More and more employers are starting to perform initial interviews for management positions via Skype or similar online tools for video transmission rather than just on the phone. They want to get more information about applicants this way. Preparation for such an interview is therefore more difficult than preparing for a phone call. So, how to properly prepare and what to watch out for in particular?
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Try a Skype call with someone from your friends or family a few days before the interview and ask for feedback.
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Be careful what can be seen behind you. The environment you sit in should look professional.
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Check the lighting. A light should not shine at you neither from the front nor from the back because your face would then look just like a white or black silhouette. This also applies to windows.
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Turn off other programs on your computer not to disturb you during the interview by their image and especially their sound.
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Do not sit too close to the computer. In addition to the your head, your shoulders and the upper part of your chest should be seen on the camera, too. Place the camera slightly higher than your face, definitely not below it.
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Secure the fastest possible Internet connection. Rather than relying on a wireless connection, prepare the cable.
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Do not look at your picture on the monitor but in the camera.
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If the picture of your face on your screen distracts you or you tend to give more attention to yourself than to the person who conducts the interview with you, turn your picture off.
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Prepare for possible technical problems. For example, do not rely on life of the battery of your computer and prepare your phone for a possible transition to a telephone interview.
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If it is your first video interview, do not be afraid to admit it. The recruiter could gain a better understanding for you.
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