With more and more employers using Skype or Google Hangouts to conduct their first round interviews, it’s a good idea to know the basics to ensure a successful Skype interview.
The Essentials Still Apply
A lot will be similar to when you’re preparing for a face to face interview in that you still need to do your research. Check out the company’s website, social media channels and if applicable, their Glassdoor profile. Also, have a look at their LinkedIn page so you will already be familiar with your interviewer(s).
Dress to Impress
Dress as you would for an in-person interview, they can still see you! Many might assume that as their bottom half will be hidden under a desk, it’s okay to wear sweatpants. This is not the case. Not only will you feel more confident if you are dressed the part, you may need to stand up to adjust your equipment.
Body Language
When there's so many things to worry about along with potentially feeling awkward about sitting in a room by yourself, it’s easy to forget your body language. You still need to think about how you express yourself and ensure that you show you are engaged in the conversation. Lean forwards when you are speaking as you would during an in-person interview.
Check Your Equipment
You’re always told to check in advance for any potential travel problems, something that isn’t an issue with video interviews however instead of travel problems you could occur technical problems.
- Lighting – Lighting is hugely important when doing video interviews. Make sure you don’t look washed out or covered by shadow. You should be able to test your camera before the call so you can assess the lighting situation beforehand.
- Internet Connection - If your internet connection is unpredictable then it is a good idea to find somewhere else to take the video call.
- Sound – Whilst a dedicated microphone is going to give a better sound quality, you may not want to make the investment for one or two Skype interviews. To ensure the best sound quality from your built-in microphone, ensure you’re not in an area with a lot of background noise or where you’ll be interrupted or distracted by other people.
Prepare Your Surroundings
Take a look behind you and check what the interviewer will see on the call. Make sure you have a clean, uncluttered area behind you. Also be sure to let anyone else who is at home know about your meeting to ensure you are not interrupted.
Practice Makes Perfect
Nerves before an interview are completely normal and these are often increased before a video interview, especially if you are new to the concept. Your first few calls are bound to feel awkward as you work out where to look and how loudly to speak. It’s a good idea to practice with a friend and record it so you can not only get feedback from your friend but you can get an idea of how you come across on video.
Don’t Forget to Smile!
This may seem obvious however it’s much more of a natural instinct to smile at a face to face interview. With an online interview, you may need to consciously think about doing so as you’re more likely to be distracted by equipment or the camera.
We hope the above helps you prepare for your next video interview. As you can see, it’s not too dissimilar from a face to face interview.
FGS Recruitment is a boutique recruitment agency specialising in recruiting sales and marketing jobs in our core markets of Digital Media, Learning & Development and Market Research. Keep up to date with our latest career advice articles and jobs by signing up to our newsletter and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.