Phone and Skype interview with employer

Today, thanks to the endless possibilities of the latest technologies, it has become quite realistic to get a job without even leaving home, having passed an interview with an employer using modern communication services Skype and WhatsApp. All that remains is to correctly pass the interview with a company representative and leave behind a favorable impression.

An interview via Skype with an employer is the know-how of HR specialists, a method that allows you to quickly conduct an initial selection of candidates when hiring through video (via Skype) or audio communication (via WhatsApp or phone). This method of communication appeared during the growing popularity of outsourcing and remote work. It allows the interlocutors to communicate at a long distance, and also saves time, does not interfere with the work process and is an excellent alternative to face-to-face meeting.

An interview in this format, like a telephone interview, has its own characteristics. It is carried out at initial contact. The employer's task is to evaluate the candidate and decide whether to invite him to a face-to-face interview. And the applicant is given the opportunity to understand whether the proposed job is suitable for him, without having to visit the office.

During the initial interview, it is very important to impress the employer as a confident and competent candidate for the proposed position. In order to successfully pass the selection, it is better to adhere to a simple algorithm of actions.

• Make sure the equipment and headset are working, check your Skype account. Before going through the interview, it is better to do a test Skype-communication with someone you know. As a last resort, you can call an online store and talk to their representative.
• Do not overload your home Internet network. High-quality communication will positively affect the impression of the applicant, and therefore increase his chances of finding a job.
• Add the employer's contact to your list in advance and take into account the time difference in the case of a long distance interview.
• Take care of the appearance... Clothes and hairstyle should be the same as if the meeting took place in person.
• Think about background... The environment can tell a lot about a person's personality, so it is best if it is neutral.
• Put a pen and a blank sheet of paper on the table as well as all the necessary documents (diplomas, resume, a list of questions to the employer, theses on work in the company). They should be on hand in case of need for their presentation.
• It is advisable to turn off all distracting sounds (telephone, TV, instant messengers, washing machine, etc.) to ensure silence during a conversation.
• Create the right lighting. It is desirable that it be natural.

Topics in a virtual interview will be the same as in a face-to-face meeting. Usually the questions depend on what position the applicant is applying for. These are specialization, experience, work skills, achievements, as well as reasons for leaving the previous job. In order to form an opinion about the employee as a whole, questions may be asked regarding his hobbies and marital status.

Here is a common example of a Skype or phone conversation and tips for answering the most common questions and requests.

• Tell us about yourself. It is important here not to get stuck on describing your biography. You need to talk about your achievements in your professional life. So the employer will see the applicant's ability to conduct a dialogue and the seriousness of his intention to get the desired job;
• Why should we hire you for this position? It will be appropriate here to touch on future job skills and mention your advantages in relation to these requirements. Therefore, before the interview, it is better to familiarize yourself with the activities of the employer's company in advance.
• Identify your strengths and weaknesses... It is imperative that you declare your advantages so that the employer appreciates the confidence and honesty of the applicant. And if you declare your shortcomings, then only in a positive way. Namely, about the awareness of weakness and about achievements in work on oneself, thereby emphasizing one's self-discipline.
• Explain the reason for leaving your previous job. It is important here to provide truthful information without going into unnecessary details. Especially if relations with the former bosses did not go well.
• What salary would you like to receive? The employer asks such a question in order to determine for himself the requirements of the applicant. And at the same time his dedication and ambition. It is advisable to indicate the estimated amount, rather than specific numbers.
• How do you feel about career growth? Often the interviewer wants to know who the job seeker sees himself as after a certain number of years. The answer to this question helps to understand the applicant's interest in the job, as well as his desire to develop in this area.
• Tell us about your hobby and how you spend your leisure time. Such information should characterize the employee only on the positive side. For example, hobby for sports or intellectual development.

Any type of interview has its pros and cons. Winning moments of such an interview.

• For the employer, this is the way speed up the work of the HR department... After all, this is the first stage of selection, at which inappropriate candidates are screened out.
• Convenience. The ability to communicate at a remote distance, and for the future employee it saves time and money on the road.
• Relaxing atmosphere. Some job seekers feel much more confident when they are at home.
• For some companies, this is another kind of check.... With this method of interview, it is possible to assess a person's readiness for something new, his ability to use modern technologies.

The disadvantages include:

• the dependence of the interview on the quality of the connection and the operation of the equipment - in case of poor-quality image or audio communication, emotional contact is broken;
• for applicants for introverts, this type of interview brings great psychological discomfort;
• the inability to visually assess the situation and atmosphere in the company.

To get on top and successfully pass a remote interview, some recommendations will help:

• you need to be ready for an interview in advance, preferably 15-20 minutes before communication;
• it is desirable if the real name and surname appear in the account name - this will add seriousness to the intention to get a job;
• the same applies to the avatar - the image must correspond to the importance of the moment;
• first you need to try to correct your speech. To do this, you can make a test recording and listen to your performance, while paying attention to intonation and how correctly the speech is delivered;
• in order to successfully pass the interview, it is better to answer all questions truthfully, clearly and informatively, and it is necessary to behave confidently in the interview;
• unwillingness to answer the questions posed negatively affects the decision-making on the part of the employer;
• it is advisable to look into the computer camera from time to time - this will give liveliness to the conversation and create an imitation of visual contact;
• if the interview takes place via WhatsApp, then it is better not to place the mobile phone too close to you.