Acing the Skype Interview

In this world of corporate cost cutting, you may find yourself facing your computer camera rather a hiring manager. Treat the cyber interview as you would a personal interview with a few twists.

· Establish a “clean” background, clutter free. Tidy bookshelves work well, no nick-knacks. Don’t use a background with any moving “traffic” such as passerbys or vehicle traffic. You don’t want anything to distract the interviewers from you.

· Do you best to light your set. Turn on all available lighting, both lamps as well as overheads. You don’t want a spotlight effect with your face popping out of a black hole. That can make you look sinister. Work on your back lighting first, then use lamps to brighten up your face. Your goal is to come as close as you can to what you see on network news interviews, achieving a warm and open feeling.

· Just because you are at home, don’t be casual. Confidence is key! Professional clothes, tidy hair and make up are important. Men should use a touch of powder to avoid that shiny look which can translate to fop sweat from the other side of the camera

· Check your broadband speed well ahead of your interview. If it’s sluggish, your image on the other side will be jerky. Not good. If you’ve got a problem, use a friend’s home instead.

· Practice makes perfect. Do a practice run with a friend or family member on the other side.

· Lastly, look directly into your computer’s camera and don’t glance off. That will make you look shifty, distracted and disinterested.—the last impression you want to make with the hiring manager.