By Mike Simpson

Today, the digital world plays a huge role in people’s lives. On average, people spend nearly seven hours online every day. During the pandemic, Americans spent an average of about 3.5 hours daily on social media alone. And now, we’re about to experience the metaverse.

If you’re like most people, you probably have some questions about what the metaverse holds. What is the metaverse exactly? How is the metaverse going to impact our lives, including job searches? And what about metaverse trust and safety? Should we be worried or thrilled about what’s on the horizon?

Well, if you want to learn about what the metaverse might hold, you’re in luck. Come with us as we take a deep dive into the (possible) future of digital living.

What Is the Metaverse?

Before we hop into how to prepare for job interviews in the metaverse, let’s take a second to answer an important question: What is the metaverse anyway?

In the simplest sense, the metaverse is going to be an immersive digital world. Technically, it’s still in a very early stage of development. Since that’s the case, beyond the basics, no one’s exactly sure what it will be.

There are certain things we do know will be part of the equation. For example, virtual reality is a huge part of the broader plan, allowing people to move through and navigate this digital landscape in a potentially organic way. Augmented reality will probably play a role, too, allowing people to overlay digital experiences over their daily lives.

Along with a digital landscape will come a digital economy. Buying, selling, and creating goods and services will undoubtedly be on the table.

Similarly, the metaverse will likely become a gathering place. People from all over the world can come together, piloting virtual avatars to spend time together and engage with one another. Concerts, work meetings, family reunions… that’s just some of what may find a home in this digital landscape.

Essentially, the metaverse will likely be an environment that’s as functional and diverse as the real world. In fact, it may offer far more than we can get out and about today, mainly because the metaverse isn’t bound by certain rules, like physics.

So, how will the metaverse impact employment and job searches? Well, digital recruitment may head in an entirely new direction. You may be able to learn about job openings as you wander your town through augmented reality interfaces. Digital job fairs are already making their way into the landscape, too. Since that’s the case, one part that will undoubtedly come with it is the metaverse interview.

There will also be a rise in metaverse-related positions. Tech pros will start seeing an increase in the number of jobs explicitly related to metaverse development. Additionally, companies may hire customer service reps to assist people inside the digital environment.

In the end, that is likely only the tip of the iceberg. Exactly how it’ll all shape out is essentially still up in the air. However, the potential for some major developments undoubtedly exists, making it a potentially exciting time.

If you really want to travel down the Metaverse rabbit hole have a look a Matthew Ball’s Metaverse Primer.

Pros and Cons of Job Interviews in the Metaverse

Alright, let’s dive into job interviews in the metaverse by starting with something important: the pros and cons. First, let’s start with the positives.

Pros of Job Interviews in the Metaverse

Metaverse job interviews could be a vast improvement over today’s more common remote approaches, like Zoom. People can potentially gather in spaces that look and feel real, making these digital interviews more comfortable.

Additionally, during a metaverse job interview, the virtual landscape means people can bring more into the experience than whiteboards. Candidates may be able to interact directly with digital versions of key systems during technical interviews, making that far less awkward than it is in the real world.

Similarly, candidates could present virtual portfolios during the meetings or back up spoken examples with graphics. Along with increasing engagement, it could make demonstrating your expertise easier.

Finally, the metaverse could make the job interview experience more pleasant. No more sitting in a chair in a stranger’s office wearing professional-looking but uncomfortable clothes in an attempt to impress. Instead, if the experience is entirely digital, they can put their best foot forward even while wearing cozy pajamas at home.

Cons of Job Interviews in the Metaverse

As for drawbacks of interviewing for jobs in the metaverse, the first could be the nature of digital avatars. These virtual representations may not be accurate depictions of people. Since that’s the case, judging a person’s mood or body language during an interview might be tricky.

Additionally, if you’re applying for an in-person job, you may arrive after accepting an offer only to realize that the person you engaged with doesn’t resemble their avatar in the slightest. Is that really a problem? Well, that depends.

People could use an avatar to give a candidate an inaccurate impression of themselves or their workplace. For instance, a multi-person interview panel may seem diverse based on their digital representations, even though it isn’t in real life.

Another point against the avatar approach involves potential ongoing costs. For example, the writing is already on the wall that virtual clothing for your digital self may come at a cost. Since that’s the case, your virtual job interview attire could cost you a pretty penny, even though it’s not tangible.

There are also questions about metaverse trust and safety. As with all online experiences, security is a major concern, and not just from a technical standpoint. Identifying scammers may become harder in a wholly digital experience, or they may have more capabilities, making it easier to take advantage of people in various situations, including during job searches.

Steps for Preparing for a Job Interview in the Metaverse

Since job interviews in the metaverse could potentially become the norm, it’s smart to learn a bit about how to get ready for them now. That way, when that big day arrives, you’ll already know what it takes to succeed in this virtual environment.

Here are some steps you’ll want to take to prepare for a job interview in the metaverse.

1. Use Traditional Job Interview Prep Steps

First, it’s critical to realize that a metaverse job interview really isn’t that different from a traditional one. In the end, you’ll still answer classic questions – speaking with a hiring manager about your capabilities and presenting a compelling employee value proposition that you hope will get you hired; the environment will just be a bit different.

Since that’s the case, most of the tried-and-true best practices still apply. You’ll want to know how you’ll introduce yourself during the job interview and prepare answers to classic job interview questions like “What is your greatest achievement?” and “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” That stuff won’t change, so prepare as you would for an in-person interview, ensuring you have the basics handled.

2. A Tech Update Is Essential

It’s important to understand that the metaverse is mainly a virtual reality environment. Since that’s the case, you may need to invest in some new tech if you’re going to interview in these spaces. Namely, you’ll need a reliable VR headset.

VR headsets run the gamut when it comes to cost and capabilities. In most cases, you won’t need a top-of-the-line version for job interviews, but that doesn’t mean even low-cost options aren’t a little spendy.

If you also need motion capture devices, that’ll increase the total price. While that isn’t broadly a must today, gloves or other motion capture tech could become standard down the line, so keep that in mind.

Spend some time researching your options well before you need to make a purchase. Then, you’ll know what to get as metaverse interviews become more common.

3. Get Comfortable with Asking for Clarification

While many digital avatars can convey some basic emotions and body language, the technology is still developing. Since that’s the case, the odds of misunderstandings or misinterpretations are higher than with a traditional in-person meeting.

Ideally, you need to get comfortable with the idea of asking for clarification before your interview. If something is unclear because the avatar can’t translate subtle non-verbal cues, let the hiring manager know that you need a little more to ensure full understanding.

4. Remain Adaptable

In the end, we don’t know what the metaverse is going to morph into over time. While you might get job interviews down based on the current technology, the next iteration may bring something entirely new to the table.

In the end, you need to remain adaptable as metaverse job interviews increasingly become the norm. Where the technology will head yet is still unknown, so embrace agility and roll with the changes as best as you can.

5. Design an Avatar with Interviewing in Mind

While your avatar isn’t always an accurate depiction of you, ensuring you have one that’s suitably professional is essential. You’ll be making a first impression with that digital self, so you want to set the right tone.

Make sure that you dress the avatar in a way that’s appropriate for the job, industry, and company. Choose hairstyles, makeup, accessories, and other points with the same idea in mind. That way, you’ll look professional and prepared.

6. Read Any Pre-Interview Instructions

Generally speaking, hiring managers do try to set candidates up for success, particularly when they’re using technology for job interviews. If you receive any instructions about how to access a platform or what you need to set up in advance, follow them to the letter.

Even if you’re comfortable with VR, there could be something unique about the upcoming experience. By reviewing the directions and following them, you make sure that you don’t overlook something critical before the meeting.

7. Manage Your Expectations

In the beginning, metaverse job interviews will likely be a bit clumsy. Remember, this technology really is in its infancy. There are going to be bumps along the way; it’s essentially guaranteed. So, keep your expectations reasonable, particularly over the next few years, as it will take time for the technology to mature.

8. Don’t Overlook Security

As with any newer tech, trust and safety in the metaverse is a concern. While the involved technologies will likely include some security measures, some of the responsibility will always land on end-users.

Make sure you use security best practices relating to your internet connection, account, and sensitive personal data. Take steps to avoid malware, including not downloading or interacting with questionable apps, updating your antimalware solutions, and applying hardware and firmware patches.

Also, be cautious about sharing personal information online. Before a metaverse job interview, vet the employer and hiring manager. Make sure the job is real and not part of a scam.

While it takes time to protect yourself, it’s worth doing. That way, you can keep your data and systems secure during your job search.

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, job interviews in the metaverse are likely coming your way, though it may take a little time before they become commonplace. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare a bit now. Use the information above to start laying a strong foundation. That way, when the time arrives for your first metaverse job interview, you’ll be ready!

Good luck!

Mike Simpson( Co-Founder and CEO )

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page.