No one really looks forward to a Skype interview. Everything about you is being processed through this $19 camera that came with your laptop. It’s difficult to really get a sense of the person you’re interviewing. But there are too many logistical advantages to videoconferencing for it to go away. Yes, the future probably holds more and more videoconference interviews. Who knows maybe virtual reality interviews are the next big thing, but until then here’s some tips to do it right.

No Technical Difficulty

Get into the room you’ll be interviewing in early and make sure all the equipment is working properly. Don’t let tech unhinge the interview. Would you work for a company that couldn’t figure out how to Skype someone?

Your Skype Name is What?

Maybe you didn’t realize your Skype name SpacedCowboy7 would be used in a business context. If your handle is really ridiculous, you may want to change it.

Time Zones

It’s usually the simple things like this that somehow hold the power to mess everything up. Make sure you’re aligned with the interviewee on the time and the time zone.

Just Like a Regular Interview (Only on, like, Skype)

Set a professional tone. Decorum should be exactly the same. Conduct yourself as if there was a person sitting in front of you.

The Internet Handshake

No, that’s not the name of the latest dance craze. It’s a real thing. It’s eye contact followed by a slight nod. It usually comes after the greeting, just like a normal handshake.

Record it?

One of the bonuses of the Skype interview is that you don’t need to take notes. You have to get a plug-in to record, Vodburner is a good one.

Videoconferencing saves a lot of time and money. If the interviewer and interviewee are not in the same state or country then it’s an amazing convenience. It can never fully replace an in-person interview, where you get a better sense around how this person will fit into your organization, but it’s a great way to start the interview process.

About NextGen

NextGen is the brainchild of longtime telecom professionals with nearly 50 years of experience and millions of dollars in Telecom Recruiting Services. We focus on establishing long term relationships with our clients and candidates so we can recruit the best and the brightest in the telecom industry. This ‘quality over quantity’ approach is at the heart of everything we do and has resulted in successful job placements at Fortune 1000 firms worldwide.