Of all of the interview types, I personally have the most difficulty with Skype interviews. Something about them just makes me more nervous than others. However, with practice and preparation, you can nail your next Skype interview. Many graduate programs prefer Skype interviews over phone interviews because it is kind of the best of both worlds; they still get that “face-to-face” time with you when you are unable to travel to their preview days (if they have them). Make sure to check out my blog posts on on-campus/general interview tips and phone interviews!
1. Professional dress
Just like with an on-campus interview, you want to dress professionally for a Skype interview. You might think, “the interviewer will only see my top half. I’ll just put on a nice top and wear my pajamas.” This works just fine until you have to get up to adjust the lighting or plug in your computer. Dress professionally from head to toe to avoid any embarrassing problems in the middle of the interview.
2. Your surroundings
Make sure to check your lighting before the interview begins. You don’t want the background to be too dark or too bright. Also, make sure you are interviewing in front of a blank space if possible. A plain wall in the background is best, but if not, just make sure you aren’t in front of anything too busy that will distract the interviewer from what you are saying. Find a nice, quiet place to conduct the interview. If you’re in a loud residence hall or apartment, try to find another room on campus. Many times, campus career centers have rooms available for students to use, or at the very least, they might be able to point you to a place on campus you can use!
3. Test your connection
It is best to have a wired connection rather than relying on wi-fi; however, that isn’t always possible. Get set up wherever you will be holding the interview a little bit early to test your internet connection and make sure it is reliable enough. Try doing a practice run with a friend if possible to get all of the kinks out and see how good your connection is.
4. Make “eye contact”
When talking to others via video chat, it is our instinct to look right at the screen. This actually gives the illusion that you are looking below them, not at them. Instead of looking at the screen, look into the camera. This will give the appearance that you are making eye contact with the interviewer.
5. Use your resources
Similar to phone interviews, an advantage of the Skype interview is the ability to use cheat sheets. Have a copy of your resume or some sticky notes with important information handy in case you get stuck. While it is more obvious to use a cheat sheet during a Skype interview, you can still look at your notes quickly in between questions or while thinking of an answer. Try not to rely too heavily on your notes.
6. Exit other programs
Other programs can be unpredictable. Leaving Facebook up during a Skype interview might interrupt the interview with sounds from notifications or videos playing. It is best to exit all other programs when you are preparing for the interview. Remember to turn the sound off on any other devices as well including cell phones, mp3 players, radios, or tablets.
7. Professionalism and body language
The first thing the interviewer will know about you during a Skype interview is your username and the picture you have selected as your icon. Make sure that these are professional. If your current username isn’t professional, create a new account specifically for interviews! Also be careful of your body language. The interviewer(s) can only see part of you, so your body language might not translate well from in-person to Skype.
In addition to these Skype-specific tips, make sure to look over the on-campus and phone interview tips! Many of these are applicable to Skype because, as said before, Skype is like the best of both worlds. Prepare and practice to nail your next Skype interview. Good luck to everyone who will be interviewing over the coming months! Please feel free to leave comments or questions about any of the interview tips!
From Passion to Purpose 