precautions while using skype

Skype, for instance, will include a small image of yourself in the corner of your screen. If you tend to watch the image of yourself rather than watching your interviewer, change your setting to remove that window altogetheror just cover it with a sticky note.

Keep your computer plugged in so the battery doesnt die, and keep your phone on hand in case the interview mode changes at the last minute.

That will help break the ice, and most interviewers will be very understanding and inclined to cut you some slack if you seem uncomfortable .

Youll look much more professional sitting at a desk or table and against a neutral background without any clutter. Make sure that you dont have wine glasses, cigarettes, or clutter visible in the background.

Aim light at yourself from the front, not from behind you. A lamp with diffused lighting about six feet in front of you works well. You can also try covering your light source with a cloth to soften it. And make sure that youre not backlit from a window or light source behind you; if you are, you can end up appearing on the screen as just a dark silhouette.

You dont want a beep every time you receive a new email, for instance, or a reminder popping up of that other interview you have tomorrow.

It can be confusing, but when youre looking at your monitor it actually makes the interviewer feel as if youre looking away. Instead, look directly at the video camera youre using for your interview. And although youre not making eye contact in the traditional sense, this is the way that the interviewer perceives that youre looking straight ahead.

Since youre used to living in the house, it can be easy to forget to turn off a phone or not warn family members to give you some privacy, Schembari says. Have a plan for whatever distractions you have in your house, including children and dogs. Too many people dont take [Skype interviews] as seriously as in person interviews, but you need to be just as professional here, she says.

During the interview, you can see yourself in the video camera, which can be startling if youve never seen yourself speak. Its important to get familiar with your own facial expressions when you talk, says Colleen Aylward, chief executive of InterviewStudio Inc., a company that offers video interview capabilities. It also gets rid of some of the camera shyness.

Your surroundings can say a lot about how youve prepared for the interview, so its important to put your best foot forward. Shoot your video against a blank wall or a warm one color background, Aylward suggests. Clear off your desk, or have only awards and certificates in the background.