7 TIPS TO HELP YOU ACE THAT SKYPE INTERVIEW

How to Nail Your Skype Interview.

 Posted by Alice Norum

 Source: Glassdoor Blog

Have we entered the era where interviews are conducted over the Internet instead of face-to-face? Maybe not yet, but there are some interviews that take place over Skype for the simple reason that there are too many applicants to see in person, or for the fact that one person would have to travel a long distance to take part in the interview. You should take your Skype interview as seriously as you would with a real interview.

The following tips would help you ace an interview in the comfort of your home.

1.      Pay attention to your appearance.

That you’ll be interviewed from home doesn’t give you the liberty to wear your pyjamas while talking to your interviewer(s). Your appearance still matters in a Skype interview just as much as your appearance in a face-to-face interview does. As a point of emphasis, your appearance in a Skype interview gives a first impression of you. Look professional, like you are on your way to a face-to-face interview.

2.      Pay attention to your background.

It is often overlooked but the background of your video does count for something. Have you ever seen Facebook or dating site pictures where a gives a nice pose in the picture, but in the background, you see a glimpse of their true personality? Occasionally you may see something embarrassing such as clothes hanging everywhere, a messy floor, disorganized shelves, or literature/posters/books that demonstrate their beliefs. Trust me; you don’t want to try that in a Skype interview. Keep the background clean and clear, remove all sorts of distraction, lock your door if possible and let people around know you don’t need to be disturbed. Turn off your phone, TV and any music. A quiet setting with no interruptions will allow the interviewer focus only on you.

3.      Your two background setting options.

You have two options where background is concerned. You can have nothing in the background. A good idea is to close your curtains and aim the camera so that only the curtains can be seen in the background. If you have a few lights aimed at you then it should make a very good setting. Otherwise, you can set up a scene, which involves things like sitting as if you have a camera behind your desk, and have your seat spun around to show your desk is in the background. Your desk should be organized, with books and files arranged neatly. In this case you cannot see the other party (since they are probably on the screen), but this is a good thing. You can simply talk to the camera without seeing the faces of your interviewers (record the conversation though; it’ll help you evaluate your performance).

4.      Check your Skype settings in advance.

Technical problems always make for a poor start to the interview. The most common mistake is having the sound muted or the speaker muted. Check to see if Skype is actually working before you start. Ensure your internet connectivity is stable, having to apologise a million times for a break in transmission doesn’t help.

5.      Be aware of your body Language.

Being humble is okay, but being submissive is not really a good quality. It’s still an interview, only this time, an online interview. No bad postures; slouching, laying on the bed, eating etc. You have just about half an hour or so, give it your best look and feel.

6.      Try not to be conscious of your hands.

Many people try to keep their hands hidden, or become very conscious of their hands, this causes lots of distraction because the focus is just on you, your interviewer will notice every move you make especially your hands. Forget about your hands. Most of us can hardly talk without gesticulating, feel free to talk with your hands, the interviewer may be distracted at first but the attention would shift to you once s/he gets comfortable (seeing that you are).

7.      Don’t forget to smile. “Skyping” doesn’t seem a big deal when you are doing it with your friends and loved ones, an interview on Skype is not so different either, you’ll still talk to people not Robots; so relax and enjoy every bit of it.