Virtual interviewing is becoming more and more common in today’s job market. While remote interviewing may be more convenient, the distance and technical difficulties can be awkward, or even jarring, to would-be applicants.
Fortunately there are tips from interviewing experts that prospective job seekers can use to get through—and even nail—a virtual job interview. We share some of their key insights and recommendations below.
The Interview Environment: Organize and Professionalize Your Space
You already know you should “dress for success” and make sure that you look your polished best for an interview. But when you’re interviewing from your home, the interview space and background could be distracting, even off-putting, to potential employers. Take the time to make your space look its best, too.
Clean and Declutter: This seems obvious, but make sure you take the time to de-clutter your surroundings, whether it is your bedroom or home office desk. Show your would-be bosses that you quite literally have it together at home, which will make a better impression of being grounded and composed.
Lighting: Proper lighting is a detail too-often overlooked. Be sure to “light yourself” from the front, and not from the back! The latter can create a rather eerie, even sinister visage. Where possible, aim for “cool light,” which is whiter in color, rather than “warm light,” which is yellower. These seemingly small details help put your best foot forward.
Interviewing Skills and Tips
There are countless tips on interviewing available online, but we share a few below that are particularly relevant to remote interviewing.
Keep Any Notes Short and (Mostly) Out of the Way
Like in any interview, try to not over-rely on notes. It is easy to get flustered and lose your place in notes, so keep them sparse and well-organized. Index cards placed outside the viewing area may be especially helpful, with key information and points printed largely and visible to you, but out of sight from the interviewers.
Keep Eye Contact—And Look Into the Camera, Not at Your “Mirrored Image”
Another common mistake is the awkward “stare” that people make when they forget to look into the camera, and instead watch their own reflected image while using the app. You will look less engaged, and even odd, at least compared to applicants that remembered to look “correctly” at the camera.
Watch Your Speaking Pace
Avoid speaking too quickly, a common giveaway of nervousness. Practice and rehearse answers to likely questions, and actually time how quickly you are speaking.
An Interview is a Conversation
Ultimately, an interview is just another conversation. A back-and-forth discussion makes for a much better interview, so be sure to have researched the job thoroughly and come prepared with questions. Look engaged when the interviewer is speaking by maintaining eye contact (see above about looking into the webcam!) and nodding your head occasionally. Don’t miss an opportunity to add something of value to what the interviewer says.
Get Internet You Can Rely On
One last tip: Make sure you have high-speed internet with fast download and upload speeds that you can rely on for a steady connection throughout your interview. (Adequate upload speeds ensure your video is clear for the interviewer on the other side of the virtual table.)
With internet from Northern Lights Fiber, you can video call without fear of a dropped connection or glitchy experience, so you can tackle your interview with confidence.
If you have a gamer in your life, whether it’s your own kid or a family friend’s child, you likely know how much video gaming is integrated into their lives. But even beyond the meteoric success and outright appeal of video gaming to young people (and even many not-so-young people), gaming now provides tangible benefits to serious players: competitive esports and esports college scholarships.
Parents of college-bound gamers might want to pay attention below, as we discuss college level esports and the burgeoning ecosystem of esports scholarships. And don’t forget that the high-speed fiber internet delivered to smart TVs and gaming devices by Northern Lights Fiber may just give the budding esports scholar in your life the edge he or she needs to own the competition!
Varsity Esports Are Exploding Across Colleges and Universities
Following the 2010s and the exponential growth of video gaming and esports, it’s obvious now that collegiate esports are truly taking off as a legitimate competitive endeavor. This explosive growth is mostly due to advancing internet technology like Northern Lights Fiber’s fiber network and apps that make gaming more social and more competitive, as well as increased talent among players. Indeed today, there are approximately 500 American colleges and universities offering esports scholarships.
Every year, more and more colleges and universities across Canada and the US add varsity esports programs to their rosters. And yes, we did say “varsity”—as in intercollegiate competition, not just a club or diversionary dorm room duel. Robert Morris University was the very first college to create a varsity esports team back in 2014—and the trend has only ballooned since then.
At the varsity and college level, schools typically create individual teams of players around particular games. This gives gamers the opportunity to advance and even excel at strategies and tactics suited to the complexities and skill needs of that title, enhancing the competitiveness of each game and of esports more generally.
Beyond enormously popular and well-known titles like Fortnite (played by untold millions of people around the world both casually and competitively), several other titles are most commonly played at varsity level esports in colleges and universities in North America. In particular, Call of Duty, League of Legends, Rocket League, Smash Bros, and Valorant are among the most frequently duked-out games in collegiate esports.
Other games are also increasingly popular, however. Overwatch is noted for its hero customization and intense fighting, requiring stout players and almost preternatural reaction skills to succeed. Additionally, Rainbow Six: Siege and its almost alchemical blend of gaming genres like strategy and tactical shooting has attracted legions of players to the game based around Tom Clancy’s novels. Both games are fielding more varsity teams and are increasingly seen at college level esports tournaments.
Collegiate Esports Give Rise to Generous Scholarship Opportunities
Because there are actual competitions and bragging rights to be bandied about, colleges are also competing for the best talent in esports. Thus, more schools are also providing scholarships for their best esports players. That means real dollars are increasingly available that the top gamers can put toward the costs of their higher education. Indeed, in 2017, Harrisburg University became the first college to offer full-rides to its leading esports competitors, including room and board!
Already, an estimated $16 million in college scholarships exist just for esports players—not a small sum for a sport that barely existed only a decade ago. And as collegiate esports continue to rise, we can expect more schools to establish varsity programs, as well as expand their existing esports teams, too.
All this burgeoning esports growth at the college level means that more scholarships—and even larger dollar amounts—are likely to be dedicated to esports gamers. Hence, for the truly talented and committed gamer, esports should be taken seriously, and gamers should consider taking steps to making themselves more competitive for esports scholarship opportunities.
The Esports Gender Divide
Despite the stunning growth in collegiate varsity esports, we hasten to note an important issue inside the gaming and esports community—the gender divide. Though females make up almost 50% of all video gamers (49% to be precise, according to one 2023 analysis), statistics show that men receive 90% of esports scholarships.
With patently lopsided statistics like that, the divide has not gone unnoticed. Arguments abound for this staggering disparity, but at least one likely reason for the imbalance is that most of the games more typically played by female gamers are less likely to be the games that comprise competitive varsity esports in colleges.
With that in mind, however, savvy female gamers with a keen interest in esports games that are played at the varsity collegiate level may want to be particularly on the lookout for scholarship opportunities that have too frequently landed in the hands of their male counterparts. Their unique backgrounds and talents may help give young women an edge over their compatriots in the coming years—and also help broaden and improve the sport as well.
To stay on top of the ever-changing and always-exciting esports scene, follow Northern Lights Fiber’s social pages. We’re confident that our high-speed fiber internet can improve any gamer’s experience and perhaps even help prepare them for competitive esports and the worlds of opportunity they open!
Xpay.com, Tesla Inc., and SpaceX are just a few of Musk’s brainchildren, and the latter was founded in 2002 with the mind-boggling goal to colonize space. No matter how you may feel about him, you’ve certainly got to hand it to Musk: when it comes to ideas, the sky truly is the limit! This brings us to the matter at hand: In 2019, SpaceX announced its latest projects, one of which was Starlink. But what exactly is Starlink? And is it really everything it’s cracked up to be?
What Is Starlink?
Satellite internet technology has been around for decades. Internet connectivity is transmitted by radio waves emitted by satellites orbiting thousands of miles above the Earth’s atmosphere. Those radio waves are received by ground stations and then sent right into your home. Plenty of people already use satellites to connect their homes to the internet.
For example, one of the leading satellite internet providers, HughesNet, has satellites that sit 22,000 miles above the Earth. Starlink is also a satellite internet service, but the company is utilizing low-orbiting satellites that operate only 300 miles above the surface. This translates to improved internet speeds and reduced latency when compared to other satellite providers. Moreover, SpaceX plans to continue the launch of these satellites in the coming years. There will be as many as 40,000 new satellites arranged in what the corporation refers to as a ‘constellation.’
Satellite Internet Challenges
Getting Starlink in your home starts with a hefty investment right off the bat. The initial $760 fee gets you the satellite dish and the Wi-Fi router, and you can expect to pay $140 per month for internet services. That’ll get you 1TB of usage during the day, with overage fees of $0.32/GB (About $30 to download a newer game, or $5 to stream a movie!) Compare that to Canadian Fiber Optics $89.99 for a symmetrical 100Mbps, with unlimited usage, with options for free installation!
There also comes the obstacles of maintenance. We monitor our network consistently and have prepared our techs to be able to react to, and fix a large scale issue should it occur within only a few hours. If a satellite goes down leaving you in the dark with no network, it takes a little bit longer to get into orbit for repairs.
Choose Reliability and Scalability with Fiber
These days, reliable internet is more important than ever, especially for those living in rural areas. It helps keep us connected, employed, and entertained. Interrupted connectivity—even a short one—can make a world of difference for those who depend on it. Fiber is a buried infrastructure, meaning the weather won’t take away your reception, and it’s built to last. We’ve designed our network to work consistently, and scale with your communities’ needs. Our services currently scale to 10,000Mbps (that’s almost 1,000x faster than what many residents get today!) and is built to grow beyond that without extensive work and repairs.
While Starlink will be a welcome option for customers who only have traditional satellite internet—or none at all—it simply can’t compare to the reliability, functionality, and future proofing of your community that a fiber network does.
For guaranteed fast, reliable, and affordable internet services, fiber from Canadian Fiber Optics and Northern Lights Fiber is the way to go.
New Options and Opportunities
Fiber eliminates the struggles of “Who’s downloading?” and “Can you turn your game off so I can work?” With a true symmetrical network, you always have the bandwidth to do more. Multiple devices at once are no longer an issue with our WiFi 6 enabled Gigaspire. Up to 250 devices can connect with plenty of bandwidth overhead for your family to work and play freely.
Staying Connected
There are a multitude of options for video chatting with the family, or conferencing remotely. FaceTime, Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Duo, and Teams are all great options to keep in touch. Downloadable from the App Store or Play store on your phone or tablet, seeing friends and family far away has never been easier. Video calling can use quite a bit of bandwidth, but when you have a dedicated symmetrical fiber connection provisioned just for you to use, there’s never a frozen face or spinning circle to get in the way of your quality connecting time.
Home Security and IoT
Home security has always been a pain without a network that can support it. With our fiber optic infrastructure, you can run as much (or as little) as you need. Smart cameras, motion sensors, doorbells, you name it! Keeping your home secure 24/7 is important, and that is why we use Wi-Fi 6 technology. The most advanced solution you can get in your home. This ensures that not only do you have the speed to operate safely and securely, but there are no disruptions in your devices connections to the network. Enhanced even further by our WiFi Mesh optional upgrade, that will cover even the farthest corners of your home (or shed, or garage!)
Remote Work and Learning
One of the biggest hurdles with rural internet: upload speed. Whether it’s sending off an email, document, or getting that video essay turned in. It takes time to send your information where it needs to be. Or at least it used to. That’s why a symmetrical connection is so important to us. We offer the same upload speeds as we do download speeds in all of our packages so that essential tasks can get done quickly and hassle free.
Work Hard…Play Hard
As we move into the digital age physical games and movies are becoming more and more scarce. Digital libraries and cloud gaming are becoming the norm, and nobody wants to wait to jump into the action. We offer up to 1,000Mbps, making sure that your game gets installed in time. Or if you can’t wait, you can use cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass or Playstation Now for a smooth streamed game experience. Launch Netflix in 4k, or catch up on your favourite Disney+ and Prime series. There will be no disruptions for anyone else that is getting as invested in their show as you are.
What if I Have Questions?
Please call us at 1-888-CFO-2947 (ext 1) or email us at info@CanadianFiberOptics.ca.
How do I future proof my house and get internet that is 100% fiber?
Visit our Products and Pricing page or Sign-Up page! Or give us a call at 1-888-CFO-2947 (ext 2 , for Sales)
Getting blazing fast internet is awesome and you’re sure to enjoy every single aspect of it, but there are often questions regarding the billing of services, how it works and where you pay. This article will address and answer the most common questions we receive regarding your billing.
How will my first bill look and what are the charges for?
On your first bill you will see a charge for your modem and a charge for installation, immediately below each of these charges you will see a credit for the equal amount. It is important to note that if you did not sign-up for our pre-installation promotion before September 1st then you may not see an installation credit.All billing is conducted on the first of every month, no matter when you sign up for service and receive installation. We will prorate your bill to account for these fluctuations is usage before your first official bill. What this means is your first monthly bill will include a charge for the days between your installation and when you receive for bill. For example, if your service is installed on the 15th of the month, you next bill will include 15 days of service on top of your first monthly charges to cover that time – It is completely normal to see a slightly higher number on your first bill as It reflects this period of usage.
How do I set up my billing?
Below you’ll find important Information about navigating the basic functions of our customer portal as well as the step-by-step process for adding your preferred payment method. You can choose a direct withdrawal from your bank account, or you can make payments via credit card, autopay is optional and recommended to maintain consistent payments when paying by credit card.If you have any further questions or require a customer service representative to assist you with your bill, please call 587-332-6880
Testing the speed of your internet connection is easy, but it’s also easy to misunderstand the results. Your devices — TVs, routers, smartphones, laptops, desktops, etc. — have different capabilities, and you can get different results on each one, even while using the same internet connection.
This is particularly noticeable to users taking advantage of higher speed packages offered by Northern Lights Fiber.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when evaluating your speed test results:
HARD-WIRED VS. WIRELESS
That old-school cord-and-plug is simply more reliable than WiFi (wireless) connectivity. Even those super-fast 1 Gbps connections, now widely available across the country, won’t test out at higher than 500 to 700 Mbps when tested over WiFi. For the most accurate speed test result you must test with a hard-wired device.
Why? Because there are nearly endless variables that can negatively affect a WiFi signal, everything from nearby construction or the wireless printer in the home office to a baby monitor or microwave in use in the home.
Keep in mind that one limitation with a hard-wired connection is testing with a device that has a 100 Mbps NIC (Network Interface Card). This can cause you to consistently receive speed test results at 90-98 Mbps. Northern Lights Fiber recommends testing on a device that has a 1 Gbps NIC.
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AFFECTING SPEED AND SPEED TESTS
Slow internet speeds are sometimes caused by malware such as adware and viruses. There are several free and inexpensive programs and apps to deal with that, and they’re important to use for many reasons.
This also sounds obvious, but it’s very easy to overlook any ongoing downloads or programs like video chat that may be turned on while you’re conducting a speed test on your device. Close these applications, reboot your device, and test again.
Even the browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft’s new Edge, etc. — can affect your test speed. Try different browsers to see if that’s the case on your system.
If you have a WiFi extender, make sure you turn it off before you run a speed test. Otherwise, your computer may test the wrong connection.
This brings us to a final point about equipment. Technology advances constantly, and many older routers and computers simply cannot take full advantage of the blazing speed and bandwidth of today’s fiber broadband connectivity.
When you’re ready to upgrade your technology, make sure your new equipment has the network cards and internal processing power that can leverage the speed of market-leading fiber broadband like that from Northern Lights Fiber.
The future of the internet is sharing―from capturing Instagram-worthy meals to enjoying video chats with friends―and Northern Lights Fiber’s unmatched upload speeds make that future a reality.
Here are a just few ways Northern Lights Fiber’s fast, reliable upload speeds make your life easier:
Video chat and live sharing
Skype, FaceTime, and other video messaging services all require robust upstream connections to ensure clear audiovisual quality and to prevent freezing and blackouts. Sharing big news on Facebook or Instagram Live also works better with greater upload speed.
Working or going to school from home
You need a robust upstream connection to interact with colleagues during video conferences, collaborate on team projects, and share important files. Online studies also can tax your upstream connection, especially if you join a virtual classroom or share large portfolios.
Keeping family, friends, and followers in the loop
Upload new videos to YouTube or share photographs with Flickr faster with a better upstream connection.
Faster data backups and online file synching
If you back up your data with a service like Backblaze or Carbonite, you need upload speed that meets basic requirements to ensure your data is protected quickly and without glitches. File and photo synching services like Dropbox, Google Photos, and Microsoft OneDrive all require a minimum of 5 Mbps upload speed to operate properly, and the more upload capacity available, the faster these services can sync and share files.
Online gaming, remote security and much more…
From online gaming to connected security systems that send real-time images through an internet connection, a fast upload connection is key to ensuring all your interactive online activities function well.
ExperienceIQ is a service that protects children or grandchildren from harmful or inappropriate content, limits screen time on devices or applications, and displays online usage through our enhanced parental control app.
How is this going to benefit my family?
Block inappropriate categories like pornography or violence
Block applications that you deem inappropriate (e.g. gaming applications like Call of Duty, or social applications like Snapchat
Set time limits for specific applications, like TikTok to cap screen time
Set Safe Search and YouTube Restriction to block harmful or inappropriate content with searching on Google, Bind or YouTube. YouTube restrictions also blocks all comments on videos which often include inappropriate language.
View usage for all devices to better understand HOW the internet is being used in your home.
Prioritize application groups or specific devices to ensure the best possible experiences for your most important needs.
Set schedules so that work applications get priority during the day, and streaming applications get priority in the evening.
Northern Lights Fiber is committed to providing the safest browsing and connectivity possible. We achieve this through our ProtectIQ software in the Northern Wifi App. ProtectIQ is a network-level security service which protects ALL devices connected to your Wi-Fi. If it’s connected, it’s protected!
What does ProtectIQ do to keep my home network safe?
Proactively monitors your home’s incoming traffic and automatically blocks anything suspicious.
Blocks attempted visits to known harmful websites, presenting users with a browser message indicating that the website is not available.
Provide an active security monitoring service that uses a large and constantly growing database of threats (database is updated weekly).
Uses IPS to monitor, notify, and prevent activity like hacking. It will stop a device from trying to gain access to technology like Wi-Fi connected doorbells or baby monitors, virtual meetings, and streams.
Actively terminates data transfers before a malicious payload is delivered to any network device.
Notifies users whenever security is triggered, with details about the device that was attacked, where the attack came from, and when the attack occurred.
Northern Lights Fiber is commited to providing its customers with the safest, fastest and most reliable connections possible. ProtectIQ is just one more way that we strive to provide a world class experience to our customers. By providing ProtectIQ as a service we ensure safety and security for everyone using their in-home network. Sign up with Northern lights Fiber now and download the Northern WiFi App so you can enjoy premium, managed WiFi today!
