10/15/2020
VIRTUAL BOARD INTERVIEWS. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW!
You don’t have to travel, worry about being on time, or not know what the wind has done to your hair. Your Board interview will be virtual. So here are new insider tips to master
Dress for success. Even if your Zoom interviewers are in sweat suits, you must dress in casual chic or more formal attire, just not too casual or too formal. Be fully dressed, but remember to focus on the portion of your body that will be visible on the screen.
Check out your room lighting. Make sure you are well lit but not as in a police interrogation in the movies.
Check out the wall behind you. Is it well appointed? Is it neat and orderly? Scrutinize it carefully. An errant sock on the couch, two crumpled throw pillows, or your pajama top on a chair are not good looks.
Stow kids and pets in a quiet remote place. No, “daddy, mommy” appeals should interrupt your flow. If your 80 lb. dog comes in for a pat or a nuzzle, that’s not a good look to your interviewers.
The Board wants to get to know you. It is not the time for you to get to know them or building policies or planned capital projects. Think of it as having tea and small talk, with smiling pleasantries only. How much you admire the building, the staff, the neighbors you have already met, the neighborhood--these are all good topics.
Just in case, make sure your home is really tidy. They may want to see how you keep your residence. While this seems intrusive, have a handy excuse for turning them down, such as you are using your desktop PC for the interview.
Remember that no one has ever been turned down by a Board for being too boring. No exciting anecdotes, jokes, clever witticisms, or politics should intrude on your pleasant visit. They don’t need to be entertained or instructed, just to feel secure that you will be a quiet, rule abiding new neighbor.
Good luck!