A recent report from Resumebuilder.com found that the pandemic has affected which skills hiring managers look for in job applicants: 38% say that video chat proficiency is the most valuable skill to have right now.

“In the new work environment, video chat proficiency is a necessary skill for working efficiently and team building,” Stacie Haller, career development expert at Resumebuilder.com, said. “It’s a way of communicating and building rapport as organizations struggle to bring team members together remotely. A new employee without this skill will struggle to get up to speed, fail to build relationships with other employees and delay necessary communications. Hiring with this skill closes that gap up front.”

She added that digital proficiency – including the all-important video chat etiquette – are being evaluated during the interview process, so candidates must be prepared to demonstrate their skills from the get-go.

Stay engaged on a video call by looking at the camera, rather than the screen. A product like Eyelinez, vinyl stickers that go around the webcam, can help with focus.

Even with many offices in various stages of reopening, virtual meetings and sales calls will still be an important part of many jobs. A recent survey from Robert Half found that 49% of companies are still holding video interviews. And in June, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan told investors that he expects his company to play a key role in the development of the hybrid office. “Zoom is here to help each customer calibrate their future working model in their own way,” he said. “Many companies are redesigning the workplace to enhance the hybrid work experience.”

Brush up on your virtual meeting skills with these tips.

1. Maintain eye contact – with the camera lens. Many people make the mistake of looking at the computer screen instead, but that can make you appear aloof and not engaged, even though it seems natural to look at the person’s eyes. To help you focus on the camera, consider a product like Eyelinez – these repositionable, vinyl stickers can be affixed around the webcam to draw focus. “Eyelinez provides a simple solution to an outsized problem,” said Mark Quinn, founder and CEO. “Effective eye contact is essential for interpersonal communication and research shows that there’s a positive physiological response from when we make eye contact.”
2. Upgrade your production values. Make sure the space has adequate lighting – invest in a ring light to cast even light on your face. Check your audio and video quality before an important call to make sure they’re both clear and crisp.
3. Frame your shot correctly. Sit at eye level with the camera, and position yourself so that your body, from midsection up, is visible. Be sure the camera is parallel with the wall, and not angled up or down. If the camera is too low, it can lead to unflattering angles. If it’s too high, other people on the video call will be staring down at you.
4. Be professional. Sign on to video calls a few minutes early to make sure there are no technical difficulties, wear office-appropriate attire and mute yourself when you’re not speaking. (But don’t forget to toggle it off when it’s time to speak. Even after a year and a half of increased virtual meeting, “You’re on mute” is still an all-too-common refrain.)
5. Minimize distractions. Turn off your email and social media notifications, and find a quiet spot with an uncluttered background to hold the virtual call.