virtual interview etiquette

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So let's go ahead and dive in to the actual show which is virtual etiquette now I will tell you all this some of y'all need some help some y'all need some help for sure But I want to just hit the high points and I'm definitely curious to see here y'all starts to right and so I had a manager Text me this a hiring manager in tech. He said first off better to have a real background than a virtual one Maybe I'm picky, but I'm a firm believer in a messy space messy mind You used to have to dress up for interviews if you want to be remote Maybe tidy up your space.

I literally did an interview with a college kid and his girlfriend was in the bed in the background All right, so let's break this down for a few minutes one yes I truly think that you need to work in a very clean space Depending on what your personality is obviously you can see this. This is my guest bedroom I am OCD when it comes for this being clean because you see this every day You see the viewer see this every day and so for me. I think that's incredibly important I think it needs to be well lit right? I think that's one of the big things that people underestimate You don't need to be having zoom calls and interviews and chiding with your coworkers in a very dongy space now a lot of you are like hey I don't have a huge budget tailor for a microphone or whatnot I will tell you this get yourself a Logitech 4k video camera, right?

It's like a hundred bucks or so I'm even the 1080p one is good. I wanted to go 4k so y'all can see me right so get a 4k camera Get a ring light and get a Yeti mic and then boom you're already there. You're gonna sound so much better I'm shot at Andrew Miller for obviously helping me hook this up This is a road pod mic that I use but if you just want the bare essentials to to be able to look better in interviews Because I listen I'm telling you I'm telling you it makes a difference it makes a difference Y'all have seen some of my interviews with people right there are some people who are very well lit It is visually appeasing to watch that interview and there are others who look like they're doing the interview from a cave And while the content is still good right which that's a whole nother mark anything while the content is still good You need to look good To your interviewer two people on your team and so what I would recommend off the get one Obviously don't do interviews with your girlfriend in the bed But but make sure you are you have a background that's clean.

That's well lit Go get you a 4k camera go get you a ring light and go get you a Yeti pro Mike and you and you'll and you'll get rolling really really quickly Another thing virtual meaning etiquette turn your cameras on It is about showing that you're engaged in present The default should be cameras on and turning the camera off Is you don't want to be seen eating on camera sneezing Otherwise, I think you're shirtless or on the toilet Listen, I think this is great and again, it's from Iron Manger Who I really really like hearing Nashville and I wanted to read this to y'all And I think this is another thing right cameras on right I've talked about internal culture within an organization a lot of times about having cameras on Doing more video calls less text messages less slack messages less phone calls more video I mean if you work with me if you're a senior engineer across country and you work with me It's always video with me always.

I want to see your face I think it builds rapport so much better and that's what it needs to be That's what it needs to be when it comes to interviews as well Always have your video camera on Oscar I don't know what you're referring to but yes people do that Everything that I'm reading has either happened to me or happened to this hiring manager So you need to make sure that none of that is happening And so So that's some virtual etiquette notes for me right so one get really comfortable with using zoom always push for video Always push for video I'm not a huge fan of the fake backgrounds.

I don't know about y'all watching this. I'm not a huge fan of them I just think they make you look funny and I think it's fake. I've seen very few actual virtual backgrounds that are good And then make sure it's well lit make sure your backgrounds well lit make sure your inner room that's clean That's presentable. That's visually Appeasing to the eye that is incredibly important because it actually does make it I'm telling you it does make a difference in the interview process If you are speaking in a place that's very well lit That you have a good camera you have good audio all that makes a difference And so Let me see here some other things too some other comments that I've gotten to so again Talk about networking here right in this is my manager texted me this Had this hiring manager messaged me this so for me We've talked about this right not just going to meet up to get geek stickers make connections that'll help you later in your career Even messes the directors manager CTO's and be like hey, I'm a junior right now But you should know about me because in three years.

I'm gonna be a senior listen. I have a I have a hiring manager messaged me this right now Are earlier that he is even encouraging they're even encouraging Junior devs to message hiring managers right it makes a difference I'm not the only one just saying that I know we've pivoted off virtual etiquette because I'm reading this text message But the thing is though with networking I had this I had a hiring manager say to DM it works I promise It Jason goes I borrowed a ring light could have fair for the life How to position for good lighting any events on setup make it high It's got to be up above you not directly in your face gotta be up above you I only know that because my wife's a photographer.

I did not know that to begin with so I do that my ring light is actually up above here It's like it's not like in front of me Um, so yeah, that's it again super short today. Nothing super long. I just want to hang out with you today I've actually I actually have had a few people Complain about virtual etiquette. So I want to discuss that so again. That's it today I appreciate y'all hanging out short sweet again The point of this may not be always life-changing But I want to give some virtual etiquette remember again get your 4k camera get your 1080p camera Logitech on Amazon it gets it gets your house quickly a ring light And get you like a yeddy Microphone though.

They're not really expensive And that's a really really good start Again always choose video get comfortable with using zoom get comfortable using video calls again at the end of the day We're not we're not leaving video right we're not leaving video. So get comfortable with it Text me 615-235-5650 To be a part of my texting community Taylor dessin.com resume templates 10 questions. It's time for recruiting. They send you a terrible job Questions to ask a hiring manager. How to build out your LinkedIn all that jazz Again Taylor dessin.com go check it out Again, I appreciate y'all support share this again. It's short, but I think some people need to hear this on Virtual etiquette.

You'll have a great morning. I'll see y'all tomorrow peace