The Job Interview

Marco had prepared carefully for his online job interview. He had researched the company, written notes about his previous experience and chosen a quiet room. Fifteen minutes before the call, he tested the camera and microphone. Everything appeared to work.

At ten o'clock, the interviewer joined the video meeting and greeted him. Marco smiled and began to answer, but she shook her head. “Sorry, I can't hear you.” He tried again, louder this time, although he could see that his microphone icon was active.

For a few seconds he felt embarrassed. Then he remembered that speaking louder wouldn't solve a technical problem. He typed a short message in the chat: “My microphone isn't working. Could you give me a minute to check the settings?” The interviewer replied that it was fine.

Marco checked the cable and then opened the sound settings. The meeting software was using the laptop's built-in microphone, which had been turned off. He selected his headset instead. “Can you hear me now?” he asked. “Perfectly,” she said.

The interview continued. When the interviewer later asked how he handled unexpected problems, Marco gave an example from his last job and briefly mentioned the microphone problem. He explained that he tried to communicate clearly before looking for a solution. After the call, he didn't know whether he would get the job. He did know that he had managed a difficult start without giving up.