Getting Technically Ready for Online Admissions Interviews
Jan, 21, 2021
Categories: Admissions Consulting | Interview Analysis | Interviews
One of the frustrations I regularly experience with clients and potential clients is their lack of technical readiness for having Zoom (or Skype or Google or FaceTime) sessions with me. This especially freaks me out when we are doing mock interviews for MBA and other programs. There are just some basic technical things I expect and that are critical to effective training sessions and actual interviews:
Be on a good internet connection. While some poor connection situations are unavoidable (power outages, location in a low bandwidth environment), most are not. Make sure you will be interviewing in whatever optimal location you have for a high bandwidth connection. If necessary and financially viable, if your home connection sucks get your hands a mobile connection with higher bandwidth.
Use a computer, tablet, or other device that is Zoom (or other platform) ready. This means making sure you have device that can handle the platform you are on consistently and effectively. Beyond doing updates, check your device and the platform you will be on in advance. Have a friend do a test with you.
Getting visual: Make sure your camera is working, your setting is acceptable, and your lighting is good. This means checking these things in advance. Cameras are usually not the problem (unless, of course, you have failed to authorize the application to access the camera). Lighting is important. I am not an expert on this. Google it. Tons of stuff will help you figure it out. It is fine to use a virtual background as long as your device and bandwidth can handle it. I am not an interior director but do try to create some sort of home office, office, conference room type setting. Find a friend (s) to give you feedback on your setup.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? Be audio ready. I have saved the most important for last. Actually sometimes bandwidth issues will make video difficult but audio is critical. Check your set-up carefully. Some computers have great audio input (mic) and output, others don’t. Whatever the situation make sure you have an audio situation that is optimal. No echoes, no muffled speaking, no mikes that are moving around and not picking up your voice in a consistent way. Just make sure you sound clear and consistently. Again, have a friend(s) help you out.
Finally, I would have thought that the above post would be unnecessary to write but after the last year where almost everyone has been using Zoom, I find myself still surprised about how many people (typically 20-30 years younger than me) haven’t sorted out the above issues. Given that all interviews for the foreseeable future will be online, it is critical to be technically ready for them.
Good luck!