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Skype Interview - mastering a job search skill

Skype Interview Laura Machan Career Skill, Job Interview
Skype Interview Laura Machan Career Skill, Job Interview

This week has been interesting. I met a lot of people – about half in person and the other half virtually on a Skype interview.

I like the Skype interview. I don’t feel guilty about making people come all the way to my office (and mortgage their car to pay for downtown parking). It’s also easier to fit in to busy people’s schedules.

Here is what I noticed. The people who met me in person had obviously taken care with their appearance and their timing. There was a general sense of preparedness about them when I met them in our reception area.

The skype chats were different. It seemed to be a much more casual thing. Not too much care with the surroundings and not to concerned about attire.

Now, I know that different industries have different “uniforms”. If you meeting someone from a financial institution, you need to look well dressed and successful. Cuff links and monogrammed cuffs are optional but the suit is mandatory.

But even if you are interviewing in a software company with Red Bull on tap, you are probably going to put on a clean t shirt.

Don’t let a Skype interview be your downfall. It is just as important as an in-person one.

  1. Be ready – test your wifi connection with a friend before the call
  2. Look neat – you can take the TV news anchor approach – shirt and tie on top, shorts on the bottom
  3. Have your resume and place to make notes beside you
  4. Turn off your phone – you know it’s going with that obnoxious ring tone you assigned to your brother-in-law in the middle of the thorny salary question
  5. Remove distractions – let everyone (including your dog) know that you are in an important meeting

These things won’t necessarily get you the job but they will help you make a better impression.

You can follow Laura Machan on her twitter account @recruiterscouch. A complete list of her articles can be found here.