How to prepare for an online job interview

1. How to prepare for an online job interview Teaching is a profession that can be performed anywhere, anytime. A TESOL certification opens up doors for you to teach English online from home or travel to the otherside of the world to teach it. Both of these scenarios often involve online interviews with your new prospective employers. Look through some of our tips below to make the best first impression that you possibly can. Interested in getting your TESOL certification online? Check out this​​TESOL online course​ and the opportunities it offers. Now let’s dive in! 1. Do your research Remember that an online interview has many similarities to an in-person interview and the same basic preparation methods still apply. Spend some time learning up on the employer and jot down a few questions to ask. A typical question an interviewer might ask you is: why do you want to work for us? They aren’t looking for a generic answer as to why you want to be a teacher, but specifically why you want to be a teacher at their school. 2. Set up your interview space There are many aspects to physically preparing for an online job interview. First you have to choose the hardware that you will use, whether it be a phone, tablet or computer. Make sure you have a webcam and microphone ready and working. The next step is picking a quiet location with an appropriate background. You want the interviewer to focus their attention on you and not on your surroundings. A blank wall or bookcase are two good options to choose from. Place everything that you could need close by such as water, any props you might want to use in a possible mock teaching session and a pen and paper in case you want to quickly write down any notes. Pro tip:​ Set your camera at a 90 degree angle to your face for the best perspective. This way, you and your interviewer will be at eye level, making the process feel more natural. We also recommend using headphones with a built-in mic for your chat. This will eliminate some of the background noise on your end and help you hear the interviewer clearer as well. 3. Test & practice Now that you have your interview space set up, you should test everything out. Make sure that the software you will be using works properly and that you have a good internet connection. We recommend having a friend call you for a mock video interview. This will help you refine some talking points and let you practice things that are specific to an online interview, such as looking

2. at the camera while speaking instead of the person on the screen. Your friend can then give you feedback and let you know if your setup, sound and video work well. 4. Look the part Remember to dress professionally. For video interviews, it’s best to avoid busy patterns and bright colors as those don’t always look their best on camera. Try to sit up straight and smile – first impressions are important, even through a screen! Bonus tip: Prepare a mock lesson This is a great ace up your sleeve to have when interviewing for teaching positions. Keep in mind that it’s not always required and sometimes a school will give you a specific task or instructions around how they want you to prepare a mock lesson. However, it’s good to have one ready just in case. Your prospective employers might ask for examples of your teaching methods, in which even a part of your mock lesson might come in handy for demonstrating.