Thankfully, working from home has gotten easier because of the wonderful world of technology. We are able to perform job duties to our fullest without ever leaving home. Skype is becoming the fastest interview platform for many different companies because of simplicity and inexpensiveness. Whether you are conducting a Skype interview or on the interviewee end, here are 5 tips to consider before you log on next:
Internet Connection:
First and foremost, you want to make sure that your internet connection is fast and reliable. There is nothing like a choppy and dysfunctional Skype interview to really frustrate both ends of the interview. Contact your local internet provider to make sure that you have a dependable and fast connection well enough for Skype.
Location:
You want to set the computer in a part of your home that is quiet and has little to no distractions. You don’t want a child come running in during an important interview.
Background:
Your face and upper body should be framed evenly in the screen and reflect a simple background. Avoid any personal photo frames, busy wall paper or anything that the other person on the other side could deem distracting. With that said you don’t want a stark white wall as a background either. Think about sitting in front of a nice bookshelf or a window with curtain/blinds.
Lighting:
Lighting placement is very important on how you appear to the other person. A bright, fluorescent light directly above your head can be harsh on your skin tone and cast awkward shadows on your face. Try sitting near a window with natural sunlight or use a soft table lamp and place it near you.
Eye Contact:
When it comes to video chatting, your eyes naturally gravitate to yourself as you speak. The goal of the Skype interview is to make it feel as real as possible. You want to give the feeling that you are face to face in an actual office interview. So look at the camera as you speak, it will have the other person feeling like you are speaking directly to them.
Clothing and Makeup:
Test out your make up by doing it before the interview and seeing how you appear on screen. You don’t want to look like a clown and you don’t want to look like you just woke up. You may need to go a little heavy on the blush to give your face some color on screen. As far as your outfit goes, avoid anything that will wash you out, wear dark colors like plum, navy and black. The neckline needs to be professional.
Practice:
Skype with a friend or relative to make sure that your Skype is properly working. This is a good chance to test out the lighting and background on your friends. Ask them if they feel like your make up and clothing is good for an interview. Also note the volume level of your voice and that you are heard clearly.
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