10 Do’s & Don’ts of Online Job Interviews

by Leah Nalepa

During COVID, casual work attire became the norm in work-from-home, hybrid work environments.  Professional events were all canceled, so there was no need to get dressed up.

Four years after the pandemic, some of the results are positive: dress for your day work culture is more accepted. Wearing comfortable clothes in your home on a day when you simply need to power through tedious work is a perfectly fine option.    

Workers, however, should be wary of being too casual when the environment dictates otherwise.

 “I feel that I command my audience better when I put a tie on during my Zoom calls,” said a friend of mine recently.

I couldn’t agree more. When we dress well, we feel better. Whether we admit it or not, this mindset translates to the digital world -- particularly in interviews.

Whether we’re sitting at our kitchen table, a desk in our bedroom, or a phone booth at a co-working location, our clothes reflect our professionalism and self-respect.

As a recruiter, I’ve seen the best and worst of how people show up for video interviews. Based on my experience, here are 5 do’s and don’ts for what to wear in a video interview.

The 5 DON’TS of Online Job Interviews

1.    Don’t Disrobe

The shocking effect of this tagline was purposeful. While I’ve never seen a candidate completely undress during an interview, they have removed items of clothing such as a jacket, tie, or button-up shirt only to reveal a casual t-shirt underneath. Few actions come across as more unprofessional than this. Not only is it distracting for the interviewer, but it screams, “I don’t care,” “I don’t want to be here,” and “I don’t respect you.”

2.    Don’t Wear Eveningwear, Clubwear, or Pajamas

Similarly, clothing that is visibly inappropriate for any professional setting, such as pajamas, lingerie (or camisoles that look like lingerie), or overly tight and revealing tops, is disrespectful and discredits you as a candidate. Just because you can interview from your bedroom doesn’t mean you should wear something that could be worn to bed.

3.    Don’t Show Too Much Skin.

This blog post is meant for all audiences, although this point is particularly relevant to women. There is no reason to reveal too much skin in an interview, including cleavage or shoulders. When in doubt, stick to the rule of thumb: the neckline should lay four fingers below your clavicle and the top should completely cover your shoulders. 

4.    Don’t Be Too Casual.

Unless you’re interviewing for a position at the gym, athleisure, sweatshirts, T-shirts, and even flannels are likely too casual for an interview. While these pieces are a step above pajamas, it’s not a far reach. There is so little shown in a video interview that controlling what you can—such as wearing professional clothes—to impress the interviewer makes a big difference.  

5.    Don’t Have Bedhead.

This should go without saying. However, time and again, I am consistently shocked by how many candidates don’t seem to tend to their hair before joining a video call. If you don’t look polished for an interview, an employer won’t put you in front of their clients or senior staff either (read: won’t hire you).

The 5 DO’S of Online Job Interviews

Most readers probably haven’t been guilty of the “don’t” recommendations above. However, we may not have learned what is appropriate for video interviews in a post-COVID, digital world either. 

1.    Wear Professional Clothing as if you were Interviewing In-Person.

While working from home often means casual attire, such as jeans or sweatpants, it’s essential to remember that an interviewer isn’t viewing you as a coworker. They assess you as their future employee and ask whether you can represent their company well. You should wear the same professional clothes in a video call as you would for an in-person interview. Not only does this set you apart from other candidates, but it also indicates that you care about your appearance, respect the interviewer and want to be taken seriously. When in doubt, find pieces that intersect the line between business casual and business professional. These include a neatly-tailored dress or blouse for women or a button-up top with a sportcoat or blazer for men.

2.    Wear Pieces That Reflect Your Skin & Hair in a Flattering Way

Camera angles and awkward room lighting usually don’t do a person justice regarding their image in a video call. A skin-colored sweater that looks impeccable in person may feel dull or blend in with you and your background on camera. Rather, opt for pieces that enhance your image and contrast your coloring. Jewel tones, livelier colors, bigger patterns, and layered pieces help curate, sharpen, and brighten your image on camera.

3.    Add Accessories in a Tasteful Way

When done right, accessories can polish your outfit and enhance your overall image. Wear earrings, a watch, a necklace, or a headband that add a bit of color or visual interest to your appearance while not distracting from it. Recall that your headshot is the only angle the interviewer sees. Ensure your accessories don’t detract from that image by being overtly gaudy or over-the-top.    

4.    Keep Hair and Makeup Clean and Polished

A video interview is no excuse for a bad hair day. Brush your hair and ensure it’s neatly styled or put up. For women, if you’re wearing makeup, err on the lighter side and keep it clean and polished. Interviews are not the time to wear heavy makeup or roll out of bed without styling your hair. 

5.    Be Mindful of Your Background

While your background isn’t part of your clothing, it is directly related when it comes to a video call. Remember, the interviewer can only see what’s in the camera, so your background should not distract them. Ensure your background is organized and appropriate for an interview, or better yet, blur your background or add a virtual image of an office.  

CONCLUSION

While there are plenty more do’s and don’ts to virtual interviews, the simplest advice is to wear professional clothing as if you were in person. This is not a time to experiment. Rather, show your best self by wearing pieces that evoke confidence and exemplify professionalism.

5 Reaons You Should Hire a Recruiting Firm

With limited time, resources, and expertise, many organizations struggle to navigate the complex landscape of recruitment effectively. This is where partnering with a reputable recruiting firm can make all the difference.

From streamlining the hiring process to accessing a vast network of candidates, there are numerous reasons why enlisting the services of a recruiting firm is a strategic investment for your business. Let's explore the importance of hiring a recruiting firm to fill your open roles: 

Specialized Expertise: In today's competitive job market, finding and attracting top talent is a formidable challenge for businesses of all sizes. Forbes recently highlighted data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that indicated the country is suffering from a worker shortage, making recruiting new candidates that much more onerous.

Recruiting firms specialize in identifying, attracting, and placing qualified candidates across various industries and roles, despite the challenges. With their deep understanding of market trends, industry-specific knowledge, and extensive networks, recruiting firms are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of talent acquisition effectively.

By leveraging their specialized expertise and tools, businesses can tap into a wealth of resources and insights that streamline the hiring process and ensure the best possible outcomes. 

Access to Top Talent: HR.com reported that a top concern for HR leaders is the lack of job candidates with the required skills and expertise necessary for their jobs. To combat this, recruiting firms utilize their networks and specialized tools to have access to a vast pool of candidates, including passive job seekers who may not be actively looking for new opportunities.

Through their comprehensive database, professional networks, and targeted recruitment strategies, recruiting firms can identify and engage with top talent that may otherwise be overlooked. This access to a diverse range of candidates increases the likelihood of finding the perfect match for open roles within the organization. 

Time and Resource Efficiency: Hiring is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process that requires careful planning, execution, and follow-up. By outsourcing recruitment to a reputable firm, businesses can free up valuable time and resources that can be redirected towards core business activities.

From sourcing candidates and conducting initial screenings to coordinating interviews and negotiating offers, recruiting firms handle every aspect of the hiring process, allowing internal teams to focus on their core responsibilities. 

Reduced Hiring Costs: While it may seem counterintuitive, partnering with a recruiting firm can result in cost savings for businesses in the long run. Recruiting firms operate on a contingency or retained basis, meaning they only receive full payment upon successfully placing a candidate in a role. This performance-based model incentivizes recruiting firms to deliver results efficiently while minimizing the risk of wasted resources on ineffective recruitment efforts. 

Mitigation of Hiring Risks: Making the wrong hire can have significant implications for a business, including decreased productivity, increased turnover, sunk costs for training, and potential damage to the company's reputation.

Recruiting firms mitigate these risks by thoroughly vetting candidates, conducting background checks if required, and assessing their fit with the company culture and values. By ensuring that candidates meet the organization's requirements and expectations, recruiting firms minimize the likelihood of costly hiring mistakes. 

Hiring a recruiting firm to fill your open roles may initially seem financially intimidating and time-consuming. However, the opposite is true. Recruiting firms offer numerous benefits for businesses seeking to attract top talent and streamline the hiring process.

From accessing specialized expertise and top talent to improving time and resource efficiency, recruiting firms play a vital role in helping organizations achieve their recruitment goals effectively. By partnering with a reputable recruiting firm, businesses can gain a competitive edge in the talent market and position themselves for long-term success and growth. 

Want to partner with us? Visit RecruitBigFish.com.

How Will the New D.C. Pay Transparency Law Affect You?

As of June 30th, DC, a law will go into effect mandating that employers disclose salary ranges for all job postings. This law applies to employers with just one employee in DC—so you can imagine it will affect most of the Policy or Trade Association employers—even if the workforce isn't predominantly DC-based.

Sometimes, this information hasn't proven to be that helpful. Many employers will respond with big ranges. Posting in other states and municipalities with similar laws has seen employers respond with CYA job ranges of $90k-$900k. Which proves of little help to the employer or to the job seeker.

So, as a job seeker, what do you do with this newfound information?

Know your worth—Know your market value. Just like your House, you have a fair market value. This is the price a willing buyer (your employer) will pay the seller (in this case you). There are a number of ways to assess that. You can review salary ranges on similar jobs, test the job market by interviewing elsewhere, ask peers, or use online resources like glassdoor.com.

There is also an emerging trend of salary surveys in specific industries, but I would encourage you to take them with a grain of salt. Surveys usually aren't specific enough for your position and I have often found have the salary ranges listed to be higher than they actually are in reality.   Want to know your fair market value? Send your resume to recruitbigfish.com and we can help you determine it.

Don't always ask for the maximum salary. There is a false belief that if you don't ask for the very top of the range, you are leaving money on the table—I would assert this is not true.   Asking for too much, even if in range, may result in you not getting a potential job offer at all.

What asking for the very top of the range ensures is your resume will only be looked at by the other most experienced candidates, some of whom may be making lateral moves or even taking pay cuts. Suppose you are making much less than the range's bottom end but feel qualified. Job—apply at the lower side of the salary range.

Ask the right questions about the range. Some employers have tough pay bands, meaning if you come in at the top of the range, you will need to get promoted to make more—some larger orgs will have rigid barriers on who can get promoted-requiring everything from education, management experience, time at the employer, etc.—smaller orgs you might just have the challenge of few promotion slots to move into---on the employer side, they sometimes view candidates that are very top of the salary range as unlikely to stick around long-because.

Tell them what you want. I always recommend to candidates they lead with their salary expectations. The new DC law prevents employers from asking about your salary history, but it doesn't stop you from telling them what you are making.   Sharing what you are currently making may go beyond just your job title and experience to help them understand what they need to offer you to come and work for them.

Put yourself in the employer’s shoes- hiring managers have budgets.

What do you think about this new law? How do you plan to leverage salary range postings in your job search?

Straight Talk from a Recruiter: The Problem with Cover Letters

Real talk, your cover letters suck. Here is a formula for writing a good cover letter that just might help land you the job.

I am awesome + you’re awesome + let’s be awesome together.

The problem with cover letters:

• 90% of cover letters we receive are extremely formulaic.

• Didn’t you just say there is a formula? Yes, but this formula includes you and your insights into the company, and your unique attributions to the position.

• Don’t just regurgitate the employers' mission or job listing in the cover letter.

• P.S. Yes, recruiters can tell when chatGPT wrote your cover letter.

Cover Letters: To Whom, What, When, and Why?

At Big Fish, we read a lot of cover letters from applicants, and we may also advise our job seekers to include a cover letter with their resume.

Writing a cover letter is not an automated function where you can Google, “cover letter templates” and choose your favorite one. And while admittedly, we’ve all done that at some point in our careers, here are the Big W’s that AI won’t be able to spell out for you.

To Whom?

Who is going to be reading your letter? Always address your cover letter to the hiring manager or recruiter by name. This personal touch shows that you've taken the time to research the company and makes your cover letter stand out among the “sirs and madams”. Not sure who that person should be? If you’re our Big Fish candidate, we will share it with you.

What do I say?

What you shouldn’t do is repeat a sequel of your resume, that’s already there. Rather, your cover letter adds depth to your interest and reaffirms your career goals with the goals of the hiring organization.

• Research Well: Take the time to research the company's mission, values, culture, and recent achievements. Incorporate this information into your cover letter to demonstrate your genuine interest in the organization and how you can contribute to its success.

• Highlight Your Relevant Experience: Dedicate one paragraph of your cover letter to expand and highlight your most relevant experience and skills that make you a strong candidate for the job. Provide specific examples of how your past accomplishments demonstrated your potential to excel in the role.

• Circle it back to the Job and The Company: Make sure to explicitly connect your experience and skills back to the employer. They want to know essentially, “why us” and “why you?” Convey your enthusiasm for the role and the company in your cover letter. Explain why you're excited about the opportunity and how it aligns with your career goals and interests.

When do I include a Cover Letter?

In most cases, if the job description does not explicitly ask for a cover letter, there’s no need to submit one. If you are reading this and find yourself easily crafting the talking points we outlined above in your head, then go for it!

Disclaimer-- a poorly written, awkwardly phrased or non-proofread cover letter can hurt your application. Especially in a communication-oriented role, so if you include a letter, do it right.

Make sure you ask a friend or colleague to review it before sending.

Other opportunistic reasons to include a cover letter with your resume are:

• When the desired job is a diversion from your previous work experience.

• When you were referred by a colleague or relatable previous experience.

• When you have any noticeable breaks from employment in your resume.

• When you have an average of one year, or less, with previous employers.

• When you really want the job.

If one or more of the above apply to you, any possible shortcomings, or previous career detours, addressing it directly in your personalized cover letter makes recruiters and hiring manager take that second look.

Why you, and why us?

At this point, you’ve gotten most of the way through your one-page cover letter. It's concise and carefully worded to the job requirements; time to end your letter with one question answered...why you? What’s your unique value that you bring to the role, the team, the company?

The magic formula again here, is worth repeating...

I am awesome + you’re awesome + let’s be awesome together.

End your cover letter with a strong closing paragraph reiterating your interest in the position and expressing what benefit you anticipate being able to bring to this role or this company. Thank the employer for considering your application and provide your contact information.

By following these tips, you can write a solid cover letter that effectively showcases your qualifications and makes a positive impression on potential employers. Or you can still use AI to help you write your cover letter promptly, just know it’s writing the same letter for every applicant.

5 Reasons Why Talking to a Recruiter Could Be More Helpful Than You Think

You’re probably familiar with the old saying: “It's easier to get a job when you already have one.” Well, it's also easier to find a (better) job with the help of a recruiter.

Don’t wait till you’re burnt out to consider talking to a recruiter about your professional situation and your future goals. Getting a little help from a recruiter you trust is much better than navigating your career journey alone. Recruiters also follow hiring trends and can help your interests align with the changing job market.

Notably the most placeable candidates are the ones who seek out opportunities well before they’ve reached their quitting or breaking point.

1.  Know your $ worth

Understanding the job market for your field of work is just as important as knowing your industry, even if you’re not actively seeking new employment. Whether you’re a hiring manager, employer, or intern, charting actionable goals will save you from some avoidable and yes, unexpected detours.

Save yourself the standard $249 Glassdoor subscription and instead talk to a recruiter about your expected salary range. This will give you a better idea making that decision too, and whether moving out might be better than moving up.

2.  Keep your options open

Let the recruiter know your desired timeline to change jobs and whether or not you are interested in considering opportunities as they present themselves. But also convey to a recruiter how you are already a valued team member at your organization.

Recruiters are seeking intentional decision-makers and people who want career growth- not just any job. You never know, that may be enough to convince the employer you should be their first choice for hire.

3.  You’re ready for a change

A desire for career change can be interpreted in many ways.  It may be your boss who’s giving you a hard time or the lack of growth opportunity in the organization. Some folks just feel like it's time to move on.

A good recruiter is not simply transactional in nature but will walk you through your need for change and explore your motivating factors. Size of employer, culture fit, and greater flexibility are just a few reasons that jobseekers might explore other options.

We know our clients and can give you a straightforward answer on which organizations meet your needs.

4.  Timing is everything

Maybe you are thinking about leaving; what is a good timeframe to start brushing up that resume and sprucing up your LinkedIn profile?

We suggest three to seven months as an adequate timeline for the discovery and job search process.

Employers move at their own pace as far as hiring and that has nothing to do with your viability as a job seeker. Also depending on your field of work, different jobs can be in higher demand, or more competitive at certain times of the year. Upload your resume to let us know you’re interested in a private conversation about what’s out there and what’s possible for you.

5.  An advocate for you

Lastly, I can’t stress enough how helpful it can be to have a recruiter acting in your best interests. Recruiters can be agents for your career change, if we receive a good understanding of where you’ve been and where you want to be.

Recruiters take action on your behalf, follow up with hiring managers, and even provide additional resume and interview help. Traditional HR professionals won’t make this kind of time investment in potential job candidates. Their main mission is to secure the best applicants at the right price point. If that’s not you, they will move on to the next candidate without offering any feedback or assistance.

Without a recruiter to stake out the goals and timelines, applicants can fall to the wayside or worse, be left at the end of the interview process without a desirable offer. You can eliminate the unknown by working with a recruiter on your next job search.

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Start a conversation with a trusted recruiter today at recruitbigfish.com, apply to a role that interests you or simply upload your resume for general consideration.

🎥 Video Interviews

Consider Your Lighting, Sound, and Location 

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

💡 PART 1: LIGHTING💡

The lighting in your space is important for a video interview since it affects how the interviewer observes and perceives you. Interviewing from a dingy basement, dimly lit room, or a kitchen that presents fluorescent glare can have a dramatic effect on the quality of your video and overall image. One thing is for sure: you do not want the interviewer to awkwardly ask if you can move to a brighter space. 

While your space may not be perfect, the best way to mitigate the effects of bad lighting is to control the lighting in your space. Incorporating natural light is the most ideal.

Consider sitting in front of a window so your face is brightened, and you are viewable by the camera. Be mindful if it is too sunny – you do not want to squint!

A correspondingly great option is a ring light, or a similar portable light, that can rest in front of you but behind the camera or laptop. This light should not be seen by the person on the other end of the camera but simply enhances your appearance in the video. If neither of those options are readily available, opt for placing a light above you versus below.

🔊 PART 2: Sound  🔊

Sound is equally, if not more important, than lighting. There are several basic elements to consider when it comes to sound. 

✔️ How well the interviewer can hear you.  
✔️ How well you can hear the interviewer.  
✔️ If there is background noise. 

It is understood that if the speakers cannot hear each other, then the interview cannot or will not be conducted.

Be sure to check your speaker input and output before the call and ensure you are not muted during the call.

Note: interviewers may mute themselves while you respond to a question since they take notes during the interview. 

In addition, it is crucial to have a sense of your background noise. For example, while coffee shops can be suitable places to work from, they prove tricky for video calls since conversations are occurring and steaming lattes are being made in the background.

To the best of your ability, go into a quiet room or workspace that keeps background noise to a minimum, so both you and the interviewer are easy to hear.

Utilizing headphones or Airpods helps with this too!

📍 Location 📍

Last, but not least, is the location of your video interview. Candidates consistently interview from:

-- a bed
-- a messy bedroom
-- a dirty kitchen
-- other distracting places

These are outright inappropriate for a professional interview. Do not fall victim to this.

Arguably, finding the right location for your interview is one of the most controllable aspects to a video call (compared to sound and lighting).

Look at the spaces around you: your background should be clean, neat, and professionally appropriate. If you need to, blur your camera, or add a fitting virtual background.

If you would not feel comfortable having an employer conduct an in-person interview in your space, then that space is not right for Zoom call either.

Similarly, you should not interview from your car unless it is necessary. If this is how you must interview during a work break, then clearly communicate that with your interviewer ahead of time.

As you consider where you engage in the interview, be mindful of how you face the camera and how much of your face or shoulders can be seen. The camera should point directly at your face, not the side, not from below, not from above.

Occasionally, this is disrupted by the angle of the laptop camera but, try to avoid awkward angles. Speaking of angles, do not become a “floating head” in the camera; your shoulders and head should be fully in the camera view.  
 
In general, strive to be sitting at a desk or table with a blank wall, organized office space, or bookshelf behind you. 

Going through the application and interview process is difficult enough. Do not hamper your chances of progressing to the next step in the process because you did not control what you should have for a video call.

Remember, bright lighting creates a vivid image, working speakers generate unmistakable sound, and proper backgrounds make for a professional location. Combined, these elements will make a positive impact on the interviewer and increase your chances of getting the job. 

Best of luck with your interview!