Distractions That Derail Your Virtual Interview (and How to Avoid Them)

Doing a virtual interview definitely has its perks. You’re in the comfort of your own space, you’re more likely to be available for last-minute requests, and you can do a virtual interview without having to rearrange your entire day. But no matter how prepared you are, or how much of a subject-matter expert you may be, one thing can instantly derail your virtual interview.

Any guesses? Bueller?… BUELLER?

Your smartphone.

A study from the University of Texas at Austin found that the mere presence of a smartphone reduces cognitive capacity and impairs focus, even when the phone is turned off. And during an interview, you need every bit of mental clarity to stay sharp, present, and on message.

Simply turning your phone off or placing it face down isn’t enough. As a media trainer, I advise clients to remove the phone from the room entirely. Eliminating the distraction helps you stay fully engaged in the moment. The same rule applies to desktop notifications. Turn those notifications off completely. One ping from Teams or a quick email preview can be all it takes to hijack your attention. Your brain can’t process that alert and craft a thoughtful response at the same time. Even if you think you can do both (spoiler: you probably can’t), the reporter and audience can tell when your eyes drift off-screen. And that’s not the impression that gets you invited back.

One of the worst times to get caught up in an off-interview distraction is when you are part of a panel of experts all participating in an interview simultaneously. You need to be in tuned with what everyone is saying so that when it comes to you, your response can be thoughtful, engaging, and build on what others have said.

At Creo Communications, we help clients anticipate and avoid the pitfalls that can throw an interview off course so every message lands exactly as intended.

Reach out to us today to schedule your personalized media training.

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