OK – so there’s a lot going on in the world right now and going to China doesn’t look anything like it did twelve short months ago, but you should definitely not give up on your goals to get to China. Exact timelines and changing visa requirements mean there are a lot of hurdles, but it ‘s possible and given all the challenges, you should prepare well in advance. So apply for that job and get ready for that interview. Have a read here about how we think you should prepare.
You’ve done the research, updated your CV, written the cover letter, and now find yourself staring down an online interview. Sweet! Since you can do this from your living room, it’s no big deal, right?
Wrong. Don’t be that person who interviews from a reclined chair with poor lighting and your cat walking around in the background. If you think the recruiter won’t notice what’s on the wall, you are mistaken. It’s always better to over prepare and impress with your high level of professionalism than to appear lackluster.
Schedule it like you would for any other interview – pick a time and a place you can definitely be available and be sure your computer and the platform you’ll interview on are working properly. If you don’t use the program often be sure to test it hours before the interview so if there are problems you have time to troubleshoot or call a friend for help.
Use the platform on your computer rather than a mobile device and if you have any problems or something isn’t working, contact your recruiter and let them know. We certainly understand that things can go wrong, so be professional about it and let us know ahead of time. Also – be sure to use the platform (Skype, Zoom, WeChat) that your recruiter suggests rather than using a different one. All these options are free and just take a little pre-planning to make sure you get it right. Not being willing to take the time to download and use a free platform stands out to your recruiter.
Dress like you would for any other interview – well, mostly. You can actually get away with wearing pajama pants, so long as a standing portion is not part of the interview. Wear a suit, comb your hair, and look your best. Make sure the animals and family members are either blocked out or told not to come in.
Last thing – as with any interview – be ready to talk about yourself, your experiences, and openly answer questions they ask you. Be confident, but not arrogant, and stay on topic.
The key is though; all interviews come down to making the best possible impression. Any trained interviewer knows that you in an interview is an example of you at your best, so be your best.
You got this!
