🧵 Here is Part 12 of my #Tweetorial Series for #Match2022: Virtual Interview Tips 🧵
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Tip #1: Be thoughtful of your background.
Plain backgrounds are a fairly common choice. Pick a color that allows you to stand out (and not blend into the wall). I don’t recommend virtual backgrounds because of the associated lag and cutting out parts of your body with motion.
Plain backgrounds are a fairly common choice. Pick a color that allows you to stand out (and not blend into the wall). I don’t recommend virtual backgrounds because of the associated lag and cutting out parts of your body with motion.
You can also have things in the background, but be prepared to talk about them. I had artwork with a favorite quote and a medal from my first half marathon behind me, and both came up in conversation. The rest of the wall behind me was light-colored and blank.
Tip #2: Find good lighting and video quality.
You need reliable lighting. I don’t like natural lighting because it varies with clouds and time of day, and what if it storms?! Experiment with lights (e.g. desk or room lights/lamps). Keep lighting in front of you to avoid shadows.
You need reliable lighting. I don’t like natural lighting because it varies with clouds and time of day, and what if it storms?! Experiment with lights (e.g. desk or room lights/lamps). Keep lighting in front of you to avoid shadows.
I bought a ring light and webcam, which I would recommend. Having a good light source and good quality webcam can work wonders. While video quality is not supposed to matter, we all know that appearance subconsciously impacts impressions; it’s one of the reasons we dress up.
There are plenty of affordable options under $30-$40 out there for each, and they end up being great long-term investments too (I’ve continued to use both for many things since). Here is the ring light I bought and used just as an example: amazon.com/gp/product/B08…
Tip #3: Make sure your internet is reliable.
Check your internet connection and make sure it’s secure and reliable. If you have access to ethernet, go with that. Have a backup plan in place, whether that be a hotspot, using data on your phone, or a phone call.
Check your internet connection and make sure it’s secure and reliable. If you have access to ethernet, go with that. Have a backup plan in place, whether that be a hotspot, using data on your phone, or a phone call.
Tip #4: Prepare for interview questions.
You’ll still be asked questions like you would for an in-person interview. Preparing goes a long way in easing interview day jitters and helping you do well. Here is a link to my Residency Interview Prep Series!
You’ll still be asked questions like you would for an in-person interview. Preparing goes a long way in easing interview day jitters and helping you do well. Here is a link to my Residency Interview Prep Series!
https://twitter.com/KevinCChiang/status/1445509324340486150
Tip #5: Dress to impress.
I would advise being fully professionally dressed. It’s tempting to wear pajama pants and slippers. Dressing up will put you in a more formal “interview mindset” and help you focus and avoid doing things you would otherwise want to avoid.
I would advise being fully professionally dressed. It’s tempting to wear pajama pants and slippers. Dressing up will put you in a more formal “interview mindset” and help you focus and avoid doing things you would otherwise want to avoid.
Tip #6: Use earbuds or earphones.
The headphones look is not the greatest for interviews. You also don’t want your audio echoing into your mic. Wireless or wired earbuds or earphones work great for making sure you hear everything clearly while looking professional.
The headphones look is not the greatest for interviews. You also don’t want your audio echoing into your mic. Wireless or wired earbuds or earphones work great for making sure you hear everything clearly while looking professional.
Tip #7: Maintain good eye contact.
This is one of the hardest things to do. Make sure to look at your camera and not your screen. Practice this. Set up your camera so it’s at or slightly above eye level to avoid the interviewer looking up at your chin or nose.
This is one of the hardest things to do. Make sure to look at your camera and not your screen. Practice this. Set up your camera so it’s at or slightly above eye level to avoid the interviewer looking up at your chin or nose.
One trick I came up with was resizing my interview window and putting it near the top of my laptop screen close to where my portable webcam was sitting so that I could see my interviewers while still maintaining proper eye contact.
Tip #8: Find a quiet environment for your interview day.
Minimize or eliminate any background noises and distractions. Plan ahead with roommates and family members so they know when you need quiet hours. Find a room with doors to hopefully avoid pets or children running in.
Minimize or eliminate any background noises and distractions. Plan ahead with roommates and family members so they know when you need quiet hours. Find a room with doors to hopefully avoid pets or children running in.
Tip #9: Have your phone nearby.
You should have your phone nearby so you can get to it should you run into technical difficulties during the interview day and need to reach your interviewer or the program coordinator, but have it far away enough so you can’t see it.
You should have your phone nearby so you can get to it should you run into technical difficulties during the interview day and need to reach your interviewer or the program coordinator, but have it far away enough so you can’t see it.
Tip #10: Eliminate miscellaneous distractions.
Think about little things that distract you and remove them. Turn off any alarms. Close your windows. Take off smart watches. Close unnecessary windows and programs on your computer. Turn off notifications and pop-ups.
Think about little things that distract you and remove them. Turn off any alarms. Close your windows. Take off smart watches. Close unnecessary windows and programs on your computer. Turn off notifications and pop-ups.
Tip #11: Smile.
Smile (RBF is not a great look on Zoom)! Let your personality shine. Smiling is one of the best ways to convey your interest and enthusiasm, but make sure it’s genuine (it’s easier than you think to identify a fake smile).
Smile (RBF is not a great look on Zoom)! Let your personality shine. Smiling is one of the best ways to convey your interest and enthusiasm, but make sure it’s genuine (it’s easier than you think to identify a fake smile).
Tip #12: Be on time.
Like any interview, it’s imperative that you are on time. I recommend setting up and getting ready 15-30 minutes early. That way, if you run into technical issues, you still have time to sort things out and make any last-minute adjustments to your setup.
Like any interview, it’s imperative that you are on time. I recommend setting up and getting ready 15-30 minutes early. That way, if you run into technical issues, you still have time to sort things out and make any last-minute adjustments to your setup.
Tip #13: Consider having a notepad.
Some people like to have a notepad for taking notes and jotting down questions in advance that you might want to ask. I personally opted to not take notes so I could stay fully engaged and maintain good eye contact.
Some people like to have a notepad for taking notes and jotting down questions in advance that you might want to ask. I personally opted to not take notes so I could stay fully engaged and maintain good eye contact.
Tip #14: Record your reactions.
Immediately after your interview day (and interviews if you have breaks), jot down thoughts or reactions to help you later on with rank-order lists. This also makes it easier to send personalized thank you e-mails to interviewers (if allowed).
Immediately after your interview day (and interviews if you have breaks), jot down thoughts or reactions to help you later on with rank-order lists. This also makes it easier to send personalized thank you e-mails to interviewers (if allowed).
Tip #15: Interact with others.
Interact with residents and faculty on interview day. I’d encourage speaking up and asking questions when appropriate. This also includes interacting with other interviewees, some of whom you may cross paths with again throughout the season.
Interact with residents and faculty on interview day. I’d encourage speaking up and asking questions when appropriate. This also includes interacting with other interviewees, some of whom you may cross paths with again throughout the season.
This all comes with a caveat though, and that is to please not be a gunner. Nobody likes gunners in medical school, and nobody likes them on interview days either. I can assure you they are easy to identify, everybody notices it, and does not leave a great impression.
Tip #16: Be mindful of your body language.
Sit upright and maintain good posture. Don’t fidget around with your hands or play with your hair. Don’t spin around in your chair. Essentially, don’t do anything you wouldn’t want everyone else on the call to see or hear.
Sit upright and maintain good posture. Don’t fidget around with your hands or play with your hair. Don’t spin around in your chair. Essentially, don’t do anything you wouldn’t want everyone else on the call to see or hear.
Tip #17: Do a test call.
At some point before your first interview or early on, set up a test call with a friend (at least over Zoom). This gives you a chance to make sure your internet, video quality, camera angle, lighting, audio, microphone, and background all look good.
At some point before your first interview or early on, set up a test call with a friend (at least over Zoom). This gives you a chance to make sure your internet, video quality, camera angle, lighting, audio, microphone, and background all look good.
Tip #18: Be smart about scheduling.
Programs recognize that Zoom fatigue is real and try to condense interview days, but they can still be long. Back-to-back days can be reasonable (I did it a couple of times) but are tiring, especially if you mix in a meet-and-greet in between.
Programs recognize that Zoom fatigue is real and try to condense interview days, but they can still be long. Back-to-back days can be reasonable (I did it a couple of times) but are tiring, especially if you mix in a meet-and-greet in between.
I hope you found this helpful! In many ways, virtual interviews are similar to in-person interviews, but there are also unique considerations. If you keep these things in mind, you’ll be better prepared to be more comfortable and succeed on interview day. Good luck!
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