Maximizing your Skype Interview

Skype and phone interviews have become standard as the first interview on the road toward landing a new position.  Time is money and it makes sense to do a preliminary skills check to make sure the basic requirements are met. Even though skype and phone interviews may be less stressful than in-person ones, they should not be taken for granted.

Before your interview:

• Make sure that your internet connection or cellular network is working properly.  Make a sample call to test video and sound quality.  There is nothing worse than technical difficulties hampering an otherwise successful interview.
• Find a quiet place, without the threat of background noise, to have the interview.  If you have a phone interview do not do it while you are on a bus, in a car, or in a taxi.  If you’re at home, make sure pets and kids are not nearby.
• If you have a Skype interview, sit at a desk and dress in business appropriate attire.
• Prepare as if it were an in-person interview–this means don’t wake up five minutes before the interview, people can tell when you sound fatigued.
• Take advantage of not having an in-person interview by keeping notecards with key points.
• Before a Skype interview, set up the lighting and make sure to not sit too close to the screen.  Be sure to smile and present your best professional self.

During your interview:

• As tempting as it is to look at the screen during a Skype call, don’t.  Make sure to look into the camera so that it looks like you are maintaining eye contact with the interviewer.
• Keep your answers short, relevant, and to-the-point just as you would in an in-person interview.
• If you have a phone interview, consider standing up or walking, it may help you feel more relaxed.
• Another pointer for phone interviews is to use a headset while on the phone–not speakerphone–so that you can take notes and have your hands free during the interview.
• Finally, don’t be distracted during your interview. Don’t try to multi-task, give your full attention to your interviewer.

After you’ve finished your interview, follow-up with an email and thank you card–hand written–the potential employer as you would after an in-person interview.