The do’s and don’ts of a video call with your Recruitment Consultant.
A video call with us is the first step in our recruiting process where we are keen to hear about your aspirations, preferences, and career goals.
This enables us to consider the job opportunities that you’ll want to explore, and we will ask you questions around your work experience, skills, qualifications, and generally get to know you so that we can understand more about you! As you, are the important bit!
A video call will help your Consultant to identify your strengths, areas for development, and to think about the ways that they can highlight to potential employers that you’re the right candidate for a particular position.
It’s also an opportunity to help improve your confidence and utilise our expertise and our insight to support you with guidance, tips, interview techniques and much more!
Ultimately our goal is to build an authentic connection with you, through the power of conversation and help you secure your dream role.
Do….
- Do test your set up ahead of time.
- Especially if you are logging in from a new personal account for the first time.
- Test your Wi-Fi, audio, and camera.
- Issues with technology can be frustrating so eliminating potential hazards means you can get started and make the most use of the time. It’s a good first test so that your Recruitment Consultant also sees you have a set up for potential virtual video interviews and meetings with their clients.
- Do ensure you are in a quite space with good reception and good lighting and where possible, eliminate distractions.
- It’s helpful for us to stay focused so that the call is as productive as possible. If you are in a coffee shop or have pets, children in the next room, let them know you’re on a video call, shut the door or be ready with your mute button so that background noise is at minimum when you’re not speaking.
- Do think about personal presentation and the impression you are looking to make – this is an opportunity to express your self.
- What kind of impression are you looking to make? Think about the level of professionalism and the image you want to project. If you’re not sure of dress code what’s appropriate, err on the side of caution, be comfortable, your smartest everyday self.
While there are no absolute right and wrongs, we do encourage you to be yourself, we are all individuals and want to know the real you.
A few ‘don’ts’s’ to mindful of…
- Do not turn up unannounced!
- Do not start a video call without agreeing a mutually convenient time first! It’s not helpful to anyone to catch someone off guard on camera.
- Do not be late!
- We all lead busy lives but if you are running behind schedule message ahead of time if possible, or as soon as you can. Treat your video call as you would an ‘in person’ office meeting. Every communication you have leaves an impression and not turning up leaves a less than positive one. Will you do the same for a job interview?
- Don’t interrupt when someone else is talking.
- Conversations should flow as naturally on a virtual video call as in person, but it can be tricker to see body cues and signs. Don’t avoid eye contact and if you do accidentally talk at the same time, pause and decide who has the floor.
- Avoid being over familiar/over casual.
- Yes, it’s good to be friendly and open but maintaining a balanced, professional tone is important.
- Do not get caught up in negativity.
- There will be reasons as to why you are looking for a new role and if some of those are likely to be negative. Come at the conversation / discussion with a positive mindset. Despite the negativity, around reasons for why you are looking, generally staying positive and focusing on your strengths and achievements will allow us to make clear goals, a plan of action and also will leave a positive impression with your Recruitment consultant.
- Don’t get distracted or use the time to simultaneously do other tasks in the background.
- It’s easy to tell if someone isn’t paying attention. Do not be this person! Are they engaging, giving eye contact or are they staring at an email/scrolling social media or news feeds. Whatever it is, can wait. If it can’t, you shouldn’t be on the call.
- Do not come unprepared
- Think about what you want from the meeting. Have you already thought about the key factors/ non negotiables in your search. Have your questions prepared. Is your CV up to date? Do you have the necessary documents (right to work/qualifications)?
- Don’t forget to turn off the video when you’re finished.
- Although most platforms automatically close when the meeting host closes the window, don’t forget to close off your window to ensure privacy after the video call ends.
A video call with your Consultant should be a productive, meaningful, two-way conversation that is an immersive and interactive experience.
It is your opportunity to foster a strong connection with the individual potentially responsible for your next career move.
Do not waste it!
