Skype interview for PhD

[goahead]

Just got an email to schedule a Skype interview with DGS and 1-2 faculty members....I am excited and nervous too. Not sure which faculty members will be interviewing. Is it OK to ask department about the probable interviewers (names), so that I can prepare better? Interview is scheduled on 19th Feb. Also, if anyone has any advice regarding Skype interview, i will appreciate.. Thanks!

[TXInstrument11]

I don't see why that would be a problem. Just call the admissions coordinator or shoot them an email. 

 

As for advice on Skype interviews, I would advise you to test out the lighting in the room you're going to be using. Light behind you creates shadows over your face with sometimes hilarious results. I think I kind of looked like a ring wraith from LoTR in my interview, lol [i'm very pale - almost an honorary Twilight cast member]. You can compensate for this by kicking up the brightness on your monitor to an extent, but the blue glow at higher settings will then make you look like a disgruntled hacker smurf, so moving around a semi-bright desk lamp might work.

 

One thing nice about Skype interviews is your clothes don't have to look nice, not even your shirt, if you're a bit up close and personal with the camera. I was dressed pretty well, but either of us (me or my POI) could have made it work wearing ratty PJs and the other person wouldn't have known. So, if you want to pull a Mark Zuckerberg and wear your middle school basketball shorts w/ a ratty old sweatshirt, by all means do. 

 

That fabulous getup may or may not be my go-to Skype interview uniform from here on out.

Edited February 11, 2015 by TXInstrument11

[nightfarmer]

Hello, I also got asked to do a skype interview this week. I have done this sort of thing before (already in an MA program) and I've gotta push back against the first poster a little bit here about the clothing. Skype interviews are another example of not too little, not too much for dressiness. Of course, the question is, as always, what are the bounds? So here's what I, as a guy currently preparing himself for a skype interview tomorrow will wear (your profile doesn't say how you identify) : button down shirt - not too nice, like a tux shirt or anything - and no tie. Torso is really all that matters for this kind of thing. Make sure your hair doesn't look crazy. Don't look like a frat boy or that it's your first interview ever, but also don't look like you just rolled out of bed.

In terms of technology, maybe do a screen test first to make sure people can actually see you (and adjust the blinds/lighting accordingly) but unless you're interviewing for a camera operator position this won't matter. So many professors don't even know how to open a powerpoint that you'll still be in the ranks of a technology jedi just for being able to do the interview on skype.

There's really nothing to say to instill confidence in you that you haven't already heard. Try not to be nervous. They read your application and liked it, so they want to like you.

[bmephdlife]

I just did a skype interview with the one of my grad schools. It's definitely important to know who you are interviewing with. I emailed admissions office to find out. Sometimes it's your POI interviewing you it's a random professor in the faculty admissions committee. I was able to do some research on the professor I was interviewing with and that was well received. 

 

I also looked up youtube videos of interview etiquette and most commonly asked questions. Those helped a lot. It's also nice to prepare a list of meaningful questions to show your interests in the program. Review your application essay and CV before the interview. And make sure your sound is good, lighting is good and leave your number with them in case internet connections break.

 

Finally, after the interview, I suggest sending a thank you email to the professors you met.  

 

Good luck on your interview.

[goahead]

Thanks every one. I have prepared few questions to ask the Profs. about their research. I emailed the program assistant and she replied that she don't have names of the interviewers yet. Thanks nightfarmer...you are right, only thing I need is to look confident . Is is fine to contact current grad students for advice/help?

[Bacchanalia]

I did a skype interview recently, and the best thing I can tell you from my experience is that you should expect technical difficulties. The institution interviewing me had to turn off their video feed, so they could see me and I couldn't see them. This was the only way we could maintain a good connection. It was unnerving talking to a blank screen, but it ended up going really well.

 

I was totally prepared for the whole thing to not work at all, so even a bit of functionality felt like a win. 

 

Also, the best advice I got was, they want you, or they wouldn't be interviewing you. Make sure you ask them questions about the program and how your work would fit in. It lets them know that you are taking the process seriously and that you are thinking critically about the program. It may help to think of them as colleagues instead of big scary professors making decisions about your future. 

[bbdd2]

I did a skype interview recently, and the best thing I can tell you from my experience is that you should expect technical difficulties. The institution interviewing me had to turn off their video feed, so they could see me and I couldn't see them. This was the only way we could maintain a good connection. It was unnerving talking to a blank screen, but it ended up going really well.

I was totally prepared for the whole thing to not work at all, so even a bit of functionality felt like a win.

Also, the best advice I got was, they want you, or they wouldn't be interviewing you. Make sure you ask them questions about the program and how your work would fit in. It lets them know that you are taking the process seriously and that you are thinking critically about the program. It may help to think of them as colleagues instead of big scary professors making decisions about your future.

I second this.

During my interview Skype momentarily froze for about 10 seconds. Pretty awkward.

They kept telling me they couldn't hear me properly.

Overall the interview went well.

[goahead]

Thanks everyone for your valuable advice...just had my Skype interview. It went well. I was told that DGS and 1-2 faculty members Will be interviewing me but it turned out to be DGS only..he told that no other faculty was available today..how do you guys see this situation? Should I take it positively thinking they might have selected me already...or they might have rejected me and nobody bothered to take the interview....interview was just for 20min..DGS told me at the end that I did good in the interview...I'm nervous

[fellowdroog]

Thanks everyone for your valuable advice...just had my Skype interview. It went well. I was told that DGS and 1-2 faculty members Will be interviewing me but it turned out to be DGS only..he told that no other faculty was available today..how do you guys see this situation? Should I take it positively thinking they might have selected me already...or they might have rejected me and nobody bothered to take the interview....interview was just for 20min..DGS told me at the end that I did good in the interview...I'm nervous

Them not showing up shouldn't really have anything to do with you as a candidate. This sort of thing happened to me. I was told 3 people + my POI were going to be in a Skype interview. When the skype interview started my POI wasn't there. He just straight up didn't show and they didn't know where he was, so the interview only lasted about 15 minutes haha. He ended up e-mailing me later and we set up another time to talk. I guess I interviewed well because I ended up getting in! 

 

I wouldn't read into it too much either way. As long as you interviewed well and did your best with the situation (which it sounds like you did) all you can do is wait unfortunately. Best of luck to you!!!