Jobs tips
Speak Clearly
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] In a phone interview or a Skype interview, your voice is going to be weighed much more heavily, since your appearance and other aspects don’t have to be. Have a glass of water handy to keep your throat from getting dry. Enunciate to be sure that your answers are clearly understood. Learn great Skype & phone interview tips from this guide: Top 20+ Phone Interview Questions & Answers [Best Examples & Tips] Sweaty palms. Weak knees. Panic. Interviews can be terrifying events for even the most confident among us. And if you’re prone to anxiety and nervousness anyway, awaiting the interview feels like having an imminent execution date. But relax a bit. Here are some helpful interviewing tips for anxiety and nervousness that will see you through your big day with confidence and calm.
Prepare for Maximum Bandwidth
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] You don’t want your computer or internet connection to give out in the middle of a video interview, or a telephone interview, for that matter (if you’re on a VoIP call). Close all your other programs. Sit next to your wifi connection. Block all other sounds in your environment by locking your cats in a closet, turning off the house phone ringer, and dosing your children with sleeping aids. Well, not really, but you get what I mean.
Know Where to Look
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] One of my favorite Skype interview tips is to make sure that you look at your laptop’s camera, not the screen. Sure, you can look down every now and again as you’re listening, but be sure to look into the camera when you are speaking. This way, you’ll look like you’re looking into their eyes on their end, rather than gazing down below eye level; though it may not be as important for these webcam interviews, 67% of hiring managers name failure to make eye contact as the top interview mistake.
Eat Something
Importance: [⭐⭐] Have a light meal or snack just before your appointment. Not only will this help you to avoid any light-headed, dizzy feelings, but it will chase away those troublesome, embarrassing, and annoying hunger growls during the silence of the interview.
Silence Your Phone
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] There’s nothing more unwelcome at an interview than an unexpected call on the interviewee’s phone. While a ring to the desk phone of your interviewer may allow you to take a breath and collect yourself, don’t let it be yours. However, don’t turn your phone off completely—you may find it comes in handy should you need to add a contact or appointment to your calendar.
Wash (and Dry!) Your Hands
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] If you’re a nervous Nellie, like I am, you might suffer from sweaty palms (among other things) prior to an interview. Here’s one of my favorite interview tips: don’t send the message that you’re feeling anxious before you even sit down for your chat; wash and dry your hands, or use an alcoholic hand sanitizer, to greet your interviewer with a confident handshake that won’t gross them out. Also, skip that greasy hand cream!
Bring Your Notes & a Copy of Your Resume
Importance: [⭐⭐] One of the great things about interviews is that they can be treated like an open-book test. Not only will bringing notes help you to remember some of your answers and questions to ask them, but you’ll look more prepared and professional when you whip out a notebook from your briefcase before answering that tough question. While you’re at it, bring 3-5 extra copies of your resume to have on hand. They probably won’t need it, but better safe than sorry!
Wear a Confident Smile
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] A friendly, confident smile is of the most important things to wear to an interview. While it won’t get them to overlook your other clothing, it will work wonders in making you look like a perfect addition to their team. Learn more here: What to Wear to an Interview: Outfit Ideas for Men & Women [50+ Tips] You’re hours away from your make-or-break moment. Here’s what you need to do just before the interview:
When in Doubt, Lean Conservative
Importance: [⭐⭐] You may not be able to get a read on what the dress code is, so err on the conservative side. Keep colors minimal and basic, instead of flashy or numerous. If you really want to know what the employees wear on a day-to-day basis, consider stopping in for a quick look-around sometime before your interview (days, not hours, before).
Dress to Impress
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] It probably goes without saying that you’ll want to choose from your best outfits to wear for your all-important interview. Don’t forget to iron, and don’t use too much perfume. Polish your shoes before leaving home. Trim your fingernails. Also, as for interview dress tips, have a glance at the company’s about page, if they have one, to see if you can get a sense of how employees might be dressed there. It might be a great way to gauge what to wear.