Today was a first for me, I had a Skype/Video interview. I was first introduced to this concept when watching the Jetsons. I remember their video phones and the uncomfortable situations when George Jetson's boss, Mr. Cosmo Spacely would call and bust George for goofing off.
I think the technology is cool but it does take away the freedom to communicate with potential employers in your pj's having not brushed my teeth or hair. Well I am not that gross, well maybe sometimes (hee hee).
Luckily, some of my friends tutored me on Skype so when the recruiter had suggested the video conference, I could act like it was something I did all the time. I set up my account this weekend to make sure I was a pro this morning as I really had no idea how it worked.
When you are video interviewing there are alot of things to take into consideration. First of all hair and makeup. I did a trial run this weekend and realized that curly hair kind of looks crazy on Skype. I also am pale by nature so a little extra blush was needed. The last thing I had to do was figure out how far to push back the screen so that the interviewer was not looking up my nose.
Once I had myself together I had to make sure that I did not have anything in the background that could be distracting. I looked at my image and noticed that two cute teddy bears were in the picture. Not really the professional image I was trying to achieve.
THE INTERVIEW
So I received the call from the recruiter and apparently she did not subscribe to my preparation for a successful interview. She had her screen tilted in a way that made her face look distorted and there was a bunch of crap - like papers and books that made her not look so professional. It was hard to focus as I fixated on her piles in the back of the room. In addition, Skype continued to freeze up and thus a frozen image of our face was stuck on the site. It was always something awkward like your mouth wide open and one eye closed. We lost connection several times - never saw that with Oprah - but all and all the interview went well. I finished the discussion feeling like I had tackled a new piece of technology. Also, as a Talent Acquisition leader this is a method that I think is really effective for phone screens.
REALIZATION
There is an art to Skype and the proper preparation really helps you seal the deal. Making sure that you looking into the camera, wearing a flattering color and trying not to get distracted by the lagging video is a newly acquired talent but the wave of the future. REALIZATION 2 - I love Skype - what a cool way to talk to friends around the world. I can't wait to talk to my friend Pauline in the UK.
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