Skype job interview

[rodeosweetheart]

I have a job interview on Skype this week. I have never Skyped, so I will need to practice, gulp.

Can anybody give me some tips on how to have a good interview on Skype? Thanks!

[fidgiegirl]

Make sure you have a good mic on your computer and that you wear headphones. This will keep the audio feedback to a minimum. Position the webcam (if not a built in webcam) close to your line of sight. You will be tempted to look at the others' image on the screen rather than into the camera but do your best to look into the camera as it will feel to them like you are looking right at them.

Good luck!

[Tradd]

I would also consider what is in the background when people see you through your webcam. Make sure the room is picked up, etc.

[fidgiegirl]

I would also consider what is in the background when people see you through your webcam. Make sure the room is picked up, etc.

Good point - also no window behind you or they won't be able to see your face.

Make sure you are clear on who is initiating the call and at what time and that you have exchanged Skype screen names or contact info. It is definitely worth a practice call with someone else ahead of time so you know even how to accept or initiate a call and to check all your equipment settings (easy, but you don't to fumble around at the time of the interview).

[rodeosweetheart]

Thanks so much, Fidgie and Tradd, I definitely have to practice this one, and am thinking about where to sit so the background is non-distracting.
Aghgh, am getting a bit overwhelmed, glad I have until Friday.

[Mary B.]

rodeosweetheart, make sure you call the "Skype call testing service" beforehand too -- that-s their official name hence the quotes. It records your voice then plays it back so you can make sure your settings are correct.

For the video, pay attention to your clothes as well as the background. Solid colours tend to be better for video -- active patterns can be quite distracting. Think about how news anchors dress.

And good luck!

[rodeosweetheart]

rodeosweetheart, make sure you call the "Skype call testing service" beforehand too -- that-s their official name hence the quotes. It records your voice then plays it back so you can make sure your settings are correct.

For the video, pay attention to your clothes as well as the background. Solid colours tend to be better for video -- active patterns can be quite distracting. Think about how news anchors dress.

And good luck!

Thank you, Mary,I will do both of these things!

[Gardenarian]

Good luck with the interview! I have never Skype'd either.

[rodeosweetheart]

Good luck with the interview! I have never Skype'd either.
Thank you, Gardenarian, I will be practicing tomorrow!

[rodeosweetheart]

Just wanted to thank you guys for helping me. The Skyper-view went fine, thanks to all of your suggestions and preparation. I wore a light blue shirt, draped the mirror behind me with an attractive wall hanging, adjusted angle of screen, and looked into the camera.

I could not have done it without you!

[fidgiegirl]

So glad it went well! Fingers crossed that you get the job!

[rodeosweetheart]

Thanks, Kelli! I figure whatever happens, it was great to get an interview and very useful to know how to Skype an interview, in case it comes up again.

[razz]

Love seeing how team effort here helps everyone learn from the experience of one! I have learned more than I knew before about Skyping (sp?).

[iris lily]

We are using Skype at my place of work for preliminary interviews for those out of the metro area.

[Tradd]

Glad to hear it went well!

[shadowmoss]

I got my current job via a Skype interview. I was in Chicago, the interviewers were in Phoenix. Something that was brought to my attention by a friend I Skype with a lot, my ceiling fan was in her field of view and she asked me to turn it off as it was distracting for her. Actually she asked me to change the angle of the camera, but it was easier to turn it off.

[rodeosweetheart]

Thanks, Tradd, razz--it was actually a good interview (I think!) It was just like you describe, IL and Paula, I am in Michigan and the job is in Florida. They did fifteen minute segments with candidates all day, and there were 5 interviewers.
Shadowmoss, I had my husband Skype me from across the table and we played with the angle of computer so as to take out the door frame, have just the one background (we draped a big mirror). So it is definitely something where you need to control what the other person is seeing. The funny part was on their end, one person got cut out of the screen completely. So I did not feel I was in a very high tech environment, and did not feel intimimidated.

Maybe I'll make it to the next round. They were really pleasant people, which contrasts with one horrible in-person academic job interview I had once where I actually left in tears--those people were very dysfunctional and mean, and I had been set up by their boss, who liked me, and served to them--they had someone else in mind. It was really, really weird. Very much a passive aggressive thing by them against their boss--it was like a job interview out of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

[Gardenarian]

Hi -
old thread, but lots of good information for me! I applied for a job in Ashland without really thinking about it, and they do want to interview me. (we'll be making the San Francisco to Ashland move in December.)
I'm very nervous about using Skype, but a guy in my husband's band has used it at our house before, so I guess it works. I signed up for an account and it looks like they guide you through the process pretty well.

I'm very nervous about this, not having even visited the library I'm applying to!

[rodeosweetheart]

Hi -
old thread, but lots of good information for me! I applied for a job in Ashland without really thinking about it, and they do want to interview me. (we'll be making the San Francisco to Ashland move in December.)
I'm very nervous about using Skype, but a guy in my husband's band has used it at our house before, so I guess it works. I signed up for an account and it looks like they guide you through the process pretty well.

I'm very nervous about this, not having even visited the library I'm applying to!

Don't be nervous, you will do great!

If you want to practice, pm me and I can give you my Skype info and I will be the pretend interviewer. (Not that I am great at Skype but it helps to practice.)

[Gardenarian]

Thanks rodeosweetheart, I may take you up on that! I'm unreasonable nervous. I need to check that it works with my computer first!

[Gardenarian]

Thanks all for your help - I got the job :)

Despite the fact that my computer froze up during the interview.

[rodeosweetheart]

Thanks all for your help - I got the job :)

Despite the fact that my computer froze up during the interview.

Yeah, you!!!

[JaneV2.0]

Everything's falling into place. Congratulations!

[catherine]

Holy cow. The first post was 3-17-14!! I sure hope you weren't holding your breath, but *congratulations*! That's great!

[fidgiegirl]

LOL, catherine, the thread did get started back in March, but Gardenarian just posted about her interview at the end of Sept. :) Congrats, Gardenarian!

[Selah]

Congratulations on getting the job! I did a Skype interview a couple of months ago and also got the job--it helps to practice with someone so you can get flattering camera angles and lighting, tweak makeup and hair to suit wearing headphones, and, as said before, to get unsightly stuff out of the shot! Some webcams even have soft focus, which is great if you don't want the ravages of age to be too "up close and personal" to your interviewer. I got the job, thankfully!

[ApatheticNoMore]

Skype interview,ugh, it just gives me the skeevies like I can't say to have a recruiter or employer *IN* my personal space (that would be my abode). And then you're never going to be able to make a perfectly neutral opinion, if there's junk in the way you can clear it out, but it might be plenty obvious exactly how one lives, apt or house, etc.. All of which is totally irrelevant to what you want to draw the focus to. And yes I have no doubt I'd be blamed if technical difficulties arose: "our tech interview couldn't get Skype to work .... alright into the circular filing bin with that one ... " I'll dress for the interview and so on of course, but having to have my place dress for the interview is getting a bit crazy ...

[Gardenarian]

ANM -I just pulled the blackout curtain shut and sat in front of that. All the crap was behind the computer.
Luckily for me, it was their first Skype interview too, so no blame was assigned for technical problems.