With the popularity of video chatting software on the rise, many employers are turning to the convenience of Skype interviewing to achieve their hiring goals. On the flip-side of this technological transition are us, the prospective hirees. As young professionals, it’s our job to adapt to this new form of interviewing and hopefully make the best of its advantages and low-points alike.

Skype interviews have become most popular in situations that previously would’ve required the candidate to travel a lengthy distance. In most cases, this isn’t the first step in the interview process, and employers generally invite their most desired candidates to meet them via Skype. While the process may seem simple on the outside, there’s much more to acing a Skype interview than you might think. We’re going to cover the most basic tips right now, and hopefully you’ll learn a few things about this exciting process:

1. Location, location, location: When you arrive at a face-to-face interview, you probably don’t have control over your surroundings. However, when you’re interviewing over Skype, it’s important to choose a backdrop that fits the job you’re vying for. Always make sure you’re in a professional, office-like setting that’s free from any alcoholic drinks, vulgar or immature posters and anything else that runs the risk of seeming unprofessional.
2. Pay attention to the mechanics: Before your interview begins, make sure you’re on a computer that has full battery life and clear internet access. It’ll seem unprepared and un-savvy if your connection fails during the middle of an interview question, regardless of whether it’s your fault or the computer’s. If there’s any doubt about your connection or battery, simply choose a different computer or have the interview somewhere more secure.
3. Listen to your mom’s advice: It may sound cheesy, but seriously, just be yourself. With only two of the five senses active during a Skype interview, investing yourself in a genuine conversation can get difficult. If you’re feeling nervous, practice possible interview topics, questions, and answers with a friend or family member, and above all else, relax.

What are your thoughts about Skype interviewing?

Although finding a summer job may seem tedious, it’s a great way to gain valuable work experience without worrying about the added stress of the academic year. If you’re still looking for a summer job that fits your schedule and your needs, there are plenty of factors to keep in mind.

A deciding factor for all job opportunities is location. If you’re in a big city for the summer, your prospects will differ in terms of hiring practices, hours, and commute. If you’re spending the summer in a city like Chicago, most internship opportunities will be diverse and expansive, while finding work in a college town or smaller city may be more competitive sheerly due to a lack of industry.

Regardless of where you’re living this summer, finding some form of work should never be a problem. If you’re having difficulty scoring the internship of your dreams, don’t get down. Explore freelance options, and if you interview for positions in retail, food, or customer service, make sure to tell your prospective employers about your future aspirations – you might be able to help them out in resume-enhancing ways!

So you know what you’re wearing. That’s the first step, but to be fully prepared for an interview, you should gather a few things. Always bring a copy of your resume. A day or two before the interview, print out enough copies for everyone who will be attending the interview. Also ahead of time, decide whom you would like to provide as references.

Think back to your previous employers, supervisors and professors and choose three who you feel would praise you and your skills. Type up each reference’s name, title, company and phone number. Remember, you should always contact your references first and ensure they’re willing to speak on your behalf. Once you sit down with your interviewer, offer these items right away. It can help the conversation flow better if he or she is looking down at your experience while you explain it.

Other visual aids can be effective as well. Aside from your resume, feel free to bring examples of work you’ve done in the past that illustrates how you could be successful in the new position. If you’re working in a creative field, a portfolio of work is essential. Anything you bring should be well organized inside a professional portfolio binder or a briefcase. If you want to show digital work, bring your laptop, but make sure it is well charged and all pertinent files are already open on the desktop.

Most people know the basics of ‘dress to impress’ regarding a career interview. The issue is that not all businesses are the same. If you work for a law office, the dress guidelines will differ from those of someone working at an advertising agency. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed, but your apparel choice is another way to show how you fit in at a company.

If you’re applying to a place where suits are a must, check out this article entitled, Appropriate Interview Attire. The writer leaves no stone unturned, discussing clothing, shoes, hairstyle, accessories, outerwear and more. Now don’t stress if your outfit doesn’t fit these extremely precise criteria. Use it as a guideline for your outfit, adhering more strictly to its advice depending on the level of professionalism expected at the company.

For those seeking a position in a more creative field, the dress code may be more lax at your company of choice. Many even allow jeans. You, as a potential employee, are not granted that luxury until you’re hired. The dress to impress rule differs in these cases though. If you know the dress code is more relaxed, don’t feel the need to wear a suit. Ladies: dress professionally with a skirt or trousers and an appropriate blouse. Men: trousers, shirt and tie. The other difference here is that putting forth your creative personality through your outfit is encouraged. Choose one or two smaller aspects of your outfit that make a statement. Keep your shirt and pants professional, but add a splash of flavor in other ways through your glasses, a purse, tie, shoes etc.

Many companies are now using phone interviews as an initial screening process for job applicants. Don’t be fooled by this; Interviewing over the telephone requires just as much preparation and tact. You are still only one in the midst of many other applicants so make yourself stand out.

Be prepared, just as you would for an in person interview. Though you could technically wear pajamas and take the call from your bed, you’ll feel more professional and prepared if you’re dressed nicely and sitting up straight in a chair. Also, like any other interview, research the company beforehand and have intelligent questions to ask about its business structure or the position you’re applying for. The most significant advantage a phone interview can provide is that you can have notes in front of you. Write out notes ahead of time on both questions you can ask and possible answers you may use.

In a phone interview, you should concentrate even more on the eloquence of your speech than you would in person. Pausing or saying ‘um’ too much is more evident over the phone because the interviewer is concentrating solely on your voice. You also want the interviewer to remain engaged, so keep your energy level up and stay enthusiastic until the end. Before hanging up, briefly reiterate your interest in the position so you leave on a positive note.

A recent article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune lists five questions you should always be prepared for in an interview. Here’s a brief rundown along with some extra 1stGig.com tips.

Many employers will begin with an intro question like, “Tell me about yourself.” Be prepared for this with a one-to-two minute recap of your background and interests. You don’t need to memorize this as a speech, but you should know it well enough to sound eloquent and prepared. It’s often your first real impression on the interviewer.

Employers will also want to understand your work ethic and your past success, so they may ask something like, “Tell me about a goal that you’ve set for yourself and how you went about achieving it.” When preparing for an interview, always think back on your past experiences to have them top-of-mind. Your successes, your mistakes or how you dealt with a difficult co-worker in the past could all be useful material to discuss at your interview.

Everyone always dreads the negative questions like, “What are your greatest weaknesses?” That’s why you need to be prepared with a suitable answer ahead of time. Try listing all of the reasons you’ve been stressed over your work in the past. Looking at the root of that stress, whether it was perfectionism, procrastination or something else, see if you can spin it into a positive quality. If you admit to your tendency to procrastinate, also describe how it taught you to thrive under deadline pressure. Whatever you say, make sure it’s true and that it suits the position you’re applying for.

For the entire Star Tribune article, go to The Five Most-Asked Interview Questions.

To all of the history, sociology, philosophy and literature majors out there, stop being apprehensive about putting your Liberal Arts degree on your resume. Humanities majors often present the question, “Well, what can you do with that?” Once you’re in the midst of your career search though, it shouldn’t hold you back—as long as you do the following.

Speak of your degree proudly, not defensively. Don’t give a potential employer a reason to doubt your choice. Part of their interview process involves seeing the personality of the potential employees, so show them a unique facet of yourself by conveying your passion for your major. If they’re worried about your skill set, stress that you’ve been educated in a well-rounded manner and you’re a fast learner, so you can learn any specialized skills on the job. Your liberal arts education probably also added some more general, but highly valued talents to your repertoire. Your classes most likely developed your written or verbal communication skills, your analytical thought process or your creative problem solving abilities. Draw the employers’ attention to the aspects of your education that can be applied to their position.

If you’re still in college, working towards a liberal arts degree, you may also consider getting a minor in a more conventional field like business or communications. Internships are another way to bump up your resume to show real world experience that can translate to where you may apply after graduation.

To learn more about this, read Ten Ways to Market Your Liberal Arts Degree.

Follow this commandment and you’re one step closer to getting your foot in the door.

Whenever you have the opportunity to make an impression on a potential employer, whether on paper or in person, be sure to convey a little of your personality along with your passion for their work. Though recruiters want to figure out if you are suitable for a certain position, they also want to sense if you personally are a good fit for their company culture and would get along with the other talent they employ.

Similarly, you, the talent, want to find a work environment you feel comfortable in, but different positions and companies provide different atmospheres. A little introspection can ensure you end up in a positive environment for your personal work style and personality. For instance, know where you lie on the introversion/extraversion scale. Do you need a certain amount of alone time during the day to feel satisfied? Or do you get anxious when you have no one to talk to for a while? Are you fairly easy going and laid back or do you like doing things in a precise fashion and being in control? These qualities directly relate to the type of work environment you will thrive in. According to many psychological theorists, there are five main personality dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism (OCEAN). To learn more about when you fall on each spectrum, check out The Big Five Personality Test at http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/.

Knowing your personality a little will also help you with some of the standard interview questions like, identify your strengths and weaknesses and describe your work style.

The interview is a chance to sell yourself for an opportunity. Knowing your resume is one thing, but how do you prepare for the “tell me about yourself” request? This may seem basic, but the open-ended style often proves to be quite challenging. It is tempting to turn this into a sales pitch for why you’re right, or simply an autobiographical rambling, but this is really your chance to tie together the many aspects of your character that you’d like the interviewer to focus on. The wetfeet.com guide to this challenge provides a brief summary of some key points that should be kept in mind: passion, value, personality, brevity, and openness.

Passion- showing strong interest and commitment

Value- your skills and achievements are worthwhile and relevant

Personality- you’re personable and bring your attributes off the page in an interesting way

Brevity- keep it under a minute

Openness- end by providing an opportunity for the interviewer to follow-up

Here are some key thoughts to keep in mind when you are looking for answers on why you aren’t landing the job you interviewed for. Knowing the content on your own resume may seem like an obvious necessity and a no-brainer; however, it is surprising how difficult it can be to “talk through” the resume for an interviewer if you haven’t prepared adequately. An interview is your opportunity to sell yourself by expanding on your credentials, experience, and skills. It’s not easy to earn an interview in this market, so why let the ball drop? With preparation, an interviewee should be able to answer questions about themselves with ease enough to sound sincere and excited.

Additionally, being prepared can help calm nerves, which will help the interviewer be comfortable enough to concentrate on the content you are providing, not on how badly you are shaking which will surely distract them and deter them from thinking highly of you.

Remember that the interviewer is a human, too. They will appreciate a smile and a positive attitude.

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