Hashtags: #InterviewTips #VideoInterviews #HR #JobSearch
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Have you ever been in a situation where an interview turned sour because you chose to call in instead of turning on your camera during a video interview? 🤔 Well, you’re not alone! Many job seekers have faced similar experiences where HR professionals insist on having a visual interaction, even when it may not be necessary.
Let’s break down the scenario mentioned above and explore some insights on how to navigate such situations effectively:
### The Interview Dilemma: To Video or Not to Video?
So, you just completed an interview over the phone, but the interviewer was adamant about having a video aspect to the conversation. Here are some key points to consider:
1. **Technical Limitations**: Sometimes, calling in may be the only option due to poor internet connectivity, lack of suitable devices, or privacy concerns. It’s crucial to communicate this clearly to the interviewer.
2. **Professionalism Over Appearance**: While a video interview can provide a more personal touch, the content of your responses and the value you bring to the table should be the primary focus. Don’t let technology overshadow your qualifications.
3. **Respecting Candidate Preferences**: HR professionals should be understanding of candidates’ preferences and limitations. If a candidate opts for a phone interview, it’s essential to respect that choice and evaluate them based on their skills and experience.
### Navigating HR Expectations
In the current job market, video interviews have become increasingly common, but that doesn’t mean they should overshadow the core purpose of the interview process. Here’s how to navigate HR expectations effectively:
– **Be Transparent**: Clearly communicate your reasons for opting for a phone interview and ensure HR understands your perspective.
– **Emphasize Skills**: Highlight your qualifications, experience, and expertise during the interview to showcase your suitability for the role.
– **Seek Clarification**: If you face resistance to a phone interview, politely inquire about the reasons for the insistence on video and address any concerns raised.
### The Future of Job Interviews
As technology advances and remote work becomes more prevalent, the norms around job interviews are evolving. Here are some trends to watch out for:
1. **Virtual Platforms**: Companies are increasingly utilizing virtual interview platforms that offer both video and phone options to accommodate diverse candidate preferences.
2. **Hybrid Models**: Some organizations adopt hybrid interview models, allowing candidates to choose the mode of interaction that suits them best.
3. **Emphasis on Competencies**: The focus is shifting towards assessing candidates based on their skills, competencies, and cultural fit, rather than just their appearance in a video interview.
In conclusion, while video interviews have their advantages, the core of any interview should be to assess a candidate’s qualifications and suitability for the role. As a job seeker, it’s important to assert your preferences while maintaining a professional demeanor. Remember, your skills and experience should speak louder than your appearance in a video interview.
So, the next time you find yourself in a similar situation, stand your ground, communicate effectively, and showcase your value as a candidate. Good luck with your job search journey! 🌟👔
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**Keywords**: video interviews, HR practices, job search tips, phone interview, candidate experience.
It’s not bizarre to expect to see someone’s face during an interview. It’s the norm.
There’s also no way your phone doesn’t have video capabilities. It sounds like you didn’t prepare for this interview because you didn’t bother to get set up ahead of time and didn’t bother to get somewhere with a good connection. Because of this, it sounds like there were issues just being able to conduct the interview.
You made a super bad impression and it looks like you’re not capable of dealing with the bare minimum technology requirements of working in 2024. I’m really not sure why you’re complaining – this was totally on you.
So I had a meeting at one of my old jobs where they asked nicely “Hey, would you mind turning on your camera” and I went ahead and did because I didn’t mind at the time. . . Turns out these dirty fucking pricks were laying me off on that call. . . Like I’m sorry, dafaq is wrong with you sadistic scum fuckers? Why would you ASK me to turn my camera on for this shit!? At least have the decency to let me take this without FORCING me to show my face! Like this is embarrassing and humiliating and I’d rather not have to see any of you ever again if I can avoid it.
I’m torn on this one since I’m assuming it was just the autogenerated zoom message that, yes, does give you the option to only call in. But also I feel like in the current job landscape as it is now, a zoom interview is almost always assumed to be on video. I spent several months last year interviewing and I was always dressed up and prepared to be on camera, and went into the meetings with my camera on. Every single employer I interviewed with had their cameras on as well.
It’s 2024 and if you don’t have a video capable phone it’s kind of suspect.
A video interview in place of an in person interview is fine, as long as everyone is on video. It was unclear if the representatives of the company were on cam or not.
Ultimately, their goal was to see you and judge your appearance. At least if it was two-way you would have the opportunity to judge theirs and gauge reaction.
I recently hired someone and didn’t find out until after that she has hand tattoos. It wouldn’t have mattered to me, but I think this is why we should not require cameras. It WOULD have mattered to someone else and their company would be worse off because she is great!
In many positions, it’s as important as your actual qualifications that they see you as a person they can enjoy working with. This goes both ways.
No offense, but in the future, don’t do this for a job you actually want. Video is normal these days.
It doesn’t “matter” but in interviews it’s more normal to use the camera…not unreasonable at all.
The super cynical part of me was thinking “they want the camera on to see what colour your skin is”.
I mean body language is an important part in the hiring evaluations. Why would I hire someone who looks (facial expressions and such, not genetic looks) and behaves in a way that can give off the wrong perceptions? Non-verbal communication skills are indeed valuable.
At least they were actually doing an interview instead of requiring you to videotape yourself talking to the camera and sending that. The least you could have done was actually participate.
Unless the job was in HR, it could just be the HR person trying to push the only power trip they have. I take what HR people say in an interview (or the process) with a grain of salt because I won’t usually be working with them and it /should/ ultimately be the people I will be working with judging me based on my experience and background. I’ve found, if they push anything it’s for a checklist or a powertrip.
If you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair, make the minimum 37 pieces!
I get why seeing a person is helpful. It’s much easier for me to genuinely interact with someone when I can see their face.
However – this is 100% on the interviewer for not making it clear that video is preferred. You said you can’t be on camera, so she should have just moved along with the actual interview.
Youre able to do anything however you should likely assume that they would like to see and get to know you during the interview, you putting in the bare minimum probably doesn’t encourage them to hire you
This is so very low down the reasons list (follows instructions, professional appearance, etc) but, the last office clerk we took on from a phone interview turned out to be so tech averse that she couldn’t text on Skype chat. And we spend All F’ing Day on MSTeams between locations
I ask folks I interview to be on video, as I am too, so I know who I am interviewing and who’s actually joining, are you actually answering or are you getting your answers from someone else or by looking it up.
It’s not at all about the appearance, it’s about the integrity.
Wanted to be sure you weren’t black.
Every interview I do (as the interviewer) is video. The roles I hire are all remote/online roles. We do this to assess if the candidate has a professional or blurred background, can successfully navigate basic tech, some interviews utilize screen share or link sharing, we want to assess face to face communication as the candidate will communicate with coworkers or clients over zoom and see if they conduct themselves professionally over video. We also want to make sure you have a quality internet connection because it’s essential to the job. We do provide phone numbers alongside the video link just in case there is an audio issue for the candidate, zoom can be finnicky on occasion.
As the interviewer I am tattooed and pierced, your physical appearance isn’t important unless you look like a slob – that would indicate to me you don’t particularly care about this job, similar to appearance at an in person interview.
If the role has no online or video communication requirements, that’s the only time I really see zoom as a non essential aspect to the interview.
I’ve had some iffy job interview prospects through LinkedIn that “required” me to install some app I’ve never heard of. The tell-tale signs of it being a scam are ridiculously high wages for the position, as well as standard scam wording.
Don’t listen to the nonsense here. I was hired for several jobs in the 90s and 09s based on phone interviews. Lots of people phone interviewed for years.
You’re kinda being a baby op
1 out of every 3 interviews that I’ve set up in the past 4 years hasn’t happened. About 95% of the cancelations and ghostings were for video calls. I have been ghosted for exactly 3 scheduled phone calls in that time and 1 of those was due to a sick interviewer who had overslept.
If done properly rather than slapped together, video calls waste insane amounts of time (1-3+ hours) and usually leave you sitting around staring at your screen in utter boredom while waiting. (If you pull anything else up, you might “appear distracted” and be thrown out.)
But if someone’s calling me, I can simply pull up the relevant info on my computer and then work on other stuff until the phone rings. Heck, I can even roll over and go back to sleep if they’re feeling ghostly and I’m not trying to dial in.
Yet I have encountered numerous people that were downright pissy about me wanting the dial-in information prior to the interview. Some of them even rejected me based on that factor alone.
The reason why is a mystery to me as well. Unless you’re auditioning for an acting role, what you look like should mostly be irrelevant. If you’re being considered for a poorly paid job, this requirement is especially ridiculous.
People who make low salaries can’t always afford the latest tech or the data costs to use it, people who live in commuter areas might not have strong internet, and they may not always be able to borrow or rent a device on short notice. They might not even want to go to the trouble, given how likely it is that they’ll be ghosted.
And even young, tech savvy people occasionally have problems getting Zoom and Teams to work properly. To say nothing of people who don’t use these programs on a regular basis, thereby weeding them out for jobs they could otherwise do.
Plus, employers should make every effort to keep their hiring processes as unbiased as possible. This is not a good sign.
TDRL: I totally agree. There are many reasons why this is stupid behavior on their part. Unfortunately, it’s the situation that we’re all dealing with atm.
Edit: hit enter early, clarity, formatting
Well, you dodged a bullet. Imagine how much tedium you’d have to endure if working for a company with that dysfunctional culture. You should follow up with those people to thank them for letting you know the company is a bad employer.
If they wanted to do a phone interview they would have set up a phone call. The only point of going through the trouble to use a video interview platform is to do a face-to-face video interview. The calling-in option is automatically included on form-generated video call invites, but anyone with an ounce of common sense in your situation would know the interviewers wanted you to join with video.
You mentioned that it’s a civil service job, so it’s possible that they require video interviews to ensure that the candidate who shows up for work the first day is actually the one that they interviewed.
Besides all the shady HR reasons, there is one legitimate one. They’d like to confirm the person they’re talking to is the one being hired.
I work in the IT industry and it’s not uncommon for people to do interviews for other people. Especially if the final position is remote.
That being said, they are also judging you in other, more superficial, ways
I’m guessing you received some kind of app-generated invite which will always include a number to call in to the video conference. This is typically used by people who can’t be at a computer for the interview, not just as an alternative way of joining. They should have been clear in the invitation that you should join with video if that was their expectation.
That being said the vast majority of work available, and much of all human activity requires working with other people. They will ask you to do things that they think are important which you don’t think are important. You will in turn ask them to do things that you think are important which they don’t think are important. Sometimes the ask is too large or inconvenient, and should be refused. Sometimes it isn’t. If you are unwilling to endure a tiny inconvenience to accomplish something that someone you work with thinks is important but that you think is pointless you will make yourself and everyone around you miserable. This is true in the workplace. This is true in your personal relationships. Being utterly uncompromising about small things isn’t a positive trait.
A lot of people feel like they’re “Talking to you more” if you’re on camera. Psychologically we usually feel a better connection and sense of fit if we’re able to see the person we’re speaking to. Someone can be a smooth talker but a terrible personality fit when it comes to actually working. Speaking “face to face” can be of some help to feel this out. Obviously it’s not fool proof, but I personally even much prefer meetings with cameras on than with cameras off for no other reason than because I feel like I’m actually talking to a person vs a voice. I couldn’t care less if you’re wearing a suit or a onesie.
Edit: not providing an excuse or anything. Just a personal anecdote that could have contributed. Very likely they wanted to see if you looked the part.
I’m all for resisting the performative nature of modern work culture but I think you misread the situation. The expectation for video interviews is very fair. A first phone screen is one thing, but I would always expect any actual interviews to be video on.
You’re already substituting an in-person interview for a remote interview. Look at it like a preparedness thing. Not having the wifi connection, needed webcam, etc would be like not having reliable transportation to work or something. Just come prepared, and if you’re not certain what exactly is needed before the interview, then either ask or slightly overprepare. You rolled the dice and came up snake eyes. This is not difficult.
Many companies are requiring video for remote interviews to detect fraud/scams. Companies have been duped by interviewing one person and have a different person show up/work after being hired. Another example is someone helping the person being interviewed while out of earshot/off camera.
Look, for better or for worse, they judge you based off of your appearance. Look like a slob, which I’m sure you don’t? They want to know that kind of thing.
Why didn’t you communicate more clearly that you can’t turn on your video right now, but would be happy to have another 2 minute interview to confirm you have a face?
Or better yet, tell them hang on for 5 minutes while you download the app and setup video?
Look, I’m one of the first to say fuck the company. But do you know just how MANY people they get spamming their applications that are false identities?
You’re right. You didn’t get the job. Company could have been awesome or soul sucking. You won’t know, and that’s on you.
You wouldn’t have phoned in for a face to face interview though? A video interview is a face to face interview so I’m not surprised the HR rep was a bit miffed that you just phoned in.
It sounds like it was a video interview to which you refused the video part.