Oregon Tool Jobs

At Oregon Tool, Inc., Team Member and candidate health is a top priority. Due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, many of our employment interviews are being conducted virtually. This helps limit the spread of the virus while still getting to know one another.

If you are invited to participate in a virtual interview, we understand you may have questions about virtual interviewing and what this means for you in the hiring process. We are here to help.

What is virtual interviewing?

A virtual interview is essentially a video or phone conference.  For a video call, we use Microsoft Teams.  You will connect with us through a virtual (Teams) conference link that will be provided in your emailed interview invitation. This is still a formal interview that you are simply doing from the comfort of your own home via a laptop or mobile device.

How is this different from an in-person interview?

It isn’t really any different. This is still a formal interview. The only difference is the virtual conference technology we are using to connect and meet. Don’t let the technology prevent you from being yourself. We are in this together and we are working to facilitate great conversations with our candidates.

What type of technology will I need?

You’ll need a strong internet connection and a computer, laptop or mobile device. If you are invited to a video interview you will need to have a camera on your device. If you have concerns about your ability to participate due to technology issues or if you don’t have a device with a camera, please notify your recruiter as soon as possible. 

Remember that all smartphones and tablets have built in cameras that can be used to connect via video conference.

What if I need an accommodation?

Individuals with disabilities who are unable or limited in their ability to participate in virtual interviews may request reasonable accommodations by contacting their recruiter.

What do I do if I have technical issues when trying to connect to a video conference?

Typically, virtual interviews are easy to set up and conduct. If you are having technical issues, try to connect a couple of times. Sometimes a simple re-boot is all that is needed. If you continue to have issues, please reach out to the recruiter about what is happening.

Tips for a successful virtual video interview:

You should prepare for a virtual interview as you would any formal in-person interview, but here are some tips to get the most out of the opportunity. We understand that video interviewing might be new to you. If you come prepared, you’ll feel more confident and at-ease.

Get Connected: The most important preliminary step you need to take before your live video interview is to check your internet connection to make sure it’s not lagging. It’s tough to have a successful video interview if you’re on a faulty connection. Plan to sign into the video conference 10 minutes prior to the interview to check your connection and get familiar with the system.

Be Mindful of Lighting and Location: Take steps to put forth a clean, prepared and professional image.

• Pick a quiet location where you will not be interrupted during the interview.
• A stationary backdrop free of distraction is recommended.
• If you are using a laptop or mobile device, ensure it is fully charged.
• Light sources should be set up behind your webcam with the light shining toward your face.
• Ideally, the height of the webcam should be at eye level, positioned to show your head and shoulders.

Prepare: Prepping for video interviews is essentially no different from in-person interviews. Try not to lose sight of the fact that this is still a formal interview.

• Do your research on the company, the interviewer and the role.
• Prepare thoughtful and appropriate questions for the interview.
• Dress as you would for an in-person interview.

Be Yourself: Don’t let technology stand in the way of letting your personality show. In an in-person interview, you would converse casually and allow the interviewer to get to know you as a person.

• Focus on allowing your interviewer to get to know you and don’t get too distracted by the technology.
• Don’t use notes. It’s obvious if you look down to review your notes and it can cause gaps in your ability to focus and answer questions effectively.

Follow Up: Just as you would with any interview, thank the interviewer for the opportunity and follow up with a thoughtful thank you note if you are truly interested in pursuing the opportunity. In your note, reiterate why you are so interested in the job and why you are a great match for the company and the role.