
Last year we gave you some tips in terms of preparing for an interview, but what if your first conversation with an employer is going to be online – via Skype (or any video call programs)? As a matter of fact, all recommendations mentioned before apply, however, there are some peculiar things you need to keep in mind when being interviewed online. Here are some tips and techniques to manage a remote call.
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Insure the technical part goes smoothly
Check your internet connection and make sure your laptop (or another device you use) is connected to power. Before the interview starts, test your camera and the way you will appear to a potential employer.
Use the following check-list to verify if everything is alright:
– Your face does not occupy the whole window – it is difficult for perception. At the same time you are not sitting too far. Your face is about ¾ of the window;
– The image is at the right angle. By natural we mean: almost like if you were looking at a person in real life. Adjust your screen and camera appropriately if necessary;
– The lightning or the sunshine do not go from behind making the picture blind. Again, adjust it when possible. Sometimes it is better to close the curtains and turn on a lamp, because you can control the direction of lightning.
If some issues arise during the conversation, try to address them immediately. Do not hesitate asking to repeat a question if you didn’t quite hear it. Most importantly, do not panic, if you get disconnected. It happens sometimes and your interviewer also understands it well.
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This Skype conversation is still a job interview!
So, please, do not ”show up” wearing your training suit or only in a nice shirt yet with your holiday shorts on. Why not? First, because in case you need to stand up and bring something, your complete outfit will get visible. Second, proper clothes will make you feel more confident and, so to say, like you are having a real interview in a company’s office.
Do not forget to tidy up your room in advance! Remove all the clutter from the background and keep it as plain as possible. Remember, the focus should be on you. A messy background will not only district your interviewer, but also create a certain impression of who you are as a person and the way you do business.
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The main psychological aspect of a remote interview is a lack of emotional feedback
It was proved that we receive around 80% of the information about a person via non-verbal channels such as a posture, gestures etc. In case of a video chat people are considerably deprived from this sort of stimulation. Here are some ideas to enrich your communicaton:
– Most of time look straight in a camera. That will give an impression that you are looking into your interviewer’s eyes, thus, maintaining the important eye contact;
– Smile during the conversation. This will break the ice and create a friendly constructive environment for your interview.
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Get some advantage of it!
Although talking on Skype might me different and stressful at times, it also brings some benefits such as:
1) You do not need to spend your extra time and money on travelling (and trying to find the right building, a free parking place ect.) ;
2) You stay at home, where you feel most comfortable at all;
3) You can place you notes and your CV next to you that will make you feel more confident even if you do not use them.
.We want to wish you all the best in acing your video interview!
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Keywords: interview, internet, online, conference call, Skype, Google, video, chat, remote, virtual, engineer, programmer, researcher, engineering, science, software, technology, recruitment
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