Interviewing at Zalando: Your Interview, Your Way
We want you to feel comfortable and confident during your interview. That's why we're sharing some of our favorite Google Meet features and a few tips to help you create an interview environment that works for you.
Think of this as your personal toolkit. Everything we'll mention is free and available to all candidates. Our goal is to make sure you have the best possible opportunity to succeed, and that starts with feeling at ease.
3 min
02 October 2025
Your Interview, Your Way: Google Meet Features
Google Meet has some great built-in tools that can help you tailor the interview experience to your needs.
- Live Captions: This feature provides a real-time transcript of what's being said. It can be a huge help if you find it easier to process written words or if you're in a noisy environment.
- Noise Cancellation: This handy tool filters out background noise, like typing or a noisy café, so everyone can focus on the conversation without distractions.
- Hide Participants' Video Feeds: If you find multiple video feeds distracting or overwhelming, you can hide them to reduce sensory input and focus on the person speaking.
- Virtual Background or Blur: Feel free to blur your background or use a virtual one. This keeps the focus on you and not what's behind you.
- Mute Microphone: You can mute your mic when you're not speaking to cut down on background noise. The push-to-talk feature (just hold the spacebar) is great for quickly jumping in when you have something to say.
- Chat Function: If you prefer to write down a thought or a question, the chat is there for you. It's a great alternative to speaking if you need a moment to gather your thoughts.
- Camera On/Off: There's no pressure to have your camera on if you're not comfortable with it. You can turn it on or off at any point during the interview.
If you need to reschedule to a time when you can truly be at your best, we'll work with you to find a more suitable time. Just let us know as soon as you can.
A Few Tips to Help You Shine
Beyond the tech tools, here are a few simple tips to help you prepare and feel your most confident.
- Do Your Research with AI: Tools like ChatGPT are great for a quick download on our company, our values, and the industry we're in.
- Practice with an "Interview Simulation": Use an AI tool to run through a practice interview. It's an excellent way to rehearse your answers and build confidence before the big day.
- Use the STAR Method: We love hearing about your experiences, and the STAR method is a simple way to structure your answers and give us a clear picture of your achievements. It stands for:
- Situation: Describe the context of the event.
- Task: Explain the goal you were working toward.
- Action: Detail the specific steps you took to address the situation.
- Result: Share the outcome of your actions.
We've kept this guide short and sweet, but if you want more details on any of these features, just ask your Talent Acquisition Partner. They can send over a more in-depth guide or walk you through it during the interview. Whatever works for you.
We're looking forward to meeting you!
