BPS World is a global recruitment company and interviewing people on Skype is a regular tool of communication for our business.
The most important thing to remember before participating in a Skype interview is to check that the technology works. Check the connection is working first by Skyping a friend as this way you will have time to resolve any “glitches” before the start of the interview.
Many people are not used to “Skyping” and feel self-conscious with being in front of a screen so take the time to practice and watch yourself talking; this will help you to feel comfortable in front of the camera. Look at how you sit in the chair, do you move around too much or use too many hand gestures which can be distracting? Make sure you look at the camera and not down at your notes – try to make as much eye contact as possible, don’t make the mistake of looking at the screen and not the camera.
In many ways a Skype interview is similar to a typical face to face interview, make sure you dress smartly, speak clearly and concisely. BPS World advise their candidates that if you are Skyping from home make sure you are in a quiet room and notify people in your house that you are on a Skype interview; you do not want noisy distractions and remember to switch off your phone. Make sure the room is well lit so the interviewer can see you clearly try and avoid “busy” backdrops like a window so they are no visual distractions.
The most important thing to remember is be prepared if technology lets you down; don’t get flustered, take your time to fix the problem, it is acceptable to let the interviewer know you need to end the call and try again. If there is a time delay because of the connection don’t try and talk over the interviewer, allow them to finish their sentence before answering. Using a headset can also overcome these problems and filter out any background noise.
Remember to treat a Skype interview as you would any interview, be attentive, positive and interested, make sure you prepare questions and show you are knowledgeable about their business.
If you would like any more advice on how to prepare for a Skype interview please contact Kelly Laine 01628 857343 or kelly.laine@bps-world.com