June 21st 2024.
During a Zoom call, have you ever wondered where you should be looking? Despite the lifting of lockdowns, virtual job interviews remain a popular mode of recruiting. Some people find it convenient to have the ability to place notes on their screen without anyone noticing, while others dread the technical issues and awkwardness that can arise during these interviews. But did you know that there is a simple trick that can greatly improve your chances of landing the job?
A study conducted by researchers from Hiroshima University in Japan revealed that where you look during an online interview can greatly impact how you are evaluated. The researchers recruited 12 students to act as interviewees, some of whom were instructed to look directly at the web camera while others looked at the screen, which is what most of us tend to do. The interviews were then evaluated by 38 full-time workers who were presented with three different groups: those who looked at the screen, those who looked at the camera, and those who were audio only. The evaluators had six criteria to consider when scoring the interviews: intimacy, social desirability, general job abilities, decisiveness, cooperativeness, and overall hireability.
The results of the study showed that candidates who maintained eye contact with the camera were evaluated more positively than those who looked at the screen. In fact, the researchers found that those who looked down at the screen were even more negatively evaluated than those who were only heard and not seen. The researchers explain that although it can be difficult to establish genuine eye contact online, looking into the camera can create a similar sense of connection with the interviewer.
Interestingly, the study also revealed a gender bias, where female evaluators were more critical of candidates who had their gaze directed downwards. This finding could have real-life implications for job seekers. Co-author Dr. Masahiro Shinya advises, "The key takeaway from our study is the negative impact of skewed gaze on evaluation in the context of online job interviewing: do NOT keep your eyes on the screen."
So, what does this mean for job seekers? It is recommended that you start the interview by looking directly at the camera. This "mutual gaze" can establish a sense of trust and credibility with the evaluator. Dr. Noriko Yamane, another researcher and co-first author of the study, explains that the ultimate goal is to develop guidelines and tools that can enhance visual attention in video conferencing, leading to better interaction and fairer evaluations in remote settings.
However, it should be noted that maintaining eye contact with the camera is not a guaranteed way to secure the job. Other factors will also play a role. But for now, it seems that keeping your eyes on the camera during an online interview could greatly improve your chances of success.
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