Interview Invites Going Out: Our Tips for Acing the Virtual Interview
There is so much going on this fall at Michigan Ross, with a jam-packed list of great new and annual events for students to engage with each other, Ross faculty, alumni, and industry leaders.
Among the new happenings around the school were +Tech Literacy Download Week, hosted by Business+Tech at Michigan Ross, which featured 25 different session workshops - focused on topics ranging from UI/UX to cybersecurity and analytics - led by faculty and leading tech companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and more. There was also the Henrietta Lacks Health Equity Case Competition that MBA students organized, which attracted around 50 student teams from over 30 schools across three continents; our annual Women in Leadership Conference, which featured a keynote by Wasfia Nazreen (the only Bangladeshi and first Bengali in the world to climb the Seven Summits), and Taste of Ross, where 400 MBA students enjoyed food from cultures around the world.
While students have been enjoying these events, the Admissions team and I have been busy reading Round 1 applications and hosting admissions events and office hours. The team just finalized the first round of application reviews, and sent out interview invitations this week.
All interviews will be conducted virtually again this year to ensure the safety of interviewees and interviewers. Whether you are a Zoom veteran or brand new to video interviews, I wanted to share some tips for acing your virtual interview with Michigan Ross.
- Reach out to your interviewer early. You will be connected with one of our alumni interviewers and the two of you will decide when to “meet."
- Dress professionally. I know pajamas are the go-to for many working in this virtual world. However, an interview is not the time to don your favorite PJs. Plus, studies have shown that dressing professionally can boost your confidence, and even performance. Turns out “dress for success” is not just an old cliche.
- Be aware of your background. You do not have to have a space the Room Rater would give a 10 out of 10, but do clear it of potential distractions. You want the interviewer’s focus to be 100% on you and what you have to say.
- Make eye contact with the camera and minimize the use of notes. Communicating through a screen can feel less personal and less engaging than meeting in-person. Do your best to make your interviewer feel like you are making eye contact by keeping your focus on the camera.
- Check your wifi connection strength. If your connection is spotty at home, find another location that may be more reliable. But do not panic if tech fails. You can work with your interviewer to reschedule if things go haywire.
- Give yourself around 30 minutes prior to your interview to “get your head in the game." Review your resume and your list of questions for your interviewer (yes, you should prepare a few).