Interviews and OCIs | What the Tech?
Technology.
It has opened so many opportunities in our lives. Electric cars, artificial intelligence, instant communication to anyone at our fingertips (what happened to snail mail?).
But it can also be the bane of our existence especially when it comes to conducting interviews.
This is the first year where law firm interviews are fully conducted online. Are you ready?
Your “Zoom” presence is absolutely critical to how you perform during these next two weeks.
Here are some fixes that you can implement now.
Hide your self-view.
When you are talking to someone in real life, do you look at yourself in the mirror? Of course not. Hide that self-view because it ensures that you are fully engaged in the conversation with your interviewers. You can thank me later.
Figure out that camera angle.
I’ve been on calls where a judge’s camera angle is literally staring up their nose. Don’t be that judge. Your eyes should make a direct line to the webcam “hole”.
Triangulate, triangulate, triangulate.
Yes, it is weird looking at an object. Unless you are a YouTube vlogger (shoutout to my friend, Rose, who runs Cheap Lazy Vegan), looking at an inanimate is super weird. Pro tip: triangulate your eyes (1) look at the camera (2) look at the person on your right (3) look at the person on your left. Repeat.
Smile before you click “join”.
Your first impression is everything. This includes your online impression. Smile before you join a call or risk being seen as a confused, tired law student.
Figure out your lighting.
There are 1000s of articles on this. IKEA sells lights for cheap. $10, get one.
Figure out your internet.
One router is actually better than multiple wifi extenders. I discovered this last week.
I can go on and on, but if you can nail these 6 instant fixes, you are 75% ahead of the rest of the candidates.
Are you ready? It’s game time.
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At Beyond the A, we understand that anxiety and mental health is a serious issue. While we do not purport to be experts, our mission is to open up the conversation and provide you with the tools and resources to excel in your career and beyond. If you are seeking immediate help, please contact a healthcare professional or access our resources page.
Given the sensitivity of the topic, we are always open to further conversation about it. Email us at info@beyondthea.co and someone from our team will get back to you.