With the improvement in technology in recent years, video interviews are becoming more commonplace amongst employers. Though this method may never replace a face-to-face interview, it will become something you may have to prepare yourself to do well.

Something to remember at all times is that a video interview is still an interview. It should not be taken any less seriously than an interview that is conducted in person. You are talking to a potential employer, so don’t think that just because you’re not in the room with him or her physically that you can slouch or get by with any less than you could in person. Prepare as if the interview will be in person, but do it on video.

The thing which you may want to keep in mind most during a video interview is that you may have to be a little more straightforward in presenting your own personal qualifications, aside from what is on your application. What employers see in individuals often determines who gets the job out of a crowd of people who are essentially equally qualified. These things are harder to relate in less personal communication methods, so keep in mind that the employer may not get ‘you’ as clearly in a video interview as in a face-to-face interview.

The key factor in all this is to be versatile. Perhaps the best recommendation is to work on your interviewing skills and be able to apply them effectively to any method of interview. This versatility may even show in the interviews and be viewed by the employer as a very useful character trait and set you off on a great first step toward a job, whether the interview is on video or face-to-face.

Losing a job is always a hard experience. If you don’t see it coming it can be especially testing, and you risk running the entire gamut of negative emotions. It’s important to keep your emotions in check when losing a job because it can have an effect on how you kick off your search for a new job. Other factors become concerns, as well, so here’s an overview of how to manage under the circumstances of losing a job.

1. Emotional Factor – When you hear you are losing your job, the first thing that likely occurs is you start to feel, at the best, unfortunate. For many it is more probable that they feel sadness or even anger. The key step to take in keeping this from hurting your future employment prospects, don’t act out based on these emotions. When you leave your former workplace, give pleasant “goodbyes” and “thank yous” when you move on to other things. Leaving a good “last impression” is extremely important because you don’t want to lose references. As you move on to the job search, don’t let the shock of having lost the job throw you off your rhythm. Go about your search in a time frame as if it were a job in itself. This will help keep you organized.
2. Financial Factor - Make sure you have a budget between losing one job and beginning another. Know how you’re going to make your savings and other money you have last through the down time. If you lose the job, also ask the HR department if there is any kind of compensation you can get when you leave for days you could have taken off but didn’t. If your old boss wants you to sign any paperwork when you leave, and he or she probably will, be sure you know exactly what you’re signing. Don’t let them hit you with a fast one after you’re technically gone anyway.
3. Moving On – While you’re looking for a new job, take some time to reflect on your professional past. Think about why you may have lost your job. Could it have been because of your work? Or was it more likely the result of company wide losses and having to make cuts in certain departments? These are all important questions to think about in moving on to another career. Spend some time retooling and gathering your thoughts again. Practice your interviewing skills, update your application information.

Losing your job gives you the opportunity to focus on you. Prepare to present yourself to a new employer. In a sense, it lets you start over and you can offer yourself to interviewers as a complete package of an employee. You aren’t just going to be another job applicant, a person filling a title. A job loss is painful, but the most obvious positive effect it has is that it kick starts your journey toward a new job, so set some challenges for yourself and move forward, but stay positive and don’t blow off steam on other people. It’s a lost job, not the end of the world.

If you’re job hunting, chances are you have been scouring every reputable publication, in print as well as online, for valuable, potentially employment-earning tips, tricks, and tactics to put to good use if you’re one of the lucky few to score an interview. In this economy and given the widespread job loss across the country, if you’re given the chance to knock the socks off of a potential employer, you know very well that you may not have many other chances. So with a ‘time is of the essence’ attitude, you’ve most likely been searching for any and all information you can get your hands on in order to convince your interviewer that you’re just the person they’ve been looking for.

While business experts have been forth-coming with their abundant resources and lessons from the trade, it is very easy to take all of the information being supplied to you and apply it a little too vigorously. Being prepared for an interview is certainly a step in the direction of employment; it’s very important to know what kind of questions you will be asked and how you will be expected to answer. However, being prepared is something very different from being an automaton, which could happen if you are focusing too much on the grocery list of tips you picked up the night before on your latest Google search for ‘how to get the job.’

Through the time I have spent filling out job applications and sending out resumes I have come to know one thing about my self in the workforce—If I get the chance to be interviewed for a position I am seeking, I know I will land that job. That is the way it has been since I was asked in for my first job interview that led me to my first job right out of high school and the outcome has never been anything different. I don’t have any in-depth analysis of why this is or any knowledge of the underbelly of the business world; the only thing that I kept in mind during an interview is the fact that this company is interviewing me, not quizzing me on what I had learned while preparing for this moment.

The fondest interview memory I have is from the second job I have ever had; when I was interviewing for a position at a book store. I have been a constant reader all of my life. I have always seen books as a reward; either they were pumping me full of knowledge and intellect or they were providing new and exciting lives for me to live in for a little while, so naturally one of my first jobs was working at a book store. While I knew a great deal about the company, as well as what that company expected of me as an employee, and what that interviewer was expecting from me during the interview, I never lost who I was during the interview process. I was courteous, respectful, answered the questions I was asked exactly as I was supposed to, and was do my best to wow the pants off of the person who was conducting the interview by asking follow-up questions to the duties and responsibilities that were being outlined for me..and then I was asked about who my favorite authors were, and that is when I shined through and through. I never tucked who I was away for the event and as I listed the authors I so frequently read, admire, and cherish, that is the moment I knew I landed the job since right after we finished talking about our favorite authors, my second interview was conducted right there on the spot and the next day I received a call letting me know that the job was mine.

The key to any person-to-person exchange, whether a job interview, business contact, or acquaintance is to unapologetically be yourself. You can read as many interview preparation articles you can absorb in one sitting but the part of the interviewer that is going to stand out for the person conducting the interview is when you show them what kind of person you are and how valuable you would be to their company.

What do you do after the interview is over?

Do you send a nice “thank you” note or email? I’m always surprised by professionals that overlook follow-ups. It’s just one more opportunity you have to leave a good final impression.

Send a “Thank You” Letter, Even When You Don’t Get the Job

Not all first choice hire candidates work out. If you don’t get the job, take sending a “thank you” as an opportunity to leave a great last impression. You might open the door for future opportunities.

I had a candidate that completed a lengthy interview round with a large fortune 100 company. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the job. He was disappointed but sent a nice follow up “thank you.”  The hiring manager responded by encouraging him to continue applying to future company openings. He went so far as to giving this candidate permission to mention his name to potential hiring managers he approached. Amazing!

Overcome Potential Hiring Objections

If you asked any qualifying questions in your interview, or heard any possible “red” flags about your background, a “thank you” might just be the perfect opportunity to overcome a hiring objection. It’s easy to forget a small detail during the interview that you wished you had shared and your note might be the perfect venue for this. I’ve seen candidates who were considered okay for the role, but after a compelling “thank you” they turned into a front-runner. But take caution, if done wrong it could lose you the opportunity. A well scripted “thank you” can make all the difference.

“Thank” Everyone!

It’s nice to send a little note to each of the interviewers as well as the admin or recruiter who coordinated them for you. The support staff may not be the ultimate decision maker, but they can influence them and they will be good future contacts for you on other opportunities should this one slip. Just as making a sloppy first impression on the corporate recruiter will hurt you, making a good lasting one will help you.

Who doesn’t appreciate the opportunity to be considered for a role? So take the time to be polite with a little “thank you” back. To make sure you ace that interview, check out 360 Job Interview coaching for more advice from professionals.