In the past, Skype has proven helpful in reconnecting you with friends that moved away, your significant other for those in a LDR, and even video-calling your family to see your dog on days you were especially homesick. Ten years after its release, Skype has evolved into an invaluable tool in both the personal and the professional realm.
Years before, you would have to drive or even fly to another city if you had a face-to-face interview, but today many businesses utilize this cool videoconferencing software to more easily meet and interview potential employees.
There are tons of articles out on interview tips, but when that interview is over Skype, you have to take a few more technical factors into consideration. Skype cuts the cost and the stressors associated with traveling to a physical interview, and with a little foresight and preparation, you can also save yourself from the headache of technical difficulties to make the best possible impression!
Dress the Part
Much like a face-to-face interview, it’s key to still wear your professional attire. The interviewer will absolutely see what you’re wearing on top, and though they can’t technically see what you are wearing on the bottom, by rule you should wear dress pants or a skirt. Wearing full interview attire gives you a sense of confidence and also has an effect on your posture. Also, just think of the embarrassment of having to stand up on camera to adjust the screen and having a manager see that you’re rocking sweats or jeans under your blazer.
Hardwire Your Connection
Whenever an application like Skype relies on Internet, you can bet there’s a chance that you’ll experience technical issues. To prevent seeing a pixilated image or having issues hearing each other, connect your laptop to the Internet with a Ethernet cord.
Having a wired connection helps cut down on the connection issues, but if you still have a weak signal, don’t hesitate to let your interviewer know you are having problems with the connection. Rather than waiting to see if the problem resolves itself, address the issue right away so you can clearly hear the questions and avoid giving an embarrassing or inaccurate answer. If the glitches persist, try hanging up the video call and redialing.
Do Screen Test
The best way to make sure you’re ready for a Skype interview is to do a ‘screen test’. By pulling up the program and warming up your webcam, you can see how the lighting looks, how loud you have to speak for the microphone to hear you, and the angle your camera needs to be at to see you.
Prepare Your Space
Also make sure to check out your surroundings. Do what you need to do to make sure the view from the other screen isn’t full of clutter and your desk is clear. To further avoid awkward situations, make sure your roommate knows about your interview so they know not to make noise or bother you when you are on the big call.
Wear Headphones
If you solely use your computer speakers, you will find out the hard way that there is a really distracting echo when your computer’s microphone picks up the noise from the call. To prevent the reverb, just don’t forget to plug in your own headphones.
Make “Eye Contact” With the Camera
Remember how important eye contact is when you have a conversation with someone? Over video chat, it’s still important! To give the illusion of eye contact, make sure you spend most of the time looking at the camera lens. We are all accustomed to staring at the image on the screen, but if you train yourself to look at the camera while your interviewer is speaking, you look engaged and interested in what they’re saying. Don’t forget to smile!
Be Ready Early
This is another cardinal rule of interviewing, but it still applies to Skype interviews. If the employer calls early, you want to pick up and be ready to go. Especially on video conferencing, people can tell if you are scrambling to get plugged in and adjusted and it’ll come off as being ill prepared.
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