Ask Becky

I have a video job interview soon, and I lack confidence when it comes to answering certain questions. Help! —Camera Shy

Dear Camera Shy:

You can do it! Preparation and practice increase confidence and performance in job interviews.

To anticipate questions, carefully read the job announcement. Highlight the most emphasized skills, as well as qualifications cited as preferred and required. Next, think about stories you can tell to demonstrate that you have those abilities. Finally, practice aloud!

The S.T.A.R. method is a tried-and-true approach to answering questions:

• Situation: Describe one specific situation in which you had to accomplish something.
• Task: What was the goal you had to accomplish?
• Action: What steps or actions did you take?
• Result: What was the outcome? What happened or improved? Was it an unexpected outcome? What did you learn?

For video interviews in particular:

• Attend to your environment. Ensure good lighting; be mindful of what is behind you; strive to be in a private, quiet place uninterrupted by family, pets, and outside distractions.
• To make eye contact, look directly at the web cam rather than at the people on the screen.
• Avoid using notes on your table; you may look down too much. You could tape notes to the wall, but keep your attention on the conversation!
• Test and practice with technology. How well does your microphone pick up audio? Do you have a headset to help you hear more clearly. Keep a telephone near in the event of Internet connection issues, but silence the alerts. Always test the technology in advance; don’t wait for the interview start time to check device settings.
• Dress as you would for an in-person interview.

There are many resources for preparing for virtual interviews. We subscribe to Vault.com. Click here to learn more.

How can I try out other fields before making a career transition? Are there internships for adults? —Exploring

Dear Exploring:

While myriad opportunities are available to college students, how might an alum participate in experiential learning? Given the pandemic, how does anyone do this right now?

Post-pandemic, many organizations may not return to previous in-person operations. But opportunities to gain experience continue—although most likely remotely. There are still in-person options, albeit with specific safety protocols.

Volunteers power many organizations. While you do have to commit time to training and activities, you’ll sharpen skills, meet new people (fellow volunteers, Board members), expand your network, explore new avenues—all while working for what you believe in.

Part-time / Temp / Project-based work can allow you to test-drive options and expand your network. What’s available may vary depending on your interests. Since the pandemic, project-based work may be on the rise. Focus on job sites specifically for remote and project-based work, and consider a smaller pivot by leveraging your skills in a new setting.

Returnships are short-term return-to-work programs—some for those experienced in a particular field who have been out of the workplace for a while and others for those with transferrable skills interested in pivoting into a new field. Check out articles on websites like The Muse, Glassdoor, and The Balance Careers to assess what’s available and whether a returnship is for you.

Informational interviewing with people in industries, job roles, or organizations that intrigue you still matters. It’s unlikely now that you’ll be able to visit on site, but larger organizations may have invested in virtual tours or other ways to recruit online. Others may be more active than ever on LinkedIn and social platforms. To continue your exploration, look for sites that feature interviews with professionals in fields of interest.

Need help navigating the world of work? Career guru (and Bryn Mawr’s senior associate director of Alumnae/i Career Services) Becky Ross takes your questions at raross@brynmawr.edu. Please keep your questions succinct.