3P Partners Shares Tips for Virtual Interviews 

August 18, 2020 – As the world of recruitment is adapting to the challenges presented by COVID-19, and in-person interviews are being quickly replaced with Zoom, the 3P Partners recruitment team offers some quick tips to better navigate this virtual platform.

The firm said to start with downloading and practicing Zoom before the interview. This might seem obvious but candidates tend to do more traditional research and preparation, forgetting to practice logging into the platform until the last minute. “We’ve received a lot of feedback about the discomfort that candidates feel looking at themselves and talking about themselves at the same time,” 3P Partners said. “The path to resolving this discomfort is practice, so be sure to download Zoom at the beginning of your prep, not the end.”

Whenever possible, face a natural light source (a big window) when using Zoom, said the search firm. If it’s a cloudy day, you may have to add a lamp to brighten your face. If it’s a sunny day, you may have to use a light window covering to dull the brightness. Practicing for both scenarios is a good idea. In addition, 3P Partners noted that “Zoom has some very specific lighting information on their own blog that we find helpful.”

“We recommend finding a neutral wall in your house or uploading a simple background so that it doesn’t distract from your interview,” the firm said. Don’t have any neutral photos fitting for a Zoom background? Try this free site.”

3P Partners also  framing, noting that one of the first things taught in photography is how to frame a photo. “Position your computer camera so that it is either directly in front of your face, or slightly above for a better angle,” the firm said. “For interviews, open your laptop to a 90-degree angle, and prop the laptop up on thick books until you are in the center of the screen.”

Related: Best Practices for Virtual Job Interviewing

Practice is also important for finding the right sound on Zoom. “If you are in a room with hard floors, put a blanket under your chair to reduce the echo,” 3P Partners said. “If you find there is a lot of ‘static’ when you practice, plug in headphones. Otherwise, you should be good to go with your computer’s built-in microphone. And don’t forget your mute button if it’s not your turn to speak, hit: Cmd+Shift+A (PC: Alt+A) to mute/unmute your audio.”

Wardrobe

3P Partners said that the usual rules apply for wardrobe. “Approach your appearance as you would with any other interview. You may be at home but the interviewer can still see you – at least from the shoulders up.”


Rachel Quinn founded 3P Partners in 2013 when she relocated to the U.S. from Australia. She has a solid track record of placing C-level food and agribusiness industry executives. Her team is dedicated to providing top level service and building long-term relationships with both candidates and clients. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.


Close down other apps so your interview isn’t interrupted by email notifications. “Having too many windows open will slow down your operating system and affect the video and audio feed,” the firm said. “Also, if you haven’t restarted your computer in a while, you might be unaware that an app is running in the background. We recommend a computer restart a day before the interview to keep Zoom running smoothly.”

3P Partners is a food and agribusiness executive search firm. It specializes in placing senior and middle-management for its global clients, including both Fortune 100 food and beverage manufacturers as well as large privately-held agricultural processors.

The majority of the firm’s search assignments are based in the U.S., but it also does work in Australia, Canada and Mexico. 3P Partners’ primary focus is food and agribusiness C-level executives. The firm also works at a functional level within the following areas: finance, commercial development, plant management and engineering, supply chain and procurement, logistics and transportation, sales and marketing, commodity trading and merchandising, food safety and quality assurance, HR and compliance.

Related: Working Virtually Keeps Everyone Safe and Productive

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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