Seeking a sales job? Time to fire up your webcam!

Video interviewing is increasingly popular with UK recruiters. So next time you apply for a sales job, will you have the skills to impress on camera if asked to speak to the hiring company via video link-up?

Skype or specialist video job interview systems are widely used in the US, and are beginning to prove popular here because they are cost-efficient and allow the employer to tightly control, pause, replay and share interview footage, making the selection with process easier to manage. Technology and communications giants like Oracle and Google were early adopters, but today companies as diverse as Rio Tinto, Starbucks, Wal-Mart and Starwood Hotels use video interviewing systems to narrow down their search for good job candidates. Many smaller companies looking for sales personnel are expected to follow this growing trend in recruitment techniques.

So what can you expect if offered a video interview for a sales job?

Many employers conduct ‘real-time’ live video interviews with candidates, but sometimes the video interview takes the form of a one-way, recorded session where specialist software replaces the job interviewer. Candidates click on a link and are guided through various screens, often starting with a practice session. It might be that each subsequent screen a jobseeker clicks on contains a different question, with about three or four minutes given to answer each.

In some cases the questions pop up as text, in others they are spoken by an HR person or hiring sales manager. The candidate responds into their own webcam from home, or in some cases the video interview technology supplier provides the hiring company with webcams to distribute to job candidates in the post. In some programmes, the candidate only gets one shot at the question while with others they can play back their response and re-do it if they’re not satisfied. Once complete, the recorded sales job interview can be viewed by multiple managers.

According to market research company The Aberdeen Group, which has carried out research on the subject of video interviewing, two-way interviews are a far more popular choice with employers. Companies such as Active Interview and HireVue supply these digital interview platforms to employers.

Many people in sales and marketing jobs already use video conferencing systems – particularly Skype – for general communication with sales leads, clients and colleagues, but using the technology to secure a sales job can be more of a challenge.

If you prepare properly, you can make video job interviews work for you. It’s crucial that you do all the usual research you would for a sales job interview, look the part and have some great answers lined up to show off your skills and experience really well. Remember to treat the video interview just as seriously as you would an in-person one. Having said that, the video element puts a whole new dimension on this stage of your sales job hunt, and is a different experience for all. What can you expect and what can you do to look and sound like the ideal candidate for a junior sales role, sales executive or sales team manager role?

10 Video Interview Tips for Sales Jobs

• Make sure you have a neutral background – lots of clutter in the background won’t look good.

• Ask your family or flatmates not to disturb you while you’re recording or doing a live video interview– people bursting into the room will be distracting for obvious reasons.

• Practice – if you have a webcam, record yourself to see how you appear on camera.

• It can help to adjust the lighting by bringing in extra lamps.

• Dress appropriately in professional interview attire, just as you would for a regular face-to-face sales job interview.

• Start by reviewing all the instructions. If you’re not sure how the webcam works, ask for help which is typically available online or by telephone.

• Follow the directions exactly making sure that if there is a time limit on the answers you give, you have factored that into your planning.

• Look at the camera, not down at the desk or table.

• Try to relax and smile while you describe your sales experience and reasons for applying for the job.

• Don’t fiddle with papers and notes, and make sure you don’t move around too much, which affects image quality and won’t look good to the viewer.

Follow these basic steps during your video sales interview and you will find the process straightforward and stress-free. Performing well on-camera will give you a competitive advantage over the other sales job candidates who may not have put in so much thought and preparation. So stay relaxed, speak clearly and try to look as though you are enjoying the whole experience. Good luck!

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