Virtual job interviews aren't going away anytime soon. In fact, many hiring professionals have realized they present a few advantages to regular face-to-face interviews. Mostly, they cost a lot less and allow employers to interview more candidates on the same day. So, you better get used to having interviews over Zoom in the future.

Some people prefer this to a traditional job interview; others find them more challenging. Either way, you have to create a fantastic first impression during the call. Let's look at three simple steps to help you do just that:

Shower and prepare yourself

It's tempting, but don't roll out of bed and hop on a Zoom call straight away. You will not look presentable, and it seems as though you don't care about the job. Get up early and leave enough time to have a shower and prepare yourself. If you wear makeup, put some on so you feel more confident and awake. If you don't, then focus on making your hair look neat and getting rid of any signs of tiredness. You need to look like you've made an effort and are very alert!

Dress to impress

The advantage of Zoom interviews is that you only have to dress half of your body! The upper half is all that will be seen, so focus on dressing to impress. Wear smart clothing - the exact thing you'd wear to a regular job interview. Look at sites like www.eyeglasses.com to get some smart glasses as an accessory, and make sure you look very neat. Again, this gives a brilliant impression as you have clearly made a big effort. Imagine if you turned up wearing a hoodie or your pj's! The interviewer would instantly think you don't care about the job, so all of your answers are basically irrelevant. They made up their mind the instant you appeared on the screen!

Create a professional background

The background to your Zoom call can also influence your first impression. Being at home, it's common to see loads of junk and messiness behind you. When you're calling your friends or family, this doesn't matter. So, you become used to sitting in the same spot and not bothering to tidy up. If you have loads of mess in your background, the interviewer can be distracted. They can't help but notice all the disorganization behind you - it's off-putting. Instead, find somewhere in your house where there's a plain background behind you. If this means you need to tidy up, then do it. It ensures you present yourself as a professional that means business!

I think the main downside of virtual job interviews is that appearances play a more vital role. But, as you can see from these steps, it's not hard to create a good impression. Like I said in the introduction, it's time to get used to Zoom job interviews. They aren't disappearing, so you have to adapt if you want to further your career. As always, be sure you prepare your answers in advance and do a lot of research on the company hiring you. It's also beneficial to think of a few questions you can ask at the end - it shows you've put a lot of thought into the role!