10 Things You Must Do to Ace Your Skype Interview

Remote work is a reality, and recruiters (or employers) would prefer a Skype interview. It's a convenient set-up if the recruiter (or applicant) can't arrange a meeting in the same room, and it happens when one is far from the other. It also applies to business-to-client kind of business, where it won't make sense for a recruiter (or applicant) to do long-distance travel. It does make the job interview more convenient, right? Not.

A Skype interview can present more challenges than the normal (or typical) interview, as there are plenty of variables that can throw the applicant off the right track. For instance, the employer happens to manage a resort in Hawaii. The applicant nails the initial interview, which takes place in (colder) Connecticut. It would be right for the applicant to think about donning a business attire, which would show that it's all business. It turns out that the employer thinks that the applicant is not too laidback for the position. There are many lessons that can be learned here. A thorough research on the company culture should give the applicant some hints on what to wear during the final interview. (An Aloha polo may be too informal, yet it could have been a risky move that paid off.) There would be more.

It might take a bit longer to prepare for the Skype interview, which would be favorable to applicants.

How to Create Your Perfect World

You must have a Skype account. If you don't have one, then it won't take ten minutes to register in Skype. Your profile page must contain your photo, contact details, and personal information that should be good enough to acquaint with other users. You must not worry if your profile photo is too formal or not. Think about your approachable side, also someone to be counted on. The latter may be a challenging part, but your posture would reveal it.

Check out the camera. You must do a testing, where you ensure that your face would appear in the (computer) screen. It's better if prospective employers could see your upper body.

Check out the audio and speaker as well. You must make sure that it would be loud and clear from your side. You don't want garbled words to come out of your mouth, so ask a family member (or friend) to go to the other end (of the line). You would know the adjustment that must be made afterward.

Dress accordingly. You must be close to the (computer) screen, which means prospective employers won't see your lower body. This doesn't imply that you can wear shorts, if not pajamas. (And you would be barefoot during the interview.) Do research on the company culture, so you would know if you must stick to your business attire or risk it (and look a bit casual). You won't bite the bullet if you have gathered sufficient information on the dress code.

You must look perfect for the part. The employer may hail from Hawaii, but it doesn't mean that you must look like a backpacker who has been on the road for months. It's up to you to figure out if your neat self would be good enough. Make sure that the (prospective) employer won't notice the puffiness. (Don't lose sleep over this one.) And flash your best smile. If it doesn't come naturally, then force it. Keep on doing it.

There must be light. It must not be too bright. And there must not be any shadow.

Your choice of a room depends on the position you're applying for. If you want to impress an employer, then you want your bookshelf behind you. Your trophies on the mantel shelf and framed certificates on the wall should prompt employers to look at you differently. There's nothing wrong about choosing the door of your room as a backdrop, if not a window. This is not the time for subtleties, though. Try to figure out what you want the employer to think of you when the door, if not window, is on full view. There must not be any sighting of your bed, though.

Prepare your notes. The recruiter won't notice the piece of paper between you and the (computer) screen. You must have written some important notes, which you may forget (during the interview), as well as questions that you can ask the recruiter (before the end of the interview). You should ensure that there won't be any signs of distraction. Practice glancing at the paper now and then, without looking too rehearsed for the interview. You can ask a kin (or friend) to play the role of the recruiter (during the mock interview).

Do the talk (before the interview). You may (or may not) need a kin (or friend) to take notes of your mistakes (or shortcomings). You must not talk too fast. If you want to point out something, which may be a turning point, then say it slowly. (Recall your lessons in intonation if possible.) You can also do a thorough research on the company, such that you can think of the possible questions that may be asked. You need assistance on this one.

Get ready for the unexpected. There would be technical glitches, which you may not foresee prior to the interview. Excuse yourself and ask the (prospective) employer if you could be heard clearly. If the problem persists, then don’t hesitate to discontinue it. Fix the problem right away. It should be a plus if you could do it in a short time.

A Gentle Reminder

You could do something about some variables, which could influence the outcome of the interview. There are other variables that are beyond your reach, prompting you to wonder what you could have been done before. Don’t worry too much about it. Be attentive. Pay attention to the recruiter’s body language. And have the presence of mind (to come up with a good, if not witty, response.) If the interview would last an hour (or almost an hour), then don’t worry too much about the outcome. It would say that the employer is interested in you.