While you probably have experience with in-person and phone interviews, Skype interviews may be uncharted territory. Skype interviews can really be the best of both worlds – you still get face-to-face time with an employer while cutting travel out of the equation. And while mastering the interview is a common practice, etiquette surrounding a Skype interview is different from both in-person and phone interviews. Here are 5 tips to help you prepare for a Skype interview.
Dress the part
When it comes to what you wear, treat your Skype interviews like an in-person interview and dress professionally from head to toe. Some people make the mistake of dressing formal from waist up; you need to factor in an emergency situation where you have to stand up to grab something. Don’t think that you can slack off in the dress department just because it’s a Skype or video interview. Appearance is still very important, so dress in a professional or formal manner.
Test out your tech equipment
One of the worst things that can happen during a Skype interview is one of you losing signal or having a lack of signal throughout. Do a test run of your camera, microphone and software to make sure it’s all in working order and performs well when you accept a call. If you’re new to video interviewing, take some time to do a run-through of the interview with a friend the day before. You need to get used to talking while looking at the camera, rather than the computer screen, as it’s the only way to make direct eye contact with the other person on the call.
Prepare your surroundings
It’s important to select a distraction-free setting that will be conducive to your interview. Your camera won’t only see you, but also what is next to and behind you. Pick a quiet place to interview, remove anything distracting behind you and keep it neutral.
Avoid interruptions
Think of what could interrupt your video interview or cause a stir in the background. Is your partner due home during the interview time? What are you going to do if your dog starts barking? Or your phone rings? Nothing is less professional than having to tell your potential employer to hang on while you shoo your dog away from the camera.
Remember it’s like an open-book exam”
The beauty of a video interview is that it’s a bit like going into an exam and being able to take a book of notes with you! Of course, we don’t suggest you read from your notes, but for prompts and so you don’t forget key details or the pre-prepared questions you wanted to ask – you can write them down and keep them out of the vision of the video interview, there as a handy reference tool. This is also helpful if you want to print the job spec or maybe have tabs open with their website or the interviewers LinkedIn profile.
If you follow the advice above before your next Skype interview, you’ll be more prepared and have a much greater chance of success. Triple-check everything, speak clearly and have fun! If you’re looking for an exciting job opportunity, click through to our job section to see what amazing opportunities we have available.
