Virtual Vibes: Showing up Professionally on Zoom

From the desk of Jes McBride, Senior Search & Strategy Consultant

If online interviews were a kingdom, Jes McBride would be the benevolent monarch. With hundreds of hours of screenings, panel interviews and executive one-on-ones, there isn’t anything she hasn’t seen. Which is why her insight is so valuable for anyone looking to bump up their Zoom game, whether it be for an interview, board presentation or meeting with a potential donor. We all know it’s best to be on time and dress well, but there’s so much more to think about! Here are a few of Jes’ favorite things to see when she hits that “launch meeting” button:

When it comes to nailing your next on-camera meeting, Jes recommends what she refers to as The Three C’s. If you can be CALM, CONFIDENT and CURIOUS during your Zoom call, your on-screen demeanor will really shine. Here are some great ways to accomplish all three:

CALM

“We’re having a good time and I have this under control.”

CONSIDER YOUR BACKGROUND

Jes stresses a simple yet vital aspect of any online meeting: your background. “Don’t have dirty laundry or a weird collection of teeth anywhere near your interviewer’s light of sight,” she says.  “And if you’re not happy with the look of your bedroom or office, blur the background or pick a fun, simple landscape.” Jes isn’t concerned with how nice your house is or what kind of art you’ve chosen to hang on your walls when she signs on for an interview. She is concerned with being able to see you clearly and without distraction.

*This pointer goes double for lighting. Make sure your face is easy to see, you don’t want weird shadows that make you look like you’re crawling out of a cave or in an 80s glamor studio.*

LOOK ME IN THE EYE

While it may feel awkward at first, it’s important to look directly at your laptop camera when speaking. “When I tell people that, it kind of takes them aback at first,” Jes shares. “But it makes the interviewer feel like we’re making eye contact with you, which humans naturally respond positively to. It's a way we gain trust with a new person.” One easy way Jes has found can help achieving this herself is by putting a little sticker next to her camera so that she has something to focus on and remind her where she should be looking. Her sticker is a small man in a top hat trimming a bonsai shrub, but the possibilities are endless! 

*Speaking of eye contact, if you can ditch your glasses do it! The glare can sometimes make it hard to see your eyes.* 

DON’T HOG THE MIC

This can be a tricky one to gauge, but Jes strongly suggests maintaining an awareness of how long you’ve been speaking with each of your answers. “Set a silent timer on your phone,” she recommends. “Or, when you start to answer a question, pick up an object out of sight so that you're aware that you have the floor and that you need to give it back at some point.”

Respecting the time of those you’re meeting with is an easy way to impress them. “Also, finishing with a simple ‘Did that answer your question?’ can help your brain find a natural conclusion and also gives your interviewer a chance to follow up if they have any lingering questions.” 

CONFIDENT

“I have skills and expertise to handle this position.”

WRITE DOWN YOUR BRAGS

For some of us, there is no greater torture than telling others how great we are. Which is why Jes recommends an ideation session before your important interview or meeting. “Brag to yourself about yourself,” she says. “Think about 10 accomplishments you’ve made in your professional life and write them down. Have that paper out when you’re interviewing and, as you’re asked questions, weave those accomplishments into your answers.” This is vital in any professional meeting, not just interviews. When you speak to a potential donor, for example, it’s important to be aware of your organization's impact. And remember, don’t just keep these brags in your head.  “It’s really important to have them written down,” Jes stresses, "That way you don’t have to depend on yourself to recall them in the moment.”

CONCRETE NOT CLOUDS

“In an interview setting, it can feel instinctual to give answers that encompass all of your skills or all of the reality of the answer,” Jes explains. “But what ends up happening is that the candidate then makes the mistake of answering with this really vague unreadable cloud of words and ideas.” The best answers provide concrete examples that the interviewee can actually “hang their hat” on. Here’s an example: 

QUESTION:  Tell me about your experience in fundraising.

CLOUDY ANSWER: I’ve had years of experience in fundraising, it’s the skill that I believe separates good nonprofits from great ones. 

CONCRETE ANSWER: I started out my fundraising experience as a development associate at X organization about 10 years ago where I learned about CRM management on Salesforce, cultivating donor relationships and planning big events. Now I’m the Development Director of Y organization, so I cover all aspects of development including major gifts, midlevel giving, end of year campaigns and legacy giving. 

CONCRETE ANSWER: While I have worked in a lot of areas of fundraising in my previous role, major gifts are where my true passion lies because I love walking a donor through their personal impact. For example, I cultivated a relationship with a donor at my last organization who began as an annual giver of about 5k a year.  Through our relationship and providing her areas in which we could grow philanthropy with her help, she now gives over 20k a year. 

As you can see, the concrete answers give the interviewer a true idea of your abilities and what kind of employee you would be should be offered the position. 

CURIOUS

“While I’m qualified, I’m still open to new possibilities and ways of doing things.” 

ASK ME SOMETHING

Jes is always impressed when interviewees have prepared questions about the position or organization. “It shows that you have done your research,” she says. Jes recommends having notes for this as well. “Keeping a list of a few questions allows you to refer to your resources without having to pull them from memory.” Listening thoughtfully to the answers and being able to incorporate them into your responses going forward is a bonus. It’s also important to balance a sense of curiosity with your confidence in a job interview. No matter how skilled you are, you will be learning many new things if you get the job, so the hiring committee wants to have the feeling that you will be ready to take on those new things, ask questions, and approach the staff with openness. 

“There’s no one thing that gets you hired,” Jes concludes, “But if you can make a connection by displaying your ability to maintain a calm demeanor, display confidence in your skills and show a genuine interest in the organization, it will be a true game changer.”

See you on the small screen!