There was a time when most of our learning and job searching was done in person.  The presence of virtual and online communication for meetings, interviews, and classrooms has been around in some form since the 1970s and became an essential part of our lives in the 2020s. We have had many family celebrations, important business meetings, classroom sessions, and interviews through one of the “meeting” platforms available to us.

The hope is that we are slowly resuming our in-person presence, but we must be careful not to become too casual during our virtual experiences. We need to maintain professionalism during all communication. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Test your technology in advance.
  • Sign in early.
  • Dress professionally.
  • Prepare your notes and/or questions in advance.
  • Make eye contact.
  • Speak clearly.
  • Listen actively.
  • Show engagement by smiling and nodding.
  • Sit up straight; don’t fidget.
  • Concentrate on being yourself.

If this is a job interview, send an email within 24 hours thanking the interviewer for their time and further expressing your interest in the position.

If this is a classroom, follow up with any questions for the facilitator and lean in to the topic by not allowing yourself to get distracted.

Virtual communication is here to stay!  Being successful in presenting yourself professionally both in person and on screen is an important skill in today’s world.