15 Ways to Have a Great Skype Interview

15 Ways to Have a Great Skype Interview
Skype interviews are becoming increasingly common in many industries and positions as technology advances and virtual work becomes more accepted.

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A Skype interview necessitates the same amount of preparation, if not more, than an in-person interview. Preparation can help you deal with technological challenges, learn how to look good on camera, and conduct a successful Skype interview.

In this article, we’ll show you how to have a fantastic Skype interview so you can get the job you desire.

What is Skype and how does it work?
Skype is a video conferencing tool that allows you to conduct interviews remotely rather than in person using your computer or phone. You should treat a Skype interview the same way you would a face-to-face interview.

Here are 15 tips for a job interview over Skype:

  • Make sure you have Skype installed on your computer.
  • Professional attire is required.
  • Use a suitable background.
  • Face the sun.
  • Sit at a comfortable distance.
  • Arrange the Skype windows in the desired order.
  • Make sure your microphone and video are in working order.
  • Take the interview somewhere quiet.
  • Arrive a few minutes early.
  • Show that you’re interested in the conversation.
  • Take it in turns to speak.
  • Make sure you are prepared for the interview.
  • Maintain a healthy posture.
  • Share your computer screen with others.
  • Make a recording of your interview.
  • Make sure you have Skype installed on your computer.

If you don’t use Skype on a regular basis, make sure you have it installed on your computer beforehand. Because downloading and installing software can take a long time, you don’t want to do it just before your interview and risk being late.

If you already have Skype installed, make sure it’s up to date and that you have your login credentials on hand so that you don’t have to reset your password.

Professional attire is required.
Even if you aren’t meeting in person, you should dress appropriately. That implies you should dress professionally from head to toe, even if the interviewer won’t be able to see your entire outfit.

Analyze how your dress looks on camera, then consider your setting and whether your chosen outfit contrasts nicely. Staying in formal attire for a Skype interview sends the message that you’re serious about the position.

Use a suitable background.
On Skype, you may choose from a variety of backgrounds, which can be enjoyable for a conversation with friends, but for an interview, the best option is to blur your background or make sure that what is behind you on camera is appropriate.

If you’re taking the call in your bedroom, make sure there are no piles of clothes or an unmade bed in the backdrop. If your office is a catch-all space, organize it before your interview so that the only thing the interviewer sees behind you is a well-organized space.

Set up your desk in front of a strong, clean wall that is free of distractions to be on the safe side.

Face the sun.
During your interview, you’ll want to be properly lit so that your possible new employer can see your facial expressions, engage with you, and ensure that the call runs smoothly.

Set up your computer in front of a window that lets in natural light or a desk lamp that keeps your face illuminated if possible. It’s critical that the light source appears behind your computer and is focused on you, regardless of how it’s done.

Examine how you seem in your outfit, background, and light source of choice when rehearsing your interview to ensure there is no distracting glare emanating from any aspect of your setup.

Sit at a comfortable distance.
You wouldn’t sit on the other side of the room from the recruiting manager during an in-person interview. You wouldn’t sit too near to them, either. When doing a Skype interview, follow the same approach and keep a reasonable distance between yourself and your computer camera.

Make sure your face, shoulders, and upper chest are visible in the video before initiating the call, and that there is space between the top of your head and both sides of your body in the shot. The better your distance is, the more centered you are in the photograph.

Arrange the Skype windows as desired.
Arrange the video windows in the Skype application suitably to ensure that you keep eye contact. If the window showing your hiring manager’s video is off to the side when you first start the software, drag it across to be as close to the camera as feasible. Your interviewer will notice that you are looking directly at them and not anyplace else.

Make sure your microphone and video are working properly.
Make sure your microphone and video settings are working before your interview. You’re more likely to give the impression that you’ve fully prepared yourself for this encounter if you go into the interview with working equipment.

Your audio should be static-free, and your speakers should be able to receive audio from the hiring manager, while your video should be focused and camera clean. Check your Skype settings and run a test of your equipment to ensure everything is working properly.

In a calm area, do the interview.
Background noise during your interview can effect how smoothly the conversation goes, so attempt to set up your computer in a location with the fewest possible disruptions. Let individuals you live with know that you’ll be on a phone call and that they shouldn’t bother you if at all possible.

If there’s a risk of an interruption, such as with children or dogs, let the hiring manager know right away so they’re not surprised if it happens. Consider turning off your phone and turning off pop-up notifications on your PC as well.

Your hiring manager may expect you to have a location dedicated to executing your work that will allow you to do so professionally, especially if your new position will require you to handle customer or client calls or be a part of a lot of business meetings. If you are interrupted during your interview, acknowledge it while keeping cool and focused on the topic at hand.

Arrive a little early.
You should strive to arrive a few minutes early for the Skype interview, just like you would for an in-person interview. You’ll either be able to enter the meeting room before the interviewer, in which case they’ll see you waiting once they come, or you’ll only be able to enter once the host has given you permission, depending on your Skype settings. In either instance, a hiring manager will notice that you are enthusiastic about the position and well-prepared for the interview.

Show that you’re interested in the conversation.
A recruiting manager’s body language is frequently used to supplement what a potential hire is saying, but Skype interviews aren’t the same. As a result, it’s critical to work on keeping a lively debate going on this platform. Asking questions, nodding, maintaining eye contact, smiling, and acknowledging what the other person says are all examples of this.

Alternate who speaks.
While it’s a good idea to keep the conversation going via video, you should still be cautious to ensure that both sides hear each other and that neither of you accidently interrupts the other.

Even accidentally interrupting, such as to answer the interviewer’s question, can cause one person’s microphone to be muted temporarily so the other can talk, a feature that can lead to misunderstanding and the need to repeat parts of the conversation.

Make sure you are prepared for the interview.
Prepare for the role by practicing your answers to common interview questions, preparing your portfolio, making notes of valuable responsibilities or projects that will showcase your experience, and researching the company and the role you’re interviewing for, just as you would for any other interview.

You can even create some of your own questions to demonstrate that you went above and beyond. Another option to prepare for the interview is to conduct a Skype practice run with a friend. This will allow you to practice conversing with someone over video and test your equipment.

Before beginning your interview, you may want to read up on how to resolve any technological concerns and have that knowledge in front of you. If your audio or video goes out, or if another common mistake occurs, you’ll be better prepared to swiftly solve it and return to the conversation.

Maintain a healthy posture.
Good posture demonstrates professionalism, which is especially important in this situation. While sitting in your favorite chair may tempt you to slouch, be conscious of your posture during the interview. Sit up straight with shoulders back and gaze forward instead of slouching down in your chair. With appropriate posture, you can even converse more effectively and confidently.

Share your screen with others.
A Skype interview has the advantage of allowing you to show off your previous work in relation to the post in a way that an in-person interview may not allow. If you have an online portfolio, ask if you may share your screen with the hiring manager so they can view your website, social media profiles you’ve managed, or sales data you’ve compiled in a spreadsheet.

Prepare this information on a separate window so you don’t have to waste time looking for it during the interview; this will also demonstrate that you did your homework.

Make a recording of your interview.
Permission to record the interview should be sought. If you plan to have numerous Skype interviews before winning the job, having the ability to go back to the interview can be beneficial. Based on the information you and the interviewer discussed, you’ll be able to identify how you might better next time and prepare for the next steps. That’s that about “15 Ways to Have a Great Skype Interview”