The “New Normal” for Job Applications and Interviews

 

The recent pandemic has made more people realize the importance of social distancing, technology and communication. Normal business practices have had to be altered to reduce the risk to employees and it’s unlikely things will return to the way they were before. This means that applicants must be aware about the “New Normal” when it comes to job applications and interviews. 

The way people conduct job interviews is already changing to reflect the new reality of a post-COVID-19 world. The new aversion to close personal contact with strangers will make businesses far more reliant on remote meeting apps for different hiring functions than they used to be. More businesses also seem to be taking proper sanitation seriously, though it remains to be seen if this will reflect a more lasting cultural shift in the Philippine context. 

 With these things in mind, here are some job application and interview tips to adapt to the “New Normal”:

1.) Shaking hands is no longer be required

The pandemic has understandably made a lot of people cautious about shaking hands. After all, all the different types of coronaviruses are most easily transmitted through touch, as are the microbes responsible for regular flu, chickenpox, measles, herpes, and many other diseases.

This doesn’t mean that we’re out of ways to greet each other. Here are some of the sanitary handshake alternatives people have come up with:

• • • • • Simple verbal greetings
        • Hand waves
        • Bowing
        • Nodding

Of course, you’ll have to try to assess whether or not these alternative greetings are acceptable to your interviewer. Keep some hand sanitizer with you in case someone insists on a handshake. Just make sure you sanitize your hands out of their sight.

 

2.) You may want to invest in a better internet connection

For both hygiene and efficiency reasons, more hiring managers will likely choose to do initial interviews through apps such as Skype or Zoom. Unfortunately, basic internet connections in the Philippines can be quite slow and unacceptable for calls with more than just one person. 

If you’re sure you’ll be doing remote interviews, having a decent internet connection can be a lifesaver. This is true in other areas as well. If you’re applying for a work from home job, your potential employer may even be turned off if you have an unreliable connection. Make sure to try a few test calls every once in a while to see if your connection is letting you down before you decide to spend money on an upgraded plan.

 

3.) It might be time to invest in better webcams and audio equipment

This generally only applies to people with older laptops, as the built-in webcams and microphones may not be giving a decent enough sound. At the very least, you’ll want a pair of headphones or earbuds that let you block out outside sounds during a call. Having decent enough equipment can help reduce misunderstandings and give a favorable impression during remote interviews.

 

4.) Prepare your space for remote interviews

It takes more to look professional in a remote interview than just wearing a shirt with a collar. You want to make sure that the place you’re doing the interview in is reasonably free from noise and visual clutter.

Make sure anyone in your house during your interview understands that you need them to be quiet at that time. Try to make sure that small children and pets are asleep, or otherwise occupied and looked after, while you take the call. Tidy your interview space up a bit so that the background you will be presenting to the interviewer on camera is clean and free from distracting items.

 

5.) Accept any hand sanitizer that’s offered

These days, when someone offers you hand sanitizer, it’s more than just a polite suggestion. It should be taken as a firm request. Given the devastation that COVID-19 had dealt to the Philippines, a good number of organizations are now serious about keeping their workplaces sanitary.

 

6.) Be warm and genuine

Even if handshakes were to fall into general disuse because of the pandemic, the need for genuine human contact that they filled will remain. Now that people are likely to become less close than we used to be, the need for warmth will be greater than it ever was.

That said, there is a lot more to being warm than the type of physical greeting you choose. Being personable and honest, for instance, is far more important than knowing when to shake hands or bump elbows. Even in remote interviews, one can still express genuine warmth by showing interest in the interview and approaching questions in a way the interviewer would appreciate.

 

The pandemic has accelerated trends in remote meetings and job interviews and made people warier of close contact with strangers. These are sure to have some kind of impact on hiring practices not just in the Philippines, but throughout the world as well. While it may require a bit of adjustment on our part as applicants, if there’s one thing that we should learn from the “New Normal”, it is the idea of preparedness to adapt in different business environments.

How else will the “New Normal” affect job interviews and other hiring practices? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Be the first to know about the latest Philippines jobs, career news and productivity tips. Sign up today!