Career Advice

While an amazing resume can help you get your foot in the door, if you don’t ace the interview, chances are good you won’t get offered the job. And given how competitive the job market is these days, particularly when you’re trying to land a remote position, it might be time to change how you’re preparing for interviews. While traditional methods—like rehearsing with friends or in front of a mirror—are still valuable, technological advancements offer new and immersive ways to hone your interview skills.

Virtual reality (VR), in particular, can provide realistic, interactive, and highly effective practice sessions that give job seekers an advantage over their competition. Keep reading to learn more about how and why to use VR yourself when preparing for job interviews.

VR Platforms Simulate Job Interview Scenarios

VR is incredibly useful when preparing for job interviews because it simulates real-life interview settings, including the pressures and nuances of an actual interview. These simulations can vary in complexity and realism, from basic question-and-answer sessions to fully immersive experiences that mimic the environment and dynamics of a real interview.

Below are several of the advantages of utilizing VR when prepping for a job interview:

• It’s realistic. VR can recreate the setting of a typical office or conference room, complete with virtual interviewers who ask questions and react to responses. Practice makes perfect! These sessions will help you feel less anxious and more comfortable going into a real interview.
• It offers multiple scenarios. Depending on the VR program you decide to use, it might offer you one-on-one interviews, panel interviews, or even high-stress situations such as group assessments or technical evaluations. This variety will prepare you for all different types of formats and expectations.
• It provides immediate feedback. Most VR platforms will provide instant feedback on your performance, so you know what you need to work on. This often includes real-time critiques of body language, eye contact, response time, and the responses themselves.
• It’s consistent. Unlike when you practice with a human, VR allows for unlimited repetitions without any variation in the interviewer’s behavior. This consistency can help you reinforce skills and build your confidence through repeated practice.
• It’s safe. VR offers a safe space to make mistakes and learn from them without fear of judgment or repercussions. This might encourage you to take risks and try out different strategies to see what works best.
• It’s convenient. VR platforms can be accessed from anywhere, making it convenient for job seekers to practice at their own pace and schedule. This flexibility is especially beneficial for those who are balancing job hunting with other responsibilities.
• It develops both hard and soft skills. For example, technical interview simulations can help with problem-solving and coding under pressure, while behavioral interview scenarios can improve communication and interpersonal skills.

Free Resources for VR Interview Preparation

While most advanced VR platforms require a subscription, YouTube VR is a free online resource that you can use to get started. It offers numerous VR interview preparation videos, ranging from 360-degree interview simulations to instructional content on common interview questions and techniques.

In addition, although it’s primarily a traditional interview preparation tool, Big Interview offers some VR content and resources that can be accessed for free, particularly through its partnerships with libraries and educational institutions.

The main takeaway? Virtual reality is changing the way job seekers prepare for interviews, and rightfully so! It offers much more realistic and interactive practice sessions than traditional methods, helping to build confidence and interview skills. As VR technology becomes more accessible, it’ll likely become standard practice for anyone who is preparing to interview. Get ahead of the curve by checking out this cutting-edge technology today!