It’s understandable if you’re feeling nervous about your first Skype or video interview. After all, interviewing over video has some different rules and expectations. Below we give you the low-down on perfecting your video interview technique, which will help you land that job.
Preparation is key
As soon as you’ve agreed on the time and date of your video interview, you need to get preparing. If you haven’t done so already, make an account on Skype or whatever software you’re using for the interview. You may need to download the programme, so it’s essential that you allow time to do so.
Next, choose an appropriate and professional picture for your profile. You don’t want to set off on the wrong foot with a drunk picture from your summer holiday. Once this is all set up, add the interviewer in advance and send them an email to confirm they’ve received your contact request. There may be more than one person with their name and you don’t want any confusion.
Now you need to prepare yourself. Make sure you’ve researched the company and role. Practice common interview questions and ensure you have points to talk about if any of these come up. Remember to have some questions prepared to ask the interviewer too. Employers don’t favour candidates who stay silent when asked ‘do you have any questions for us?’.
Try doing a test run with a friend to check how prepared you are. They may be able to offer some helpful advice and cover any points you may have not considered.
On the day, you need to plan for the inevitable. Put your phone on silent, unplug the landline phone, lock any pets out of the room and leave a ‘do not disturb’ note on your door if necessary. These could all distract you during your video interview or make you come across as unprofessional.
Think about your surroundings
You have control of the location of the video interview, so make the right choice. A messy and cluttered room will send the wrong impression to the recruiter. Find a tidy space where there is a blank wall behind you and avoid having personal pictures in the background.
Think about what the webcam will show. You want to sit in a position where your shoulders are visible and your head isn’t too close or too far away from the camera. Lighting is also important to take into account. You don’t want to look like a silhouette, after all.
Dress to impress
Because the interview takes place at home, it’s tempting to assume that you can dress more casually. However, this isn’t the case. You still need to dress in smart interview attire, whether that’s a suit or a smart dress with a blazer.
Also, don’t fall into the trap of wearing a smart top-half with your pyjama bottoms. If you reach to grab something, you’re at risk of getting caught out. So wear your full interview outfit to get you in the right mind-set and avoid any blunders.
Make use of prompts
Make use of being at home with information prompts. You could use post-it notes with key pointers on to help you if you get stuck for something to say. Prepare any notes ahead of time and lay them out so you can quickly look at them if necessary. Also, print out your CV and cover letter for reference, in case you get asked any questions about them.
Focus on your body language
Body language is essential to show you’re interested and confident. While it’s common to look at the screen when you’re talking on Skype, you actually need to look at the webcam. This will show the interviewer that you’re making eye contact and ensures that you look more engaged. Don’t be tempted to look out of the window or at yourself. You need to show you’re focused at all times. It’s also easy to feel tense so relax your shoulders and sit up straight to give a good impression.
It’s harder to get your personality across over a camera so you need to make an extra effort to be friendly and smile. This will help to make you more memorable and inject some personality into the individual they’ve read about on your CV.
In summary
Skype interviews are a different ball game to real life interviews and you need to prepare effectively. It’s understandable to feel daunted about the prospect of meeting someone through a video interview, but if you plan ahead everything should run smoothly.
For more advice on interviews check out our complete interview guide.
