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• Have key accomplishments and metrics at your fingertips. Depending on the position, this might include:

• The size of the budget you managed

• The number of employees or direct reports you supervised

• The size of the largest gift you solicited

• Campaign or fundraising results

• Revenue generated or goals achieved

• Significant initiatives you led or projects you completed
  
  

Specific examples and measurable results make your experience much more compelling.

Respect the Clock
Even if the conversation feels informal, remember that the recruiter has limited time. Be thoughtful and concise in your responses. Long, meandering answers can work against you by limiting the interviewer’s opportunity to learn about you and your opportunity to ask questions and evaluate whether the organization is right for you.

Answer the question, provide a relevant example, and then let the conversation move forward.

Set the Stage
Find a quiet, professional place for your Zoom interview. Take a moment to look at what will appear behind you on camera. An unmade bed, cluttered room, or bedroom setting can immediately create an unfavorable impression.

And please, don’t take the interview from your car!

Choose a time and location where you can focus without interruptions. Barking dogs and cats on your lap may be adorable, but they can quickly become distractions during an interview.

Check Your Technology
A few minutes before the call, test your microphone and camera. Make sure you know whether you are muted or unmuted, and check the name displayed on your Zoom screen. If the account belongs to someone else or displays an inappropriate name, change it before the interview begins.

Technical issues happen, but taking a few minutes to prepare can prevent avoidable distractions.

Dress for the Interview
Even if the recruiter tells you the call is simply an “informal introduction,” dress professionally and appropriately for the position. Your attire communicates that you take the opportunity seriously.

Make Eye Contact
During the conversation, look directly into your device’s camera rather than at your own image or the interviewer’s video window. It may feel unnatural at first, but looking at the camera creates the impression of direct eye contact and helps you appear confident and engaged.

Be Engaged and Positive
Stay focused, attentive, and upbeat throughout the conversation. Listen carefully to the questions and demonstrate genuine interest in the opportunity. Remember that a recruiter is evaluating more than your qualifications, they are also assessing how you communicate, how you build relationships, and how you might represent an organization.

Leave a Strong Impression
This particular position may ultimately not be the right fit and that’s okay. Every interaction with a recruiter is an opportunity to build a relationship.

A strong interview can keep you at the top of a recruiter’s list for future opportunities that may be an even better match. Remember, too, that your placement is a reflection of the recruiter and the search firm. Recruiters want to recommend candidates who will represent them well.

So, even when the Zoom call is described as “casual,” show up prepared, professional, and engaged. You never know where a good first impression may lead.

Lambert & Associates, LLC is a women owned and operated executive search firm dedicated to the nonprofit sector, founded in 1996 and headquartered in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm partners with boards, executive leaders, and search committees across a nationwide client base to identify, contact, screen, and hire exceptional senior-level professionals spanning the full spectrum of nonprofit management.