By Communication Consultant Julia Mancuso (Finance, ’24)

HireVue is an online interview platform service that companies use to interview candidates for internships or full-time employment opportunities. Since the pandemic, companies adopted a hybrid approach, and HireVue has served as the perfect platform to deliver these online interviews to candidates.

When logging onto the platform (used best with Chrome or Firefox), you are prompted to test your computer software to make sure it is on the most up-to-date support system. There will be time to practice before starting the real interview, whether that includes checking your microphone and video, or running through practice prompts that employers will not see. 

So, what are some tips and tricks to tackle a Hirevue interview? If I could offer any advice, it would be to prepare! Know the company, know recent mergers and acquisitions, know what countries the company primarily operates in, in addition to any current events happening in the United States market.

After learning about the company, what do you say during the interview? What do you wear? During the interview, you want to connect both your professional and personal background to best fit the job description. Read over the job description before the interview and jot down keywords on a post-it note to stick to your computer or simply make a mental note. HireVue uses artificial intelligence that plays a huge role in the success of your interview. Artificial intelligence (AI) monitors the candidate’s eye contact, communication style, and poise, which is then translated into a numerical score from the video.

You should dress as professionally as if the interview is in person. Wear a business suit, and make sure that you have a plain background behind you, so that the video is highlighting you! Some companies specifically say that interviewers will be individually watching each recorded interview to give candidates a fair chance without any AI bias.

Overall, the flexibility of HireVue allows you the opportunity to be in the comfort of your own home at a time that is convenient for you – giving the best possible chance for a great interview. Like any candidate, talking to a computer screen can be a little awkward, but with practice and preparation many are able to perform with great success!

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

By Communication Consultant Xinyi Cui (Accounting and BIS, ’22)

Although you have prepared a lot before starting your first full-time job, is there anything you should try to avoid? As a rookie in a new environment, you wouldn’t want to do anything inappropriate or offend someone you don’t know well. Here are some common pitfalls to keep in mind: 

Avoid office politics or drama

It is not surprising that there’s the potential for a lot of gossip in the workplace. You may hear some complaints about someone in a casual chat, or learn about conflict or drama that happened in the office. However, it is recommended to stay away from those controversies to save time and energy. For example, when colleague A said something negative about colleague B, a good answer would be like “Sorry to hear that, hopefully you’ll figure it out soon. Is there anything I can help you with?”

Avoid isolating yourself

Some of us may be introverted and try to isolate ourselves to avoid relationship problems. But consider the “isolation expense.” According to Robert Greener who wrote The 48 Laws of Power, “Isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from — it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people, find allies, mingle.” This suggests that we should network and socialize with our colleagues, and actively keep ourselves updated on workplace news, instead of being passive and the last person to get noticed. 

Avoid offending others

It is fortunate if you develop good relationships with all your co-workers and please all your bosses and supervisors. Unfortunately, this is not true in most cases – even though you always try to be kind and helpful, you may still offend someone by mistake. But you definitely need to be careful with important people who affect your future, avoiding any actions that can put you in an unfavorable light or even derail your intended career path. 

Avoid excessive chattiness

It is not a bad thing if you are communicative, but sometimes excessive chattiness can bring you trouble. As a result, it is suggested to do a quick reflection and answer the question: “Am I saying this because I just want to be heard or am I saying this because it needs to be said?” Obviously, the former is unnecessary and it’s better to avoid that. 

Avoid complaining too much

A lot of problems can arise in the workplace and may feel stressful, tedious, or annoying to deal with. There’s nothing wrong with bringing those problems to weekly meetings or directly to your supervisors. However, before doing that, it’s better to take an extra step and think from the audience’s point of view. Bosses or supervisors don’t want to hear unproductive complaints – instead they want to hear solutions and approaches to resolve the problem as soon as possible. So it is better to be prepared with the problem as well as its corresponding solution. 

Avoid being dogmatic

There are a lot of guides on preparing for full-time jobs, but we shouldn’t be dogmatic and rigidly adhere to all guides. Everyone should assess their own situation and risks, and be flexible with the solutions they choose. Remember: these are not strict rulebooks, just some common tips! 

I would highly recommend you read my previous article, Advice for Starting a Full-time Job, and have a look at some tips on what you can prepare. Also, feel free to email us or leave your comments!

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

Works Cited:

Vaiana, D. (2019, June 25). Starting a New Job or Internship? Here Are 10 Important Dos and Don’ts. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from College Info Geek website: https://collegeinfogeek.com/starting-a-new-job/ 

By Communication Consultant Xinyi Cui (Accounting and BIS, ’22)

As a senior, I always ask the interviewer one question: “What are your expectations for new hires?” Some interviewers really love this type of question and they are happy to share advice with students to help them perform well when they start their jobs. Do you also have this question and are nervous about starting your full-time job? Here are some tips for preparing yourself for a full-time job! 

Take initiative and be proactive 

Companies love new hires because students that just graduated from college bring “new blood” and fresh ideas into the workplace. To meet this expectation, it is important to understand problems quickly and then suggest new approaches. Do not hesitate when you have new ideas because good supervisors appreciate employees’ assertiveness. However, it is important to make sure your thoughts are organized and easy to understand from the audience’s point of view. It is also suggested to take on additional responsibilities when you are not currently assigned any tasks. This action can show your desire to own responsibilities and learn new things. Try to avoid a logic trap of “this is not my job.”

Manage your time

Your working environment may be fast paced and overwhelming, so excellent time management skills are a necessity. Here are some helpful reminders:

• Use sticky notes or apps to organize your tasks before starting the day.
• Finish small tasks as soon as possible and use brief portions of time wisely, like responding to client emails in a timely manner.
• Do not panic when you have multiple tasks – prioritize them and finish each one by one.
• Never hesitate to ask for help from colleagues or supervisors; your team is there to support you.

Ask the right questions and listen

There are some common questions you need to ask in a company orientation or before you start your job. The answers to these questions help you better understand the workflow and avoid unproductive efforts in advance. These questions can also leave a good impression with your coworkers as you demonstrate your ambition to improve upon your predecessors. 

• How can I best use my time here?
• Who should I reach out to for questions and concerns?
• Are there any common mistakes that I should avoid? What mistakes did previous employees make?
• Where can I improve?
• When you were in this position, what did you learn? 

Manage your emotions

It is natural to feel nervous, excited, anxious, or tense when first entering the workplace because we all want to outperform in our first job and avoid any embarrassing mistakes. However, these tendencies can lead to panic and perfectionism, whereas Murphy’s law states, “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” Strong emotions do tend to increase the probability of mistakes. You may feel that you are at center stage, but this is an illusion – where, in fact, others are worried about their own tasks and deadlines. So it’s better to take a deep breath and relax. There are some good practices you can use to manage your emotions, like meditation, yoga and regular exercise. Stay calm and always remember that mistakes are perfect learning opportunities! 

Research your company 

Although you are not expected to know everything about the company before your start date, it doesn’t hurt to do research on the work environment. Some possible research topics are dress code, company structure, and so forth. Resources can be found on your company’s website, blog posts, press releases, social media platforms, and most importantly from current or previous employees and interns. Lehigh has a large alumni network so you should never hesitate to contact alumni who are working or have worked at your company – they would love to help! 

Develop a career strategy

Just like your business college curriculum, it is suggested to develop a career roadmap when starting your first job. You can ask for advice from your mentors or other employees in the company, and then plan your future with the following questions: 

• What is your five year goal?
• Where do you want to be at this time next year? 
• How can you accomplish your short-term goal in the following months? 
  • What are some actions you can take or avoid?
• How can you build up your network? What kind of social events can you attend? 
• Have you met your goals and accomplished your plans? 

An appropriate plan will keep you committed to your goals and improve your career decision-making. Also don’t forget to regularly assess your progress so you stay on track, either independently or with someone like a mentor, friend, or coworker. 

What are your thoughts about these tips? Do you have any questions or suggestions about starting your first job? You are welcome to email us or leave your comments!

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

Works Cited:

Vaiana, D. (2019, June 25). Starting a New Job or Internship? Here Are 10 Important Dos and Don’ts. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from College Info Geek website: https://collegeinfogeek.com/starting-a-new-job/