Skype and Online Video Interview Tips
With increasing frequency, recruiters and corporations are using Skype as an economical means for screening and interviewing job candidates. Skype has several benefits to potential employers. It is a no cost method that allows interviewers to “meet” with potential candidates and get a better flavor for how they present themselves in terms of clothing choice, general appearance, and body language.
Preparing for a Skype Video Interview is not quite the same as preparing for a face to face interview. First of all, you will need to go to www.skype.com and download the Skype software on to the computer you plan to use. Secondly, you will need to make sure your computer has a camera. If you do not have a camera already built in to your computer, you can purchase one inexpensively at any of the larger office supply or computer technology chain stores.
You will also want to be sure that your computer’s microphone is working properly. The best strategy for preparing wisely is to ask a friend, colleague, or relative to help you test your system. Have them make sure that they can see you via Skype to Skype video. Ask them if the volume sounds good to them.
Next, ask them about lighting issues. It is important to have some light, but bright light in the background can create glare. If you have a laptop, move the computer until you are sure it is in a place that has minimal glare while still providing good lighting. If you cannot move your computer and are in a room that has open blinds, you may want to close the blinds or even put a towel over them and then add a light to the side of you. You will need to experiment to find the best lighting. You most likely will not be able to get it 100% perfect, but do the best you can with what you have got.
Dress for success. Okay, so the truth is you can be wearing boxer shorts with pink polka-dots on them, but at least for the upper half of your body, you will want to wear the same clothing you would wear to any formal interview. For both men and women, this means business- professional attire, neatly groomed hair, and no chunky or distracting jewelry.
Finally, make sure there is nothing in the background that the interviewer can see that is distasteful. They are basically coming into your home, so a messy bookshelf or a Grateful Dead or Eminem poster is not something you want to show up in the background.
Be sure to use the same sorts of techniques for listening that you would at any face to face meeting. Employ body language that expresses interest in what the interviewer is saying and pay special attention to how you use your hands and arms to express yourself.
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Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is President of Careers Done Write, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries. Visit careersdonewrite.com to learn more.