Reading off a doc in virtual interviews - bad idea?
I have a doc with a good number of answers to behavioral questions written out, and I've been reading off of it (on my screen) when the interviewer asks me a question that's on the doc for virtual interviews that I've had so far. From the interviewer's perspective, is this obvious at all if the interviewee is looking at the screen but everything else (voice sounds natural, etc.) is fine? I've done this and gotten to final rounds/superdays but no offers yet, so wondering if this is the issue.
I think its a bad play. First of all, if they feel like you are reading of a script, it looks bad. You also say your voice sounds natural but does it really? They also may assume you have the technicals written down as well, so you would be "cheating".Why are you reading off a doc though? Behavioral questions aren't supposed to trick you.
Thanks for the feedback. I don't have any notes for technicals but in terms of the behaviorals, I think it's more of a confidence issue in that I find it hard sometimes to come up with stuff on the spot, so having a doc where I've prepped all the answers helps a lot. But yeah I'm definitely not going to use it going forward - I've done so many of these by now that I pretty much have everything on the doc memorized anyways. Do you think it's better to look at the camera or look at the interviewer's picture on the screen during the interview? I'm guessing the camera is better but it just feels very unnatural.
I think confidence is a huge issue. I have a lot of friends who are super smart but bombed interviews because of nerves/semi memorized answers that sounded robotic. If they picked you for the interview, they think you are qualified. The interview is a way to show you are qualified but also a person. I would look at the camera if you can, but I know it is hard. If you look at their pic that is fine. It is more about seeming normal.
Lol yes this is an issue.
You don’t sound as normal as you think you do, and I’m certain it’s obvious that you keep looking at the screen. You might even be using your mouse to scroll through the stories, which would be even more obvious.
You’ll actually be far more successful if you look at the camera the entire time you talk. It looks much more natural to them.
Try instead to practice your stories until you memorize them, then have short descriptive titles of your stories in bullet point form. Right before an interview, look at the titles you’ve written and you’ll remember them.
Appreciate your comment. I do my interviews on a laptop so I use the trackpad to scroll which is relatively silent, but yeah definitely going to stop using it going forward. There were like 5 interviews I did for this one firm where I thought I crushed it but got ghosted after that, so I can only guess that this was the issue. Do you think it's better to look at the camera as opposed to the screen during the interview? Sometimes I find looking at the camera for the whole interview to be unnatural since my eyes have a tendency to flicker down to look at the interviewer's video when he/she is speaking - would be great to hear your thoughts on that.
They'll notice your shoulder moving.
Best to look at the camera as much as you possibly can. It doesn't have to be the entire time, but doing it as constantly as you can makes it look like you're looking at them instead of looking down where their chest/stomach would be if you were there in person.
When we read, an interviewer can see your eyes move horizontally so that's a clear tell. Also, your voice would sound fine when you are reading, but there will be a clear variation between what you sound like when you are speaking ex-tempo, and when you are reading off a document. I know this cuz I have done this in the past. So, would HIGHLY suggest that you don't read. It will also help make the conversation flow better.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who's done this lol. Have you ever gotten any offers where during the interviews, you were reading off of something? Curious to know because I did this for a recent superday at a really nice firm and hoping that I didn't fuck up my chances because of this
Tbh, only read for phone interviews. that was because I tried practicing reading with a friend on the other side, and as I said, it was pretty obvious. So, no. I participated with a firm in their recruiting process (all the way to the superday), and it was all phone interviews. Didn't get an offer there. Interviewed with another firm all the way throughout the superday, and it was all video interviews and ended up with an offer. So, I know it's really difficult at first cuz you think you'll mess up, but honestly, you'll be fine. Don't read going forward.
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