pulled in two directions. Or more accurately, we are pulled toward something we want, but also held in place by other forces.

The resolution to this kind of dilemma is to identify what is pulling you (where do you want to go, what do you want to do), versus what is holding you back (fear, security, comfort zone). This is a little different from the usual list of pros and cons because it engages our emotions. 

Some of us are naturally motivated to pursue what attracts us. The clearer we become about what we want to move toward, the more excited we become. And this excitement allows us to overcome whatever holds us back. Others of us are motivated to avoid what appears risky, or scary or threatening, and this is what holds us back. 

Procrastination is essentially the problem of avoiding what we want to do or what would be good for us to do, because there is something about it that seems risky or threatening to us. Perhaps we are avoiding fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of the unknown, or fear of commitment. But whatever it is if we can identify it, we can recognize that we are focusing on the negative value instead of focusing on the potential benefits of action. Whatever we focus on gets stronger, so it is vitally important during job search to focus on the positive in order to build motivation and overcome indecision, avoidance and procrastination.

So, if you find you have been avoiding your job search responsibilities, then list what is pulling you and what is holding you back. Then spend an hour focusing only on what is pulling you by listing all the potential benefits of pursuing it, and list how these actions utilize your strengths and talents. Imagine how things could be better if pursuing it works out positively for you.

If after doing this for an hour you still find what is holding you back to be stronger, then you may need to work on minimizing the feelings that are holding you back by understanding that fears are not reality. What if your fear never comes true? Was it worth avoiding something that could have turned out well because of something that is actually unlikely to happen?