Hey y’all
I’ve had coffee chats in person before and feel like I can nail them. However, zoom is a lot more awkward feeling and I’m wanting to work on setting better impressions over zoom. Does anyone have good tips on how to do this (current recruiting for PE and prepping for on-cycle, but this is good advice for everything)
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some tips to set a great first impression over Zoom:
Professional Setup:
Technical Preparation:
Body Language and Eye Contact:
Communication Skills:
Minimize Distractions:
Follow-Up:
By following these tips, you can create a strong and professional impression during your Zoom meetings, which is crucial for PE recruiting and on-cycle preparation.
Sources: A Guide on How to Navigate On-Cycle PE Recruiting, My on-cycle experience / guide, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/a-guide-on-how-to-navigate-on-cycle-pe-recruiting?customgpt=1, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/on-cycle-recruiting-2018-what-to-expect?customgpt=1, Virtual On-Cycle 2022 Recruiting
Most of my undergraduate interviews for FT we’re zoom, here’s some solid tips a professor told us that helped a ton / things I learned along the way:
- Always make sure you have good lighting, that is coming from behind wherever your camera is. They have cameras on Amazon that have a light halo built in, not saying you need this but a guy in my shop uses one and it works really well. This will help with getting a “picture quality” video feed. Also, make sure there aren’t weird shadows on your face from a window, etc.
Your camera should always be at or above head level. Think about when you FaceTime a friend, it’s always a weird look when they hold the camera low, as you can see their nose, double chin (if they have one) and in general it just don’t look like the person is really addressing you. If the camera is level with your head or slightly above, it appears more natural, as if you’re actually sitting across from the person. If you have a laptop, you can stack books below it to try and adjust the height.
Make sure your background is cleared out or at least clean. I would always move my desk so that my background was a blank wall, sounds kinda funny but it’s better than having a total dude house in the background. I always go for the “blur background” as well, just more professional.
As per where you are, don’t take it in public, whether that be our in the middle of the library, living room, outside, wherever else you can think. Try to be somewhere secluded and that doesn’t have an awkward echo.
For sound, even if I was in my room, I would wear headphones (AirPods to be specific) to prevent echo and make sure I could hear the person clearly. People have different opinions but I think it shows that you’re plugged in and focused.
Dress business professional and, I’m not messing with you on this one, wear the entire suit. Maybe it was a COVID thing, but I had a couple interviews where I was asked to stand up to prove I had appropriately dressed for the occasion. I had buddies get busted wearing shorts below the camera. One girl I was friends with was wearing sweats when they asked and I’m pretty sure she did not hear back from them.
Hope this helps!
Absolutely absurd to ask a candidate to stand up and prove they are wearing suit pants.
Finance people are such tools man even execs rock shorts or sweats down low
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