Ten years ago, the idea that a job applicant would need to be proficient in the basics of video production was, to borrow a phrase, “really out there.” Today, applicants who fail to master the dos and don’ts of SKPE or FaceTime, for example, can hurt their chances to advance in a search.
Most Candidates Struggle With Video Interview
From my extensive experience in conducting video screening interviews I can report that more than 90 percent of the time candidates, at best, do not help themselves and at worst, advance their case for being eliminated from consideration.
In today’s job market video interviews are extremely common. Applicants must be able to effectively use this medium to advance their value proposition and make an important connection with the recruiter. The distractions of a ceiling fan spinning in the background because the candidate failed to position the computer camera at eye level, backlighting problems that obscure the candidate’s facial features, or the embarrassment of foundation garments dangling from a makeshift clothesline in the background (yes, that has actually happened) is not exactly the brand image that an executive competing for an important six-six-figure leadership position should be projecting.
Video Interviews Are Here to Stay
Video interviews, online or face-to-face with the recruiter who will be using a digital recording in their candidate presentation, is not a fad. This is not going to go away. If anything, the use of video technology in executive search is only going to evolve.
Job applicants who do not demonstrate their understanding of the basics are missing a great opportunity to sell themselves.
Interviewing Skills Course:
JohnGSelf + Partners offers executives a comprehensive course on interviewing skills. Mr. Self has lectured and written extensively on the subject. He has served as a member of the faculty for the American College of Healthcare Executives annual Congress for five years. This course is built around eight weekly personalized coaching sessions. He uses mock and video interviews, he helps executives develop their Value Brand Statement (value proposition) while fine-tuning the resume (the first interview). Other sessions focus on reference management and developing strategies to deal with the tough questions that can derail your job search. For more information, emails us at careertransitions@JohnGSelf.Com