topic Re: Video job interview in SmorgasBoard

Video job interview

Jnbmom — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 22:19:33 GMT

Hoping you guys can help me out a bit. I just recently applied for a remote job with the company I am currently employed at with the hospital. This would be for a customer service rep with our health insurance carrier.

I have been with the company for over 15 years, and have 8 years as a patient service rep but I have been doing cardiac monitoring for the last couple of years.

it's a video chat 🥺and not sure how comfortable I am with that but oh well. Anyone have any tips, I know sell myself but anything to focus on, questions I should ask etc? I have not really interviewed for quite some time as my other positions were internal and not very formal when switching jobs.

Thanks

Re: Video job interview

FinStar — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 23:23:57 GMT

These are always kind of interesting 😁

Make sure you test the video (and audio) link they provide well in-advance so that you don't experience any technical issues at the last moment. Use a room that has a comfortable setting, good lighting, but nothing that would cause lots of glare. Be sure the room you're conducting the interview doesn't have any items that can distract you and is private enough where you won't be disturbed for the duration of it. Always look directly at the camera (not down or up), so set it in a way that's positioned in front of you (not way at the top). Most importantly, take notes, ask questions and smile 😊

I'm sure others have some additional or helpful tips!

Oh, one more thing, be sure to be professionally dressed from top to bottom and make sure things are fully disconnected when your interview session ends! Good luck 👍

Re: Video job interview

Jnbmom — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 23:54:17 GMT

@FinStar

Thank you great tips . I started writing things down to sell myself a bit and will work on some questions as I am not sure exactly what the job entails .

I made sure I scheduled when DH is at work he would be a distraction for sure 🙄

Re: Video job interview

Horseshoez — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 01:48:09 GMT

@Jnbmom, back in April I had a series of interviews for a pretty high end job in my current field and followed a few rules:

Dress well, professional but not formal, and not in a tee shirt either.
Make sure there is enough ambient light in the room to prevent the camera from broadcasting a grainy image of you.
Ask questions which challenge the interviewer to sell you on why you want to work for them.
When it comes to talking about yourself, one tool I've used since my first job interview back in 1974; an interview is one of the best excuses for bragging about yourself.

And yeah, I got the job.

Re: Video job interview

Jnbmom — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 01:50:57 GMT

@Horseshoez

Thank you some other great tips 👍

Re: Video job interview

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 07:18:55 GMT

@JnbmomIf this were Hollywood I would tell you to "break a leg" but since you are not doing the movies "Best of Luck" ...

Also, "fingers crossed"

Re: Video job interview

Jnbmom — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 08:32:27 GMT

@Anonymous

Thank you, I might break a leg or hip setting up my video chat 🤣🤣🤣

Re: Video job interview

iced — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 12:52:39 GMT

Are you required to have your camera on during the call? It'll vary from employer to employer, but when I was interviewing candidates for a couple of our open recs via video we could generally care less whether you have it on or not. It's about the person, not what they look like.

If this is a people-facing position, then it makes more sense that they need to see how your body language is.

Re: Video job interview

Jnbmom — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 17:52:49 GMT

@iced wrote:
Are you required to have your camera on during the call? It'll vary from employer to employer, but when I was interviewing candidates for a couple of our open recs via video we could generally care less whether you have it on or not. It's about the person, not what they look like.

If this is a people-facing position, then it makes more sense that they need to see how your body language is.

@iced

They just sent a link and told me it was a video interview so I am not sure?

The job itself I would work remotely from home as a CSR for Optima health insurance .

Re: Video job interview

iced — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 18:00:13 GMT

@Jnbmom wrote:
@iced wrote:
Are you required to have your camera on during the call? It'll vary from employer to employer, but when I was interviewing candidates for a couple of our open recs via video we could generally care less whether you have it on or not. It's about the person, not what they look like.

If this is a people-facing position, then it makes more sense that they need to see how your body language is.
@iced
They just sent a link and told me it was a video interview so I am not sure?

The job itself I would work remotely from home as a CSR for Optima health insurance .

It's also customer service, which implies customer facing as well. You can always try to diplomatically and gently inquire about it (if they don't already know if you have video capabilities) -- you don't have a webcam or it's broken or something and ask if you need to get it up and working prior to the interview or if it doesn't matter. It's really going to depend on your particular situation, but if you're that uncomfortable there's ways to probe if it's necessary or not.

Re: Video job interview

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 07:22:26 GMT

@Jnbmom Optima

Interesting ... my son works for them as some sort of business analyst?! Appears to like them as an employer.

He also is in the military and fly's black hawk helicopters. Optima has been flexible on his need to take time off for the military.

Re: Video job interview

Jnbmom — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 12:31:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@JnbmomOptima

Interesting ... my son works for them as some sort of business analyst?! Appears to like them as an employer.

He also is in the military and fly's black hawk helicopters. Optima has been flexible on his need to take time off for the military.

@Anonymous

I thank your son for his service , my son did 4 years in the army infantry.

Re: Video job interview

Jnbmom — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 21:51:48 GMT

I figured I would update the interview . Darn it was brutal I had done samples of questions and answers I would give which I thought they would ask , wrong 🤣🤣🤣. I had to answer all these rapid fire questions it seemed and I stumbled a bit. Didn't even ask me to tell her about my experience 🥺.

So I don't think there is a chance in heck I will get it 🥺But honestly I am not unhappy at my job I just thought I may enjoy working from home but after she told me the job description I don't think I would like it anyway .

Re: Video job interview

iced — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 22:28:00 GMT

@Jnbmom wrote:
I figured I would update the interview . Darn it was brutal I had done samples of questions and answers I would give which I thought they would ask , wrong 🤣🤣🤣. I had to answer all these rapid fire questions it seemed and I stumbled a bit. Didn't even ask me to tell her about my experience 🥺.

So I don't think there is a chance in heck I will get it 🥺But honestly I am not unhappy at my job I just thought I may enjoy working from home but after she told me the job description I don't think I would like it anyway .

Sounds more like a test than an interview. Was this with the hiring manager or just a screener? I've only seen this approach used when the answers don't matter but rather how the interviewee handles the pressure.

Re: Video job interview

Jnbmom — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 22:53:27 GMT

She was the manager for that department and under pressure I failed lol .

Re: Video job interview UPDATE

Jnbmom — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 05:02:55 GMT

I guess I did better than I thought, I was offered the job. I have to decide and give her my answer by tomorrow.

So I am weighing my pros and cons.

I do like the job I do now and schedule is "very" fleixble. I work 12 hour night shifts so I do get days off during the week and I am required to work every third weekend and work on holidays rotating yearly. This new postion M-F 9-6 weekends and holidays off. I do like the idea of working from home, no gas and less wear and tear on my car.

So if anyone works from home, do you enjoy it? Anything to consider?

Re: Video job interview UPDATE

Wrigley2172 — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 10:25:05 GMT

@Jnbmom wrote:
I guess I did better than I thought, I was offered the job. I have to decide and give her my answer by tomorrow.

So I am weighing my pros and cons.

I do like the job I do now and schedule is "very" fleixble. I work 12 hour night shifts so I do get days off during the week and I am required to work every third weekend and work on holidays rotating yearly. This new postion M-F 9-6 weekends and holidays off. I do like the idea of working from home, no gas and less wear and tear on my car.

So if anyone works from home, do you enjoy it? Anything to consider?

Congrats on getting the offer!!!

I dont personally work from home but both my *hopefully* future MIL and my brother do so heres some observations ive made:

1. Have a space where you work from which is hopefully away from everything else in your house. SO's mom uses her dining room table so she is always around her workspace and is tempted to open her laptop at almost any time to work. My brother on the other hand has an "office" which is upstairs so when hes done for the day he can leave and have a disconnect

2. Not sure how flexible being a CSR may be in terms of during the day but i know ive seen both of them block out time in the day for errands or things they need to do, taking care of the grandparents ect so if youre able to do that it can be great to make sure your evenings are actually yours.

3. My SO's parents always pick a spot at least 20-30 minutes away from home so her mom can have some time away otherwise she may never leave her house on a given day so you might consider a change like this after awhile, though she has been working from home for years well before the pandemic

4. This may not be an issue going into fall but if you still have kids doing school from home you *may* need to look into your internet speeds and bandwith. I know when my girlfriend was doing school from home full time and her mom was also on her laptop and taking meetings there was an issue with connection sometimes as they would run out of room on their internet connection

These are very general but hopefully they can give you some more things to think about. I know they both enjoy the flexibility of working from home but it also has some drawbacks- the big one being cabin fever if youve been cooped up all day. Good luck in your decision process! Im currently trying to get hired as a police officer so thank you for everything youve done in the healthcare world!

Re: Video job interview UPDATE

Jnbmom — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 10:40:55 GMT

@Wrigley2172

Thank you for the tips and you gave me things to think about. My children are grown, actually my daughter (youngest) has been at college past 4 years and now entering Grad school. I have pretty much kept her room the same LOL, but if I decide to take it I will set up little home office in there

My slight hesitation I guess is working 5 days a week, I work 12 hour shifts currently so I have days off during the week which makes running errands and doctor viisits a snap and I have come used to the flexibility with that. But evenings free and all weekends, less gas and wear and tear on my car, not commuting in bad weather. So hard to decide.....................

Well good luck with the police department, they have a tough job to do

Re: Video job interview UPDATE

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 10:47:23 GMT

I have the option to work remotely or in-office. I honestly prefer in-office. There has to be a compelling reason for me to work from home on a specific day.

A few things I would consider more so than work from home/in-office: does the new position provide a better financial opportunity? More job stability? Room for advancement?

Most importantly though, you mentioned that after hearing the job description for the new position that you didn't think you "liked" it. If that was just frustration speaking, that's one thing. If you truly don't think you'd like it, I'd suggest a hard pass then. Not much worse than working a job you hate...

Re: Video job interview UPDATE

Jnbmom — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 12:00:53 GMT

@Anonymous

Thank you. It's about the same pay scale although I am loosing a little bit on shift differential, but I can still pick up a few hours at my old position which would be pure OT. I would start as a CSR 1 and can work my way up to higher .

I think I am just a little hesitant learning something new more so than not liking the description of the job I think . My dh has had some health issues lately and me being home would probably be a better situation.