3-On Your Side: Web Cam Job Interviews
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Are you in the market for a new job? Don't be surprised if future interviews are a bit unconventional. As 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds, more and more employers are using webcams to screen potential job candidates.
Face to face job interviews are becoming a thing of the past. Today companies are saving money and time by screening candidates via webcam. Even so, you don't have to meet in person to make a good impression.
Corporate coach Lois Frankel says, "Your credibility is determined 50% by how you look, 40% of how you sound and only 10 percent by what you say. Even if you're not going in for an interview, you should be dressed exactly the same as you would, as if you went into that person's office."
Keeping up your energy is important when interviewing remotely, so stand up for the interview, increase the volume of your voice and use hand gestures. One advantage of webcam interviews is that you can control your environment. So include a bookshelf to create a more professional atmosphere and make sure you don't have too much headroom or appear to be looking down, tilt your laptop lid towards you to avoid this. Finally, practice with a friend so you can get feedback on how you look.
If you're wondering if this is a trend, it certainly seems that way. Last year 10 percent of companies used video as part of the hiring process, while this year 42 percent of companies plan do so.
Reported by Jim Donovan, CBS 3
