About five years ago, Susan T. helped launch Caterpillar’s Virtual Recruiting Team to support Early Talent recruiting for Engineering. This innovative team leverages technology to engage with and assess applicants from schools where we don’t have an on-campus presence. The result? A broader, more diverse candidate pool.
Drawing from Susan’s 28 years of experience with Caterpillar, here are her team’s top tips to help you shine in your next virtual interview.
1. First Impressions Start with Your Setup
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Turn your camera on: We will have ours on! It helps make the experience feel more like meeting in person.
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Test your tech: Check your camera and mic beforehand. Headphones are fine and can reduce background noise. Make sure you speak clearly into the microphone.
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Double-check lighting: Make sure your face is well-lit and clearly visible.
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Dress the part: Dress professionally and appropriately for the role you’re interviewing for, even for a virtual interview. A suit probably isn’t required for an internship interview, but maybe skip the bathrobe (yes, we’ve seen that!).
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Mind your background: A tidy space makes a better impression than an unmade bed or broken blinds.
2. Presence Matters
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Engage with body language: Nod, smile, and use hand gestures to show you’re listening
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Look at the camera: It helps simulate eye contact. Adjust your setup if needed.
3. Prepare Your Interview Content
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Expect behavioral questions: We’ll ask for examples of things you’ve done – use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to answer. You can find more information on this method here.
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Have 5-6 “stories” ready: Think of projects or experiences that highlight your skills, decision-making and learning. Recall the situation details, what the assignment was and what was challenging about it; what your role was and how you made decisions about what to do; what you actually did, how things turned out, and what you learned. If you have these stories fresh in your mind (or on notes that you can see without seeming distracted or like you’re reading off a card) you should be able to answer our interview questions.
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Match your “stories” to the job: Identify which skills each story demonstrates and categorize them according to the skills that your interviewers will be looking for. Especially for a technical role, find examples that show technical ability.
4. Practice Out Loud
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Talk it through: Explain your projects to a family member or friend outside your field. It’ll help you clarify and simplify your message to ensure you are comfortable and can explain it to an interviewer.
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Use Technical terms: Where applicable, don’t be afraid to use appropriate technical terminology in your examples. If your interviewer is from a different area of expertise, you may have to explain in more detail, but it’s important to represent your knowledge.
5. Most Importantly: Be YOURSELF
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Let your personality and passion shine through: Smile, be enthusiastic and show us what excites you. Did you love that internship project? Were you excited to contribute to a product? We want you to be enthusiastic about your work! Show us what you really enjoyed working on.
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Don’t forget that interviewing is a two-way street: This is your chance to see if we’re the right fit for you.
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Remember, Interviewers are human too! A smile goes a long way to make a connection – especially when the interaction is limited to that little square computer screen.
Virtual interviews can be just as effective as in person. With the right preparation, presence, and mindset, you can make a lasting impression from behind the screen.
At Caterpillar, we’re always looking for passionate, curious, and driven individuals to join our team. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to take the next step, we encourage you to explore our open roles and apply what you’ve learned here. Your next opportunity might just be one click – and one great virtual interview – away.
