How to Ace Your Executive Video Interview
Chances are if you are looking to advance your healthcare executive career, you are working with a healthcare recruiter or executive search firm to find the perfect position at the perfect healthcare organization. However, your dream job may be miles away. That means that you will probably have to conduct a video introduction in the early stages of the healthcare search process, and an executive video interview, in the later stages of the search.
Video interviews and introductions are great tools for connecting with potential employers. They can make all the difference between you landing the position or extending your search. As such, you want to make sure that you ace your executive video interview.
Whenever the executive search team at Summit Talent Group works with executive talent to fill C-suite and executive positions in the healthcare field, we work extensively to ensure that our candidates are ready to make a stellar impression on camera.
Today, we are sharing a set of best practices we give our talent prior to conducting any video interviews. If you can ace your executive video interview, you’ll be a step closer to acing your in-person interview and getting that job.
How to Ace Your Executive Video Interview
Appearance
First impressions count. As such you want to make sure you look every bit the professional you are. Let us break down what you need to do in terms of appearance.
First, do your makeup. This goes for both men and women. You don’t have to make yourself look like a different you. The reason you want to wear a little makeup is to look good in front of the camera. The minimum you should do is use pressed powder to matte your face and remove shine.
However, you want to keep the look minimal and on the conservative side when it comes to your color palette.
The Clothing
When it comes to colors, skip black or white. Although these are wardrobe basics, they can blind the viewer. Stick with neutral tones such as grey.
Stripes and patterns are to be avoided, they tend to draw attention away from you and onto the clothes.
Keep accessories to a minimum. If at all possible, this includes eyeglasses. They can reflect and cause a glare, so wear contacts if you have them.
Finally, sit up straight. Good posture makes a big difference when you’re on a screen.
The Lighting
We know most of you do not have professional cameras and equipment at home. In this case, a simple desk lamp can work wonders.
The light should be placed facing you and right above the lens of your camera. Your light source should hit your face directly when you are looking at the camera.
If you are using a lamp, close your shades and check other light sources in the room to make sure they are not interfering with your main light source.
If you don’t have an extra lamp, use natural light. Place the camera in front of but facing away from a window that you are facing. This way the natural light hits your face directly.
The whole idea here is that the light is hitting the front of your face in the center. If the light hits you from below, above, or the sides you will cause some bad shadows that can affect how people perceive you.
The Camera
Your camera lens, be it part of a smartphone, camera, or computer screen should be placed so it is centered and slightly higher than your eyes. The reason for that is that if the lens looks at you from below or above, it will distort the shape of your face.
If you are using a laptop, use books or a box (make sure it is stable) to help it reach the proper height.
If you are using a smartphone or camera, you can use an inexpensive stabilizer.
Although portrait orientation works well for Instagram, this is an executive interview. If you are conducting the interview from your smartphone’s camera, make sure it is set to landscape mode. This is especially true if you are working on a preliminary introduction video for potential employers, your healthcare recruiter, or executive search firm.
Finally, don’t sit too close to the lens. This can enhance features like your nose and make it look bigger than it really is.
The Scene
It is important to pay attention to detail, and this is especially so when you’re setting the scene. It is always safer to keep things simple. A plain wall is just right. Busier backgrounds can distract the person watching the video or interviewing you from across the country, so in this case, it is better to play it safe.
As for noise, make sure that you have turned off any alarms and set your phone to airplane mode. If you are doing the interview from home, speak to your spouse to make sure the kids and pets are not audible, visible, and that they won’t make it into the room while you are conducting the interview. Finally, make sure that electronics such as televisions, fans, and air conditioners are turned off to reduce background noise.
The Technology
Before you start your video or virtual interview, make sure that all notifications are turned off on your computer and smartphone. You don’t want a random alarm or Facebook notification to pop up while you’re creating your video or answering a question from a potential employer. Then, test the audio and video to make sure they are working perfectly.
What to Do During the Interview
The most important thing is to make sure you don’t look at yourself. Instead, look at the lens of the camera or computer you are using. This will make it seem as if you are looking directly at the viewer. Eye contact makes a huge difference in the success of a virtual healthcare executive search interview.
If you are conducting a video interview, make sure the healthcare executive recruiter or executive search firm you are working with runs through the possible questions that may be asked of you. You want to make sure you are quick to answer, clear, and articulate.
What to Talk About During the Interview
Keep things simple and to the point. You want to get your personality across, but most importantly you want to really communicate what would make you a great candidate for the position and why you are so interested in it.
Start off with a description about yourself and where you currently work. Discuss the responsibilities that come with your current position as well as one success, or initiative you have pushed through.
Then, move onto why you are interested in the position and the institution where the position is available. The idea here is to drive the point that you are serious about the position and that you are willing and excited about making the change and commitment.
Are you looking to move forward in your healthcare executive path?
Contact us. As a boutique executive healthcare search firm, we differ from your everyday healthcare recruiters. Our model is driven by building long-term relationships with our clients and the talent that we place. Our team of executive search experts will spend time with you to get to know you and your family, your drive, and your growth goals. Once we have a full understanding of these, we work to match you to current or future opportunities. Our goal is to place healthcare talent in environments that match them in culture and offer a strong growth path so that as you grow and need to place future talent, you can think of no other firm to fit your needs. We look forward to meeting you and watching your career grow.
