TIPS FOR ACING AN ONLINE JOB INTERVIEW

Online interviews can seem daunting as there's not much physical interactions and its difficult to read body language. However, there are certain steps you can take to ensure that you succeed in acing your virtual job interview.

HOW ARE VIRTUAL JOB INTERVIEWS DIFFERENT?

Job interviews have always been daunting for employees of all experience levels and doing it online doesn't make it easier. ( Actually it does, as there's no commuting and looking for offices and people and you control your own environment, but that's besides the point.)

Not only do you face potential connection issues or tech problems, but it can be harder to read someone virtually. You will have to change some of the things you think about during the interview. You may find the format is different as well. Depending on the type of online interview you are participating in, there are some instances where you are just recording your answers instead of conversing with a live person on the other end. This can be stressful for some candidates. Just remember that being brave enough to take the plunge and show initiative during an unfamiliar interview process is already a positive step in the right direction!

Going through an online job interview for the first time can be scary, so here are 15 tips to help you succeed:

1. DO A TEST-RUN WITH YOUR COMPUTER

Interviews are stressful so to alleviate some of that stress make sure your tools are in order. Do some practice runs with a friend or colleague using Zoom, Skype etc. This way you are testing your camera and audio as well as practicing your interview.

Once you’re comfortable with the program you’ll be using, it’s a good idea to test your internet connection and be sure to find an area with sufficient lighting so that those conducting the interview can see you clearly.

Pro Tip: Before logging on, ask the interviewer what the format is. Here are a few questions to ask to make sure you’re prepared:

Is it an audio interview or both audio and video?

Is there someone on the other end of the video or are the questions pre-recorded?

If they are pre-recorded, how many chances do I get to record my answer?

What do I do or who do I call if I start having technical difficulties?

Platforms like Zoom and Skype are pretty user-friendly, but it helps to feel familiar with the interface before you do the actual interview. #interview

2. PICK THE PERFECT SPOT FOR LIGHTING

Make sure it isn’t too dark but also stay away from overhead lights during the interview, if you can. If possible, try to settle down near a window with your face towards the light. You always want to put your best foot (or in this case, face) forward!

Lighting Dos:

Natural (window) light is best because it gives the best (most accurate) color.

Turn off any overhead lights if you are able to sit by a window because they will add a yellow or blue tint (depending on the kind of bulb).

Light on your face will highlight your eyes and facial features.

Lighting Don’ts:

Lighting from above or behind will cause strange shadows on your face and a frizz halo out of your hair.

Lighting from behind or the side will cause a glare, making it difficult for the interviewer to see you.

Lighting from behind or the side can also cause a glare on your screen and make it hard for you to see the interviewer!

Pro Tip: Scope out a good spot to conduct your online meeting the day before to make sure you’re not rushing around before the interview. Make sure you have a stable table for your laptop. You don’t want it bouncing around or wobbling during the interview. You may need to use a box to lift the laptop up so that it gets from just below your shoulders to just above your head for a perfectly framed interview shot. If you are using a tablet or smartphone, use a device tripod to hold it steady.

3. FORGO VIRTUAL BACKGROUNDS

You may feel tempted to pick out a cute background on the platform, but don’t! Backgrounds are distracting and unprofessional for a first-time meeting. In fact, you want to choose the most professional area of your home for the interview—feel free to stage it just for the interview!

Pro Tip: Once you’ve identified the places that offer the best lighting, you will want to carefully examine the backgrounds to choose the best spot. Remove any clutter. Avoid odd things in the background like a bed or toilet. It may seem obvious, but sometimes people just don’t really think about the first impression their home is making.

Books can make you look smart, tactful home décor can give the appearance of being put together and artsy pieces in the background can make you look cultured. A blank wall is even acceptable because it keeps the focus on you.

4. REMOVE DISTRACTIONS 

Silence anything that could interfere with your conversation, including your phone and email notifications on your computer. It is rude to be interrupted during an interview unless you have an emergency situation that your potential employer is already going to be aware of.

Pro Tip: Make sure no one else is around when you are completing your interview, including pets. Interviewers have seen cats walk across the computer screen and close the session, half-clothed people walking across the room in the background or hear children screaming in the next room. Don’t jeopardize your career by not being prepared! If you can’t ensure people aren’t going to interrupt you, it might be best to either take your interview to another location or make sure your roommates (or family) can plan to be gone for the day.

5. LOG ON EARLY AND TEST SETUP

Being on time is really being about 10 minutes early. For a virtual, first-time interview, you may want to make sure you are ready to go 15-20 minutes early. If this sounds like a lot, just remember: In a normal interview, you would probably be getting ready, driving, parking and finding the right room before the interview.

In this situation, setting up the computer and logging in is essentially the parking part of your interview process. Make sure everything works and then you can hang out until about 5-10 minutes before the scheduled time.

Pro Tip: ALWAYS act like your interviewer can hear and see everything you are doing. Getting in the habit of feeling “watched” during the session will help you not do something strange because you forget people are in the room or don’t realize your camera is on. From the moment you log in until the moment you close the screen, just assume they can hear and see everything.

6. SIT UP AND DRESS PROFESSIONALLY 

Even though you’re not meeting your interviewer in person, make sure to dress for success and sit up straight. First impressions matter and your appearance can really make or break yours.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to smile! Whether you are talking to an actual person or recording your answers, smile the way you would during an in-person interview. Wear clothes that are flattering and fit the job you are interviewing for. When in doubt, dress up rather than dress down (especially for virtual interviews!).

Not only will sitting up and smiling make you look more professional and engaged—they will actually help you feel more powerful and energetic! Good posture makes you feel more confident, puts you in a better mood and communicates openness.

7. CALM YOUR NERVES 

Practice your main talking points if you’re nervous and remember to slow down—it can be easy to talk over people on online calls. You may need to be slightly louder and more emphatic than you would be in person, since the screen is going to reduce a little bit of the impact you would have in person.

Pro Tip: Even though this particular interview is hosted online, don’t forget to review your traditional interview skills. You’ll want to have answers prepared to some of the more common interview questions and examples in case they ask for specifics.

Before the interview, try standing in power poses to channel your nerves into feel-good energy. Science has shown that these poses can help you think on the go and perform well under stress.

8. LOOK YOUR INTERVIEWER IN THE "EYE" 

In the online environment, eye contact is important—even though it isn’t true eye contact.

Instead of looking at the person on the screen, look directly into the webcam and stay engaged. It can be tricky to look at the camera when you see a person on the screen. But, looking at the screen will make you look like you are staring down (since screens are usually below cameras).

If you’ve taken a selfie before, then you probably know the deal. But, somehow, video is harder.

Pro Tip: If you are uncomfortable, put a picture of someone you know up by the webcam. This way, you feel as though you're chatting with a friend. If you have a webcam on a stand, you can even place it in front of the person’s face to make this a little easier.

9. LISTEN CAREFULLY 

It’s easy to miss something important during an interview. It’s also sometimes very difficult to interrupt without an embarrassing mess of overlapping sound bytes.

Avoid weird situations by jotting down keywords or short reminder phrases if you want to remember a point or circle back to ask a question. Try not to let your note-taking interfere with the flow of the interview. If you do miss something that was said, make sure you ask.

Pro Tip: Sometimes devices have speakers that don’t get very loud. You may want to consider connecting your laptop to external speakers or even headphones to get clearer sound. If you have any gaming or podcasting microphones, using one could really improve the quality of your voice for the call.

10. USE ENGAGED BODY LANGUAGE

Similar to the power poses, using engaged body language during the interview is going to help you answer with confidence and energy. Even if the call is just over the phone, the right posture will help you sound more friendly, open and sure of yourself.

On the flip side, slouching can cause you to feel tired and want to be done. Crossing your arms or your legs will look like you aren’t fully engaged and can actually cause a kind of mental block that makes it hard to really take in the information.

Pro Tip: Make sure you are sitting up straight with your shoulders back and head up. This is something you will want to practice when you are getting your spot picked out. Make sure that your computer or camera is positioned at eye level, so you don’t have to lean over or duck down to get in the frame. You may need to place it on a box or stand to get it to the perfect height.

11. DON'T RELY ON NOTES

While you might take a few notes of your own during the interview, don’t write down a list of things you want to say. Too many notes will be awkward and make the interview seem forced.

Pro Tip: You won’t want to have detailed notes, but you will want to have a few questions jotted down so you are prepared. You may even include some stats or competitor notes that you saw in your research.

Don’t feel like you need to rush into answers. Give yourself a second or two to breathe before answering the questions. Not only will the short pause give you a second to organize your thoughts, it will ensure you aren’t cutting in on top of the interviewer. Remember, when you are nervous, you are more likely to go faster than when you are comfortable, so slow it down!

12. BE YOURSELF 

You want to come across as genuine and authentic during an interview. This is your opportunity to express yourself off paper. Your resume already got your foot in the door, now you get to show who you are as an individual.

Being overly stiff is a pretty common response to nerves. Try to loosen up your mindset and take cues from your interviewer. When you choose your outfit for the meeting, for example, try to dress professionally without squashing your personal style.

Pro Tip: Knowing who you are as a professional is really important. Stop and think deeply about your personal strengths, weaknesses and traits. You can even make a list ahead of time to get your thoughts organized. These are likely going to be questions asked during the interview anyways. When you have a better feel for what you want to communicate, you’ll be better enabled to let your strengths naturally shine through.

13. MAKE A CONNECTION 

Nerves may make you naturally focus on yourself. Knowing that is probably going to be the case, make sure you pay special attention to the interviewer. Try to pick up on cues from him or her—making a personal connection over interests, hobbies or even the weather can help you start building that professional relationship.

Pro Tip: Just like you thought about your background, the interviewer may have as well. You might be able to spot something of interest behind their desk. You may prefer to talk about the weather.

14. WRITE DOWN 5 QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND

Prepare by doing some research on the company and industry. Try to think of five good questions that aren’t about salary or benefits (you can have those, too, but they are too easy. They don’t let the interviewer know you’ve done your homework and your serious about the job.)

You want to think up five in case some of them are naturally answered along the way. Most interviewers ask at the end if you have questions and having two or three questions to ask will show you’ve put thought into this.

Pro Tip: Ask questions that show you would be an engaged and valuable member on the team, ready to get to work as soon as you are hired.

15. FOLLOW UP AFTERWARD 

Showing your interest and dedication can go a long way in convincing a hiring manager you are the right person for the job. While you don’t want to be aggressive, desperate or obnoxious, you don’t want to come off as passive, apathetic or lackadaisical either!

Before the interview is over, ask when they will likely get back to you. If they don’t get back to you by the named day, try waiting another day or two before reaching out.

Always follow up with a brief thank you a few days after the interview. Reassert how interested you are in the position and how much you appreciated their time.

Pro Tip: Most of the time, sending an email is going to be the best way to connect with an employer because it is less demanding—they can read it in their free time. Keep your contact short and include how much you appreciated interviewing with them. Don’t use a generic boilerplate email. Personalize your “thank you” follow-up so that you come off as genuine.

BONUS TIP

Bottom line: Don’t stress too much! Online conferences are commonly used in the first round of candidate interviews because they save the company time and money. They help level the playing field for applicants. The good news is that there is (more than likely) going to be an in-person interview in the next round, giving you the chance to meet your prospective employer in person.

And the best part of an online interview? You don’t need to worry about a firm handshake!

Finding schools for your kids in Saudi Arabia

So, you've managed to find a job, gone through the family visa process, found a home and a car and now you need to get your kids into a school. 

Schools in Saudi are basically of 2 kinds, the international and the local schools. Most expats will opt for the international schools because of the language barrier. These schools are all English medium schools using the UK or US schooling curriculums, whereas the local schools are Arabic based. Most international schools will have foreign teachers and are quite intensive, with heavy workloads and lots of emphasis on homework. However, the schools are usually well equipped and most have international accreditation which means that if you return home one day your kids will not be at a loss. Some are obviously better than others and because there are hundreds of schools and no one knows them all, I would advise anyone interested to contact people in the area to find out more.

Schooling in Saudi Arabia can be quite expensive so shop around. The average school fees could be anything from Sr15000 to SR100000 a year. But to be honest I've seen some cheap ones and some expensive ones, and the differences are usually cosmetic, like nicer premises and facilities, so don't be fooled into thinking more expensive is better.

Another factor to consider is logistics as transport is getting more expensive by the day. Most schools offer transportation, but this also comes at a cost so check before you sign anything. Maybe try and find a school close to your home or work as this will help in case of emergencies.

As for the local schools...……. Up until last year, I had a very negative impression of them. Most people I spoke to had horror stories to tell. In retrospect, very few of them had actual firsthand experience so I should not have listened, but what can I say, I'm a sucker. This year my impression has changed, and this is why.

Let me start with the backstory first. My family is a homeschooled family. I have 4 older kids that have all been homeschooled by my genius wife Farieda. They are all girls and are close in age and only the youngest is still in school (her last year though), the others are at university. However, a few years ago my son was born. My god, boys are something else though lol. In any case, he is much younger than his sisters and has no one to play with so we decided to put him in school. 

Please understand that the only reason we sent him to school was to play as his education would still continue at home. Therefore, when we went out looking for a school, our only focus was on finding a place where he would be treated well and have friends to play with.

So, the beginning of the year, we went to an international school in our area, but when we came there, we didn't like the atmosphere and left. FYI, we could only do this because we didn't really need the school. On the way home my wife suggested I go to the local school which was in our street and only 2 minutes away from our home. Because of my negative attitude I didn't really want to, but my wife insisted I try. Remember, these schools have male and female only schools so my wife couldn't enter.

So, Abdul Kareem (my son) and I went inside, first of all no one spoke any English and I mean not even a little but that was the only negative thing I experienced. Without speaking any English these guys made us feel at home , and the school inside was fantastic, clean with all the modern bells and whistles. They made us feel welcome and one of the teachers took Abdul Kareem (AK) for a walk and showed him the school while the rest tried to help me. They were so easy going and they immediately registered him online and told me to bring him the next day. Everything was also free, including the transport.

It's been a few months now and AK is settled in the school. He's starting to speak a little Arabic and has made a few friends. He also loves his teacher, Abu Talieb (who doesn't speak a word of English). I'm not saying there hasn't been challenges, especially with the language, but luckily his mom is capable of helping with his Arabic studies too. I honestly wouldn't recommend this for everybody as you need a solid support system to fill in the educational gaps. As expats we have to prepare our kids for life back home as eventually, we will have to return. But if you are in a similar position to mine, maybe this could work for you too.

Job sites for Saudi Arabia

 

Saudi Arabia is an amazing country that is safe, diverse and quite profitable. Its very family orientated with lots on emphasis on family fun and facilities. However, once again I digress. The point of this article is to help you find a job, so let's get into that.

So, you have decided that, hey I wanna go an explore the desert and are thinking, where do I start? The answer is simple. Look at what jobs are available and see if you match the criteria.

Below is a selection of resources for searching for employment opportunities as a foreigner in Saudi Arabia.

General Job Search Engines and Classifieds

• Gulf Talent: Lots of good quality, professional jobs.

• Bayt: One of the top job search websites in the Middle East.

• Monster Gulf: The Monster job search brand has been around since pretty much the dawn of the internet era.

• Career Jet: I am sure you have heard of Career Jet. They have job search options for Saudi Arabia.

• Indeed: The Saudi version of the big U.S. job search site Indeed.com.

• Naukri:  This site is chock full of job postings.

• Learn 4 Good:  Tends to be geared towards teaching jobs but has jobs in other sectors.

 

Teaching English sites

Teaching English might be an option (if you are a native English speaker that is). All of the sites below are pretty similar and have a massive amount of teaching English job options. Browse through each of the sites for any English job opportunities in Saudi Arabia. Also, be sure to check out this cool table from the International TEFL academy that shows how much money teachers can expect to make in various countries around the world.

·         ESL Employment: Not the most beautiful interface, but who needs a pretty website when you have so many English teaching job options to choose from.

·         Total ESL: Also an overly busy interface but a wealth of job postings for teaching jobs abroad.

·         ESL Cafe: Dave does a great job in compiling some of the best job openings from around the world.

·         Tesall: Big teaching jobs aggregator.

·         Footprints Recruiting: One of the largest ESL teaching recruiters in the game.

·          Serious Teachers: This also an oldie but quite good.

Other Websites and Blogs

·         Expat Exchange: 10 Tips for Living in Saudi Arabia.

·         Transitions Abroad: Transitions Abroad has a really comprehensive list for anyone considering becoming an expatriate in Saudi Arabia.

·          

Overseas and Expat Job Portals

·         eFinancialCareers: My favorite search engine for finance jobs on the web. 

·         Overseas Jobs:  I find that there is often significant overlap between the postings on this site and that of other sites. Nevertheless this site has been around for a while.

·         Go Abroad: I’ve always been a fan of GoAbroad. 

·         Linkedin: Last but not least, this huge professional social network is a resource for building contacts in the field and location of your interest.

There you have it. The best places to find jobs in Saudi Arabia as a foreigner. For information on Saudi Arabia, be sure to check out From the Cape to the desert page.

How to find accommodation in Saudi

Saudi Arabia is governed by strict laws therefore, it is important to have the right information when looking for a place to live. Most expats will live in apartments in the city or in compounds, so this article focuses on these 2.

The first one we'll discuss is apartments. These are usually easy to find with different sizes and conditions all over the city. They can be much cheaper than a compound, so if you are on a budget or trying to save for that new home or car, this is where you want to be.

How to find apartments in a new city.

The first option is to look online like expats.com etc. This is a popular classifieds website where you can find furniture, services, housing etc. You could also try social media, there are usually groups for each city where you can find a lot of information. However, if you are new here you might not have the contacts or the knowledge to know the good areas, so in this case I'd suggest going to a real estate agent (Aqaar). 

These agents have small offices all over the cities and will have listings of all available properties. Unfortunately, the only issue is many of them do not speak English so take someone with you to negotiate. They will take you around to look at apartments and If you like any of their offerings, you can immediately sign a deal. All contracts have to be registered through the government platform called Ejar and the agent will do it all for you. The whole process only take a few minutes and you can immediately move in.

Apartment sizes are usually decent but the conditions vary so always try before you buy. Don't trust pictures so if you can’t check it yourself ask someone you trust to do so or at least ask for a video. FYI The cheaper your apartment the more carte blanche you have to make changes. 

I remember early on in my career, I was on a very tight budget and rented a very old apartment. During my stay there I overhauled the bathroom and the kitchen (this can be quite cheap if you do your homework). I obviously first got permission from the owner before starting my renovations. I got to pay a cheaper rent and now had a nice apartment.

Rent like anywhere in the world varies by location, however a very important point to remember is rent is usually paid in 6 months or yearly instalments. So if your apartment is advertised for Sr40000, it means you will have to cough up at least SR20000 before moving in. However, one thing you learn in KSA is that almost everything is up for negotiations, and I've know some agents who would allow 3 months installments too. People are quite sympathetic here so if you can convince the agent or the owner, then anything is possible.

A basic 2 bedroom apartment in the big cities can start from SR20000 up to SR60000. The utilities also vary but water bills are usually quite low and electricity is fair. Internet connections are easy to arrange, stable and not too expensive. I currently have a 200mb unlimited fiber optic line that costs around SR350 per month. 

The next option is compounds. These are gated communities with lots of in-house facilities, like swimming pools, squash courts, restaurants etc. They are obviously convenient as all the facilities are on your doorstep and are especially popular for families as there are places for kids to play all around. Most neighbors will also be fellow expats, so connecting is much easier.

How to find compounds.

The same rules apply as with the apartments, but the better compounds actually have websites where you can make enquiries and see pictures and videos. I would still advise to ask someone to have a look before you sign anything as pictures can be deceiving.

The rental procedures are also the same as for apartments but the rent can be anything from SR50000 up to Sr200000 a year.

Even after writing all this information I would strongly advise anyone new to find some help before trying to rent anything. Use your social media to connect with fellow expats in the area you'll be going to. As a whole, most expats would gladly help any newbie and could save you a considerable amount time, money and anxiety.

This information will definitely change after a while as things in KSA are quite fluid so PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT,