Best Skype Interview Tips
Dress to Impress
Wear something professional for your Skype interview. Don't think you just dress up from the waist up. You need to be professional from head toe, just like for an in-person interview. Make sure you wear something that works with video. If you usually wear make-up to in-person interviews, you probably don't need it for a Skype interview. Remember that how something looks in person doesn't always appear the same in video. So you can still do a touch of makeup, but you won't need as much as would you normally wear.
The Set-Up
You want to make sure that whatever area you choose to set up your Skype interview is clean and won't have any distracting elements shown in the video. Choose your background carefully and move things around if you have to. It's also important to have good lighting. Do a test video to confirm that everything looks good and is in the right place.
It's Okay to "Cheat"
The advantage of Skype and phone interviews is that you don't have to remember everything you want to mention. Use sticky notes to remind you of what you want to say or ask. Try not to write out full sentences so that you won't sound like you're reading verbatim. Have an idea of what you want to say and write out easy words or phrases to remind you. Keep the sticky notes at a reasonable distance so you won't have to look too far at them. You just want to be able to glance at it.
Practice
Just like with any interview, you'll want to practice first. Especially with something different like a Skype interview, it's a good idea to get a friend and record a practice interview. You'll become comfortable with what to do with your hands, how loudly to speak, and where to look. The more times you practice, the more comfortable and confident you will become.
Prepare Early
Don’t wait until five minutes before your interview to start up your computer. Just in case you have any technical difficulties, set up at least 30 minutes to an hour early to address any problems. It's better to sit and wait, knowing you have everything ready to go.
Body Language
During your Skype interview, you don't want be a statue sitting in one place and having only your mouth move. Make hand gestures, nod and shake your head, and even sift your body now and again. This shows that even though you aren't in person, you are still listening and engaged in the conversation. You also want to make sure you have good posture.
Smile
In an in-person interview, you would naturally smile and shake hands with the interviewer. While you can't shake hands over a Skype interview, you can still smile. Smiling is the best ice breaker and is a good first and continuing impression on your interviewer. Also, affirming sounds like "yes" and "hm" are good ways to keep yourself present and live while speaking over video.