When people used to dress up for job interviews, they would “dress for success.” Shoes, power outfits, and all of the accessories required to signal to the interviewer that you “deserved” the role.

Now most interviews are done digitally. It’s rare that I hear about people having in-person interviews — unless applying local.

Culturally, how do we signal in a digital world?

Our interviewer is not aware that we might be wearing shorts underneath our well-spec’d tops. They might not know that we have sneakers on instead of nice shoes. Our interviewer might be dressed the same.

How we signal changes. We must demonstrate who we are through our words and how we engage in a 2D space that is the “Zoom” interview.

2D connection comes from investing more time to get know people before the questions start. Spending more time learning about how people spend their time on the weekends. Spending more time working on creative problems to solve.

The level and quality of the expression of our humanity increases (perhaps exponentially) in proportion to the amount technology integrates with our lives.