Online Interviewing Using Zoom and Skype Pro Tips

  1. Use the Skype Echo / Sound Test Service to test out your audio prior to your schedule interview.
  2. Remove any visual distractions that may focus attention away from you in the background.
  3. Have good lighting in the room so that the people interviewing you can see you.
  4. Angle your webcam so it shows your face dead-on.
  5. Limit tapping, movement and other things that may cause audio distractions.
  6. Remove pets from the room.
  7. Remove pets from the room next to the room you are interviewing in.
  8. Try and not use Wifi. Use an Ethernet connection.
  9. Use a good quality headset with a microphone.
  10. Silence your smartphone and other devices.
  11. Turn off all the alerts on your smartphone, and other devices.
  12. Mute any digital assistants in your home.
  13. Check the batteries in your mouse/keyboard and make sure they aren’t running low.
  14. Close all of the other applications running on your computer.
  15. Turn off notifications or other pop-ups or anything else that may be disruptive.
  16. If you are interviewing from a bedroom, make sure that your bed is made and the room is neat.
  17. Have a test call with a friend prior to your interview to check items 1-16 above. If you have no friends, call me.
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Author: Bruce Elgort

You’ll find this technology professor – an award-winning instructor at Clark College – working hard to inspire and challenge his students with meaningful web development and programming experiences. With a skinny vanilla latte (no foam) in hand, Bruce loves to tinker and test the boundaries of existing and emerging technologies, to then guide hungry minds through memorable, educational journeys to showcase with passion the ever-evolving innovations of society. An industry leader, Bruce is known for co-developing Elguji’s IdeaJam software, and is recognized by IBM as an ‘IBM Champion’ for being an innovative thought leader in cloud technologies.

3 thoughts on “Online Interviewing Using Zoom and Skype Pro Tips”

  1. Finally, make sure that if you have small children in the next room they cannot get loose and come into your office during your important interview. 🙂

  2. 8: Headset
    If the call is audio only, make sure the headset has a boom microphone, not the earpiece that comes with your phone. Why: Often the microphone will rub against your shirt and make an awful noise for the other party (and you won’t hear it). So get the “Do you want fries with that model.” Likewise, the microphone can face your shirt and even without rubbing your voice will be muffled and drastically reduced in volume.

    If it’s a video interview, ditch the headset entirely and use a decent quality USB microphone. Why: Because you don’t want the interviewer asking you about French fries. (It’s a visual distraction.) A good microphone will ensure you sound just like you do on a headset (at a minimum).

    I’m partial to the Samson USB microphones. Their various “Go” microphones are more than sufficient. Aprox. $40-$50, I personally have the C03U, which is over-the-top (about $200 with stand, spider shock mount and hard case). But I can assure you that to the other party you will sound like you’re professionally broadcasting. Be careful with the pickup quality as it can pickup EVERYTHING.

    Related tip: Have your mouse cursor (assuming you’re on a desktop or laptop) over or near the mute button. Be able to put yourself on mute if you’re environment has background noise (e.g. traffic, trains, etc.) Just don’t forget when it’s your turn to speak!

    I put the link for Samson’s USB microphone’s below.

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