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Tips for a successful Skype Interview

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Practice on Skype prior to the Interview

Don’t begin your practice with your first job interview. Practice with Skype before the interview. Play with it. Learn how it works and what it can do. This way you will increase your familiarity with Skype and how to make it work best for you. Your job interview is the one time you can’t afford to wing it. Practice diligently!

Keep Eye Contact

It is especially important to remember you must look into your camera and not your screen; this is one of the most noticeable errors made.  Maintain eye contact much like you would with an actual person. Don’t sit as close to the computer as you normally would, sit a bit farther back so that your face and upper shoulders are in the shot. Additionally, place the computer slightly higher than you normally do, so that it’s capturing you face-on and you’re not looking down at it.

The camera will record your smiles and facial expressions so try to loosen up and relax as much as possible. Smiling makes you look positive, confident and enthusiastic about the job you are applying for. Remember to blink and try to keep from nervous gestures such as twirling your hair or picking at your nails during the interview.

Practice makes perfect, try to practice with a friend by having them Skype you for a mock interview.

Dress for the Occasion

Just because you’re interviewing from home does not mean that you can throw a blazer over your pajamas!

You might feel silly sitting at home wearing a suit and talking to a computer, but it will make all the difference. Not only will the interviewer think you look great and will already be picturing you in his/her workplace, it will also help you to mentally prepare and get into a professional mode of thinking.

Assuming your bottom half will be hidden under a desk, you may be tempted to wear your favorite Tracksuit bottoms, but it’s best to dress from head to toe. What if you have to stand up to adjust your equipment?

Pay Attention to the Details

It’s the little things that matter and in the case of Skype, the little things tend to mount up. Make sure you have a strong signal on your computer and that your wireless network doesn’t cut out on you with a slow connection. Be sure that your computer also has plenty of battery power too.

On a computer, your employer’s first impression of you is your Skype username and profile picture. If you have a cute name, versus a professional one, think about how that reflects on you. It is also advisable to keep your account photo professional.

If you don’t have good microphone, you may want to pair a Bluetooth headset with your computer for better audio. If in doubt, make a few test calls to see what the recipient thinks about your sound quality.

Don’t shout, but do speak loudly and clearly. Sometimes with video calls there may be a delay with the picture so a clear speaking voice is extremely important.

The Environment

Don’t decide to host your interview at a noisy cafe or when the kids/dogs are home running around. Make sure to silence your cell phone and email alerts. Plan to schedule your interview in a well-lit, quiet, and neutral space. The focus of the interview should be on you and not your home. If you have any awards or certificates, one or two of the most significant achievements might be good to have in your background, but don’t overdo it!

Having the correct lighting will help your interviewer see you at your best. Overhead lights that are very bright or florescent tend to wash your face out or even darken your face. The best lighting is natural light from a nearby window. Look towards the natural light and/or use a table lamp so that it illuminates your face.

Look behind you, because that’s what they’ll see. A cluttered background may distract your audience, not to mention send the wrong idea of your organizational skills. Also, rid the area of personal items—no need to share too much information. A blank or neutral background is best, with a well-organized desktop.

Remember that the interviewer can see you and on video interviews it is easy to tell if someone is not paying attention. Do not be tempted to check your Facebook or email during a long question, but be aware that it is very obvious.

Setting Up a Skype Account

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  1. Go to the www.skype.com   home page. Open the Skype homepage. Click on the “Join Us” link in the top-right corner of the page. This will take you to the “Create an account” page.
  2. Choose how you will log in. You have three different options when it comes to Skype accounts. You can use Facebook, your existing Microsoft account, or you can create an account just for Skype. If you are logging in with a Microsoft or Facebook account, all you need is your login details for that account and you can start using Skype. If you are creating an account just for Skype, read on.
  3. Enter the required information. In order to create your Skype account, you will need to enter your first and last name, an email address (which remains private), your country, and your language. Optional information includes your birthday, gender, city, and mobile phone number. If you’re an international traveller, choose the country where you will be using Skype most frequently.
  4. Indicate how you plan to use Skype. You can select between business and personal use. This information helps Skype determine how people use their services. This is an optional question.
  5. Come up with a Skype Name. This name is displayed to other users, and is one way for people to look you up. This name will be public. You cannot change your Skype Name later, so if you don’t like what you select you will have to create a new account.
  6. Create a strong password. Since Skype will have your friends’ and family’s contact information, it is important to create a password that is strong yet memorable. If your password is too weak, Skype will not let you use it.
  7. Choose whether to receive mail from Skype. Skype will offer to send you messages about new products and special offers. The boxes are checked by default, but you can uncheck them before you continue if you don’t want to receive sales emails.
  8. Enter the CAPTCHA. This tells Skype that the account isn’t being created by an automated program. If you can’t read the CAPTCHA, you can click the Refresh button to get a new one, or click the Listen button to hear it read out-loud.
  9. Read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Make sure that you are OK with how Skype will use and not use your personal information. If you are satisfied, click the green “I agree – Continue” button at the bottom of the page.
  10. You’ll be taken to a page headed ‘Your account is ready’. Click on Download Skype for Windows. If you have a different version of Windows or if you have Linux, click on ‘download a different version’. Another box will open up asking you to Run or Save to your computer. Click Run.
  11. Download and use Skype. Once your account is created, you can download and begin using Skype. You may see a page asking if you would like to buy Skype credits. You can ignore this for now, or buy credits if you know you are going to use them. Skype credits are used to place phone calls to mobile phones or landlines; calls to other Skype users are always free.
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