The Skype Interview

[Hegel's Bagels]

I have a Skype interview scheduled with "faculty" this week. I've never had an interview on Skype before, does anyone have any suggestions? Also, where would be an appropriate place to take the online call? (Obviously not lounging in bed wearing my flannel PJs) If anybody has any advice about the specific Skype interview process, I'd really appreciate it!

[snes]

If you're using a laptop, hooking it up with an ethernet cord directly to your router/modem will produce a more reliable connection than just going wireless. I don't think it matters too much where you take the call, as long as the background isn't distracting (people/tv/weird posters/whatever) and that your light source isn't blinding you or the camera. Do a test skype with a friend to make sure that your microphone is picking you up clearly, too!

[hungry]

For the Mitchel Scholarship Skype interviews the coordinator told us to look at the following 2 links beforehand. I never actually watched the video but I found the article to be very helpful. If you are less lazy than I am, maybe the video will be helpful too.

Link 1 (Article she sent out): http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1933214,00.html

Link 2 (Video she sent out): http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,46937715001_1933401,00.html

Best of luck! Just remember to relax and be yourself

[Hegel's Bagels]

For the Mitchel Scholarship Skype interviews the coordinator told us to look at the following 2 links beforehand. I never actually watched the video but I found the article to be very helpful. If you are less lazy than I am, maybe the video will be helpful too.

Link 1 (Article she sent out): http://www.time.com/...1933214,00.html

Link 2 (Video she sent out): http://www.time.com/...1933401,00.html

Best of luck! Just remember to relax and be yourself

Thanks! Those links were really helpful!

[CarlieE]

Someone I know who did one suggested turning off the self view window...

[Aubergine]

Someone I know who did one suggested turning off the self view window...

A prof of mine suggested that I move the self view window to the top/middle of the screen, just under the camera. She's like, "you always end up looking at yourself anyway. This way it looks like you're looking into the camera."

Probably goes without saying, but make sure that what the camera sees behind you is neat and tidy, and not too 'busy.' And be prepared to meet technological problems with humour and grace. We had a problem early on where my image froze and they had to call me back. Lucky for me, my proposed research is on issues of temporality, so I got to make a joke about time lag.

Edit: And good luck, artofdescribing!

Edited February 15, 2012 by Aubergine

[Aubergine]

Also, where would be an appropriate place to take the online call?

I took mine at my desk in my bedroom, but not before I moved all the crap (namely, a rack of clothes) that usually rests against the wall opposite my desk! If it had been later in the day and I'd been on campus, I might have asked to use my supervisor's office.

[snes]

I kept the self view window open. It was small enough that it wasn't distracting, but I kept it open to just make sure I was always squarely in the frame. It helped me realize that my default "listening" face looks like MISERY on camera, so I tried to smile a whole lot more.

[Kbk9]

I just starred at the little camera hole the whole time. It is kind of weird not looking at the person talking, but it looks like you are starring them in the eye, unless I guess they stare a the camera too, but they are the prof and don't care.

[purpledinosaur]

I just had my first Skype interview on Saturday. Those things are AWFUL! It is so awkward, and it's really hard not to look at yourself in the little window! I think the hardest thing was that the profs on the other end didn't really know how to use the webcam properly, so I mostly saw the tops of their heads/sides of their faces!

Anyway, I guess it must have gone well, because I got accepted. Super awkward though, I must say.

[BruceWayne24]

I really did not find it awkward at all. The profs were supernice, and it never really felt like a proper interview. Then again, they mostly knew how to use the webcams

I had mine in my bedroom as well, right in front of my book shelves, and threw all my crap on my bed beforehand...hoped it was okay!

[BRHM11]

i had my first skype interview this application season. my best advice is to PRACTICE! not just what you say, but what you're wearing, what's behind you, and so on. my mom gave me recommendations about how certain colors looked on her computer and stuff like that. my interview wasn't long (about 20 minutes) and the professors were very nice. also practice because i found looking directly at the camera rather than at the faces onscreen difficult to get the hang of. i used a wireless connection and didn't have any problems, but if yours isn't quite stable you'll want an ethernet cord.

one more thing: if you live in a house with other people (as i do), graciously ask that they refrain from showering/partying/cooking or talking loudly during the interview. while i was practicing with my mom someone started to take a shower, and she said it sounded very loud on her end. i'm glad that happened so i could ask people not to do that during the real interview.

[purpledinosaur]

BRHM11, I second all of that! I'd also like to add that you should make sure you fix your computer's settings so that it won't go to screen saver or fall asleep all the time during your interview! Mine kept going to screensaver so I constantly had to remember to move the cursor on top of answering the questions coherently.