Virtual Interview Tips – Angie H.

Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing well and staying safe. My name is Angie Huang and I am a second year PA student at the USC Primary Care Physician Assistant Program. I just finished my didactic year and I will be starting rotations in January 2021! I went to Northeastern University for my undergraduate in Boston, MA. I was a second time applicant, so please do not feel discouraged if you do not get accepted the first time. I utilized those rejections as fuel to work harder to get accepted the second time. Do not give up!

As a second year PA student, I had the privilege of interviewing PA student applicants alongside faculty via Zoom. I wanted to provide you all with some virtual interview tips that I think will be helpful during the interview process. First, I know this is simple but making sure your computer angle is either at or above eye level. It allows the interviewer to feel like they are talking directly to you and somewhat “making eye contact” with you. Likewise, even over video, I would be engaged and try to make eye contact with your camera. Additionally, I think smiling goes a long way. The purpose of interviewing is to get to know you as a person and not just your grades and your involvement on paper. The virtual platform may be more difficult to convey your personality, but I think it’s important to list three things you want your interviewer to know about you before the interview concludes. By the end of the interview, you want to ensure you have addressed those three things either through conversation, anecdotes, or closing remarks. It doesn’t necessarily have to be PA related. For example, my three things were my passion for dance, working with youth in low income communities, and my diverse experiences in different healthcare settings. Another important first step is ensuring you have a strong and stable internet connection. I would strongly recommend testing your Zoom connection with a friend or family member. Secondly, your attire should represent what you would wear in person which is usually business professional. In addition, I would make sure your desk is clear from any notes or notebooks. It is evident over video when an applicant is looking down or another direction. Therefore, I would practice with no notes and over Zoom with a friend or family member to mimic a real virtual interview. I would record your practice sessions and recognize any repetitive mannerisms or facial expressions that you may want to avoid on interview day. I would also recommend checking if your background is appropriate for the interview setting and to minimize any noise interruptions. During the beginning of the interview, I would check with the interviewer to make sure they can hear you clearly, especially if you are using headphones. Further, I would double-check the interview invite instructions and to make sure you are not logged on late. Most importantly, have fun and show your passion and determination to become a PA! Please feel free to reach out with any questions via Instagram @dancingthrupa_s Best of luck!