Talk to us about your proudest achievement. Why was this achievement important?

Telling a story about your most significant achievement will give the decision-makers a notion of what matters to you. Your reply should spotlight what this accomplishment implicates for your future success. If your example relays your work ethic and what motivates you as a professional, all the better. It's okay to showcase your pride as long as you remain relatively humble. Nothing is wrong with confidence as long as it doesn't become arrogance.

When relaying your recent example, be as specific as possible and concise as possible. Try to convey that going above and beyond is your status quo. Speak with friendly, professional confidence while maintaining eye contact with the camera. Be mindful of your posture and smile with your mouth and eyes. Keep your body language open, your tone steady, even, and consistent with your statements. Looking at yourself on the screen could be interpreted as looking down, which is a sign of lacking confidence. So practice beforehand until you are comfortable with this style of interview, and come across as if you are speaking to a real person or an audience.

"(Situation & Task) While working as an Investment Analyst with Company XYZ, I was responsible for supporting the Investment Management team through research and strategic recommendations. During the pandemic, we began to find that regulations were becoming more stringent, and investment banks were required to have greater safeguards against compliance breaches. This situation presented an excellent opportunity for our small firm to explore a more robust, efficient tech stack. (Action) I began to research new tools, processes, and systems to boost our teams' efficiencies and safeguard us through a better-consolidated system. After a couple of weeks, I made solid recommendations to the Investment Management team. (Result) By spotlighting the upside of greater efficiencies and added security, I initiated smart and responsible change within the firm. My manager was very pleased with my initiative, and today, the firm has stronger processes for managing regulatory reporting demands."

Even though you have the advantage of being in your own environment, bear in mind that your surroundings are a reflection of you as a professional. Your personal space is a reflection of your professionalism and work ethic. When answering questions about how organized you are, you want your personal appearance and space to be as consistent with the words used to relay your answer. Additionally, you'll want their focus to be on you and not your background. Make sure your space is organized, free of distractions, and work-appropriate. Choose a space not too cluttered, preferably with a plain background. Also, if you can find a space with good natural lighting, all the better. Ideally, you'll want the light cast evenly across your face.