Skype Interview etiquette etc
Discussion
Just been 'invited' for an interview tomorrow at 3.15 for a job I really want. Only thing is that it is a Skype interview and I have literally never 'Skyped' in my life. I'll work out the technical side of things (hopefully), but I was just wondering on the etiquette of the whole thing. Do you get booted and suited? Will it be a full on formal interview or the first step in the process?
It's for a peripatetic music school working in Primary Schools so I'd like to think I'm a good candidate as I am a Primary school teacher with a music specialism.
As I said, I would really like the job so would just like any info on what I might expect!
It's for a peripatetic music school working in Primary Schools so I'd like to think I'm a good candidate as I am a Primary school teacher with a music specialism.
As I said, I would really like the job so would just like any info on what I might expect!
Dress as you would for a physical interview (top half at least).
Download Skype & check your camera & mic/headset are working now - don't wait.
Keep anyone else in the house off the internet during the call.
Mute your phone.
Check the background behind you. Make sure your buttplug collection is not in view.
Download Skype & check your camera & mic/headset are working now - don't wait.
Keep anyone else in the house off the internet during the call.
Mute your phone.
Check the background behind you. Make sure your buttplug collection is not in view.
If you have pets, keep them out of the room. Your prospective employer really doesn't want to see cat a
holes.
More seriously, as you're not physically in a room with people, watch your body language! The number of people I've talked to over the years who have been nose-mining is staggering. The goal is to remember you'll be on camera, but to not focus on it. (Don't stare at it 100%)
If you're naturally an expressive person, complete with arm-waving (this can be good), make sure you can be seen in the field-of-view, otherwise the point is lost.
Combine both the points - if you can set the view so that you're 'framed' to head & shoulders level, this should be OK. If you're not going to use your hands for expression, try clasping them together on the desk, so out of sight, & it doesn't look like you're fidgeting.
As already commented above, plain background, the focus should be you, not your interior design preferences.
Most importantly - good luck!
holes.More seriously, as you're not physically in a room with people, watch your body language! The number of people I've talked to over the years who have been nose-mining is staggering. The goal is to remember you'll be on camera, but to not focus on it. (Don't stare at it 100%)
If you're naturally an expressive person, complete with arm-waving (this can be good), make sure you can be seen in the field-of-view, otherwise the point is lost.
Combine both the points - if you can set the view so that you're 'framed' to head & shoulders level, this should be OK. If you're not going to use your hands for expression, try clasping them together on the desk, so out of sight, & it doesn't look like you're fidgeting.
As already commented above, plain background, the focus should be you, not your interior design preferences.
Most importantly - good luck!
Empty the house and room of all people and pets.
Turn off the phones, alarms and doorbells.
Dress well, head to toe.
Login 10mins early.
Point the camera up (as if they are "looking up" to you). Never point down (submissive).
Speak slowly, crisply, loudly.
Smile.
Stay calm.
Do a test-run with a friend or family the day before.
Be prepared, Skype is sh*t. If it goes wrong, stay very calm.
Turn off the phones, alarms and doorbells.
Dress well, head to toe.
Login 10mins early.
Point the camera up (as if they are "looking up" to you). Never point down (submissive).
Speak slowly, crisply, loudly.
Smile.
Stay calm.
Do a test-run with a friend or family the day before.
Be prepared, Skype is sh*t. If it goes wrong, stay very calm.
Yipper said:
Empty the house and room of all people and pets.
Turn off the phones, alarms and doorbells.
Dress well, head to toe.
Login 10mins early.
Point the camera up (as if they are "looking up" to you). Never point down (submissive).
Speak slowly, crisply, loudly.
Smile.
Stay calm.
Do a test-run with a friend or family the day before.
Be prepared, Skype is sh*t. If it goes wrong, stay very calm.
This is all the advice you need - above.Turn off the phones, alarms and doorbells.
Dress well, head to toe.
Login 10mins early.
Point the camera up (as if they are "looking up" to you). Never point down (submissive).
Speak slowly, crisply, loudly.
Smile.
Stay calm.
Do a test-run with a friend or family the day before.
Be prepared, Skype is sh*t. If it goes wrong, stay very calm.
If the video gets choppy, remember that you can switch to audio only and finish the interview that way. I conference call a fair bit to Dubai and Australia - often using audio only.
Thanks for all the advice guys - it obviously worked as I got through the interview. Next stage is a big jam session with other applicants (that is unfortunately, a 2 hour drive away in the centre of Birmingham at 9AM).
Really stumped on what to do next though. Job is fantastic - it's a company that teaches kids in primary to play in rock bands. They put on a concert at the end of each term that parents and teachers go to. It's literally Jack Black from School of Rock. Tailor made for me. Only problem is the pay. It's 20k a year, which isn't bad for this type of job - the applicants will generally be good musicians but essentially unqualified. I'm older than the average applicant, have more than a decade of experience as a full time musician and I'm also a qualified primary school teacher. I hate for this to be an issue as I'd really love to do the job - it's close to my dream job.
But, running the numbers, and 20k a year works out at a daily rate of 64 pounds a day. My CLK 320 is ok on petrol, but through rush hour, I'll be doing 28 MPG tops. I know from experience of going in and out of the area the job would be that it would cost at least 15 quid a day in petrol. You also go to two schools a day so there is a bit more driving there. There is no petrol allowance for this. Take childcare out of that and I'm looking at just over 30 quid a day. That is, by any measure, not great. The long short of it is that if I take my monthly bills, then childcare, then petrol for the commute away from the monthly wage, then I'd be about 100 quid short. Before living expenses.
I can do guitar lessons to make up the difference and have kind of money for living, but let's be honest, those numbers don't add up.
Sorry for the long post, but I've been thinking about this all morning and needed to get it down to make it clear in my head. Thoughts appreicated, as always!
Really stumped on what to do next though. Job is fantastic - it's a company that teaches kids in primary to play in rock bands. They put on a concert at the end of each term that parents and teachers go to. It's literally Jack Black from School of Rock. Tailor made for me. Only problem is the pay. It's 20k a year, which isn't bad for this type of job - the applicants will generally be good musicians but essentially unqualified. I'm older than the average applicant, have more than a decade of experience as a full time musician and I'm also a qualified primary school teacher. I hate for this to be an issue as I'd really love to do the job - it's close to my dream job.
But, running the numbers, and 20k a year works out at a daily rate of 64 pounds a day. My CLK 320 is ok on petrol, but through rush hour, I'll be doing 28 MPG tops. I know from experience of going in and out of the area the job would be that it would cost at least 15 quid a day in petrol. You also go to two schools a day so there is a bit more driving there. There is no petrol allowance for this. Take childcare out of that and I'm looking at just over 30 quid a day. That is, by any measure, not great. The long short of it is that if I take my monthly bills, then childcare, then petrol for the commute away from the monthly wage, then I'd be about 100 quid short. Before living expenses.
I can do guitar lessons to make up the difference and have kind of money for living, but let's be honest, those numbers don't add up.
Sorry for the long post, but I've been thinking about this all morning and needed to get it down to make it clear in my head. Thoughts appreicated, as always!
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