Zoom Fatigue: zaps energy & dulls your interview shine.

Why video calls are so draining 

Stamford University have discovered four main reasons that may be contributing to your exhaustion:

1. Eye contact – Within a zoom call, everyone is looking at everyone and often faces appear much larger than they are in real life. Our brains are designed to interpret this as a situation that could lead to conflict, meaning zoom calls can put us in a state of high alert.
2. Seeing yourself – Constantly having to see your own reflection staring back at you can lead to a range of negative emotions including making you more self-critical.
3. Reduction Mobility – video chats keep us in one spot for a long time which can degrade our mental performance.
4. Increased cognitive load – video chats can put additional demand on the brain that is not usually experienced during a "real life" face to face conversation. We need to exaggerate our social cues and work harder to interpret the cues of others which all chews up mental calories.

How to combat Zoom Fatigue

So, how can you mitigate the worst of these fatiguing forces. According to experts:

1. Where possible, reduce the size of your zoom window and leave space between your face and the screen.
2. Hide your own zoom window to avoid the distraction of looking at yourself.
3. Turn your camera off completely every so often to give yourself a break.
4. Finally, if a phone call will suffice, consider having an audio only catch-up.

Don’t let Zoom Fatigue dull your interview shine 

Presenting your ‘best self’ during a video interview can be particularly challenging. 

The barrier of technology can make it difficult to form a genuine connection with a prospective employer. The ability to translate through screen can hinder your chances of making a positive impression, particularly if you fall prey to any technology difficulties, have unintended background noise or a much-loved pet makes an unplanned appearance. 

Avoid falling victim to some of the more common virtual faux pas and perform at your best at interview, by following these tips for a successful job interview video: 

• Set-up any new software required and check that your tech is working well. Log in ahead of time, do a sound check, and sit somewhere quiet with a stable internet connection. As with any interview... be early, not late. 
• Avoid distractions by placing your phone on silent. Turn off notifications and close any unnecessary programs on your computer. 
• Use a blurred or professional background and avoid busy patterned clothing which can look distracting on screen. 
• Ensure you can be clearly seen and heard. Good lighting makes a big difference – sit near a window or if the room is dark use a desk lamp to project more light onto your face. 
• Position your web-cam at eye height and look directly into the camera when talking to help simulate eye contact. While listening, you can look at the screen to pick-up visual cues from your interviewers. 
• Focus on facial gestures as most of your body language will be hidden from view. You may need to dial-up your energy levels a little to help overcome the barriers of technology. 
• Don’t panic if things go wrong. Instead, think of this as an opportunity to demonstrate your resilience and problem-solving skills. Get back-up contact details for your interviewer so that you can continue the interview by other means. 

Bo Campbell is a Senior Consultant at The Next Step, based in Sydney with over 12 years’ experience in both the Sydney and Melbourne market. Bo specialises in the Mid to Senior HR space.