Career Advice: Mastering the Zoom Interview
Choosing the first PhD candidate for my group was an exciting journey. The exceptional talent among the applicants made the decision-making process quite challeinging. I’d like to share some tips for the interview stage (usually via Zoom) and some expectations I had as a PI. I hope these insights might assist someone in their application journey. I’m a strong advocate for the power of shared knowledge and experiences, so any additional insights or experiences are most welcome.
Before the Interview
• Self-reflection: Understand your strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. Reflect on why you want this PhD position. Remember, you’ve passed the pre-selection, so these 30+ minutes are your time to shine!
• Research: Get to know the PI and their work. Pay special attention to current publications and their description on their web page. This will not only help you answer questions but also show your interest in the position.
• Preparation: Prepare questions you have before the interview. Make sure to listen throughout your interview so you only ask questions about topics the interviewer hasn’t covered yet. Authenticity is crucial, so avoid rehearsed answers from the internet- recruiters will know.
• Tech Check: Get comfortable with Zoom. Ensure your internet connection is stable and your audio and video settings are working properly. Choose a professional-looking background and a quiet environment. Along with turning off your phone, you should also turn off any notifications on your computer. Get the newest edition of Zoom prior to your meeting. Likewise, also do a full system update on your computer well in advance (looking at you, Windows).
• Communication: If you live with other people, let them know when and where you’re interviewing. Right before your interview starts, remind them to give you space and keep a quiet volume until you’re done.
• Dress Code: Dress professionally as you would for an in-person interview. This not only shows your seriousness about the position but also helps you get into the right mindset.
During the Interview
• CV Summary: Provide a concise summary. Highlight experiences that align with the job. Be thorough in your responses, but don’t over-explain - wait for follow-up questions.
• Authenticity: Always be yourself and admit if you can’t think of an answer.
• Weaknesses: You will be asked about negative things like weaknesses during your interview. Frame them as learning opportunities. What have you learned, and how do you plan to improve?
• Questions: At the end, ask your questions. This not only shows your interest in the position but also helps you understand if you want to be part of the group.
• Eye contact: Remember to look into the camera while speaking, as it creates the illusion of eye contact.
After the Interview
• Reflection: Note down what went well and what didn’t. If there were questions you couldn’t answer well, spend some time thinking about them.
• Follow-up Email: Send a follow-up email thanking the interviewer if you want, but limit it to one. It can be frustrating for a PI to be bombarded with emails asking about the decision - you will hear from them.
• Patience: Remember that the decision-making process can take time. Stay patient and positive while waiting for the response.
• Feedback: As also mentioned in my post about the written application: If the outcome is negative, ask for feedback.