“What is it about your nasal cavity that you think will help you get this job?”

First impressions count in interviews, don’t they? Most people make an extra effort with how they dress, fix their hair and do their make-up. We all know that strong posture, firm (but not-too-firm) handshake and eye-contact are the order of the day. But why does this all go out of the window when it comes to interviews on Skype?
In the dozen or so interviews which I have conducted in the past fortnight, I have looked up several noses, looked down on bald patches, spoken to cut-off heads and even been introduced to a cat! Furthermore, it’s difficult to make a connection when candidates are checking out how they look on screen or look as if they are speaking to someone over my left shoulder.
 So, given that Skype interviews are becoming increasingly common - here’s a few dos and don’ts:

1. Take some time to adjust the height of the camera. Make sure that the screen and camera is at eye-level when you’re sitting down. 
2. Practise speaking into the camera. Anyone who has done media training knows that the key to coming across as authentic on camera is ‘to look through the lens’. (When I’m doing a Skype interview, I have the camera on a stand just in front of the screen so that when I’m looking at the interviewer’s eyes on screen, I am looking through camera.) 
3. Don’t sit too close to the camera. There is no reason to sit right at your desk, push back a metre or so – there is less of a sense of invading each other’s space and it makes the whole experience less intense. 
4. Invest in an Extension Microphone. A USB extension microphone is very cheap – it will improve the sound quality and will allow you to sit further away from the camera. Don’t forget to test the sound levels. 
5. Think about what’s behind you. A good background can make a positive impression, a busy or untidy one can be a distraction. 
6. Avoid backlighting. The angelic halo tends to get in the way. 
7. Never wear a headset. Do I really need to explain why? 
8. Take time to prepare for the Interview. There’s an element of ritual about face-to-face interviews that prepares candidate for the interview (getting dressed, travel to the school, checking in with Reception, waiting for the interview). Much of this can be lost when you are fitting in a quick interview between lessons or between breakfast and heading to school. Try to arrange the Skype at a time when you have the opportunity to prepare physically and mentally.
9. Don’t put Post-its around the screen – you wouldn’t have notes at a face-to-face interview, so why do people think that it’s acceptable on Skype? It’s so obvious and shows a lack of confidence.
   Oh, and finally, 
10. Make sure that you’re fully dressed! You never know what might happen during the call!

This article was published in Tes 08/02/2019 as '10 steps to acing a Skype job interview'