In an age where more and more jobseekers are willing and able to move to a new job, video interviews are gaining ground. It is easier and cheaper to talk via the Internet than to travel to another city or country, especially at the first stage of the talks. What’s more, nothing prevents you from having your favorite pair of fur slippers on your feet while working on your professional development.
Despite the fact that we are used to communicating on the Internet in chat rooms, holding an interview via Skype is not as easy as it sounds. You then rely completely on technology and need practice to develop a sense of comfort and confidence in front of the screen. Find out about 5 steps to help you feel confident and get your dream job.
1. Get ready
Choose a suitable Skype Name and Profile Picture. Make sure your internet connection is stable, your webcam and microphone are working, and your laptop battery is charged. Small headphones will help you eliminate reverberation. Also learn in advance how to troubleshoot when your internet connection fails. Above all, stay calm when you run into technical problems – nothing will ruin your chances of getting a job as quickly as swearing in front of the camera while talking to your future employer.
2. Practice
If this is your first time interviewing on Skype, find a friend who would like to practice the darkest scenarios with you. Let them help you make a decision about the look of the room in which you will be talking, the lighting and what to wear. Sit in a chair that is comfortable and tall enough so that half of your body is visible in the camera. You should know how to send and receive files, mute your speakers, and how to put a call on hold. Have a glass of water at hand and a printed and electronic version of your correspondence with your future employer, especially your CV and cover letter.
3. Create an environment in you control
Chat in a quiet environment. Close all windows, mute your phone, get rid of all your roommates and animals that aren’t goldfish. Clean up the space behind you and set up your webcam properly before starting the conversation. Just make your interlocutor not to think that a tornado has passed through the room you are talking to. Check that there is no bright light behind you, or that your face is not too dark (and gives you goosebumps).
4. Dress yourself to attract success
Don’t let it occur to you to give up on looking at things in your wardrobe. Try to enter into the mind of the interviewer. Dress professionally from head to toe. Don’t let the idea come to your mind to give up pants! You never know if you will have to get up. The best advice is to dress as if you were leaving the house to meet your employer face to face. Don’t wear flashy colors or narrow stripes that look blurry and sparkle on the camera. Make sure your clothing does not clash or blend in with the background you are talking against.
5. MAKE A (SCREEN) VISUAL CONTACT
Try to look at the webcam – the equivalent of eye contact on Skype. If you are staring at the image of the interviewer on the screen it will look a little as if you are looking to the side. If you want to take notes, write in the notebook. Typing on a computer keyboard can distract the person who is talking to you. Skype allows you to close the window with your video image, but I advise you not to do so – check from time to time how you and your space present yourself.
