With the hard economic time and the advancements in Internet and webcam technology, employers are finding a way to save thousands of dollars by conducting interviews over Skype. Instead of flying in their candidates, employers are embracing the quick and low-cost option of a Skype interview. We have all worked to practice and perfect our interview skills, but are we prepared for this new alternative?
Time Magazine recently did a video blog explaining the process and shared some helpful tips to keep in mind when interviewing via webcam. Here are a few I found most useful:
-Select the location where you will conduct the interview and see how the background will appear behind you. Make sure there are no major distractions on the wall, but also don’t make it look like you are sitting in an empty jail cell.
- Good lighting is essential! A well-lit room with an additional light shining on your face will make for the perfect webcaming conditions. Testing this before the interview will make for fewer adjustments later on.
-Make sure to minimize distractions while you are interviewing. Common distractions include roommates or employees walking in the room, phones ringing, cats jumping on your desk, and e-mail notifications sounding.
- When deciding what to wear, keep in mind that your image will be very small on the interviewer’s computer screen. Keep it basic and avoid patterns that could be distorted or distracting to your viewer.
- Make direct eye contact with the camera. When the interviewer is talking it is acceptable to look at his or her image, but when you are responding, look directly at the camera. Direct eye contact with the camera will give the interviewer the sense that you are looking directly at him or her. A useful tip is to take a photo of a friend, punch a small whole in the middle of it, and attach it directly over the webcam.
- Right before you begin your interview, go on Skype and warm-up with a friend. Send them some questions and practice making eye contact to get used to talking to another person via webcam.
It’s likely that each of us will face a webcam interview during our careers in public relations, and being comfortable with it will make you that much more competitive. Also, keep in mind that all of these same principles could be used for webcam client meetings and other interactions with the people we work with daily.
Mason Hughes, Account Executive
