Help! I have an online interview – what to wear?

This is a real phenomenon. I first encountered it when working in the construction industry in the field of Health and Safety – people believing their activities to be safe because “they’ve always done it that way” and they’re invested in that way. But did you know that everyone sees a situation (or a person) through their own lens and subconsciously sees what they want to see? Have a look at this infographic which explains further how people can have cognitive biases in 50 different ways: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/50-cognitive-biases-in-the-modern-world/

Maybe bias shouldn’t drive interviewers, but it’s human nature. Your best chance, therefore, is to hack this phenomenon and work it to your advantage. Three ideas below…

• Build rapport. The interviewer may want to see a reflection of themselves. An interesting technique is mirroring. This is where you repeat back the last word or phrase that the interviewer used, confirming your understanding but also making the person feel like you have a common view – making all the right unconscious sensors ‘ping’!
• Labelling. A role is often advertised to solve a problem for the Institution. If you can find out what that problem is, either before the interview or during, label and reflect it back to the interviewer. Low NSS scores? “I understand you are concerned about NSS scores. Well, in a previous role I improved these by 10% by… <<and state what you did>>”
• “That’s right”: this is the phrase you want to hear in a discussion about the future. Not “you’re right” – that is the phrase you don’t want to hear. The difference is that the first means the person has objectively assessed the situation and believes what you’ve said to be true. The second can mean the person is complying rather than engaging. If you can get a “that’s right” out of your interviewer, that’s a good technique.

The above advice comes from a book by Chris Voss, an FBI hostage negotiator, called “Never split the difference”. See his TED talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjhDkNmtjy0 and I do recommend his book.

• Professional Attire: Aim for business casual or business formal, depending on the institution’s culture and the role you’re interviewing for (which of course you’ll have researched thoroughly!) 
• Focus on the Upper Body: While you’re seated, the camera will likely only capture your upper body, so focus on dressing appropriately from the waist up for an online interview. 
• Be Clean and Presentable: Ensure your clothes are clean, ironed, and well-fitting for your online interview.
• Comfort and Confidence: Choose an outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
• Avoid Distracting Patterns or Colours: Opt for neutral colours and avoid overly bright or distracting patterns. (On a tangent, in my years in industry, it always amazed me of the power of the colour blue. I once issued a report to a US client which had a tan Excel column header. It was rejected. 30 minutes later, I sent back the exact same report with a blue column header and they loved it!) Unconscious bias at work again…

Additional Tips:

• Consider the Company Culture: Research the company’s culture and dress code to ensure your attire is appropriate for your online interview. 
• Check for Specific Instructions: If the recruiter provided any specific instructions regarding attire, follow them carefully. 
• Make sure your background is tidy and professional 
• Ensure good lighting during your online interview
• Be mindful of your posture and body language
• Get someone to mind the dog/ cat/ child or anything else that may interrupt!