Author Archives: Laura Machan

Skype interviews are becoming more and more common. I find myself using them more and more. They are not the same as meeting someone in person but they allow me to experience how the person presents, their energy and hand gestures – basically everything except their sweaty palms.

Preparing for a Skype interview is pretty similar to a face to face interview. You still have to read up on the company and the role. You still have to practice talking about your experience.

And you still need to get a haircut. Just because the conversation is on Skype rather than in person does not make it casual in any way. You need to be just as professional as you would if you were going to a hiring manager’s office.

Before the conversation starts, decide where you are going to take the call. I get really nauseous if I have to watch as you move your phone all around  while you find a good spot to prop your phone or iPad.

Also, before the call, reverse the camera so you can see what the interviewer is going to see. Check for laundry, lingerie, questionable magazines, travel souvenirs or any other distractions. Put the cat in another room. You want to make sure that the interviewer is paying attention only to you.

During the call, if you are going to take notes (which is fine) tell the interviewer.  It is awkward if you keep looking down and they don’t know why.

Also, try to remember to look up periodically. The temptation is to look only at their image at the bottom of your screen. When you focus on the top frame of your screen, it feels more like you are making eye contact.

Make a couple of practice calls with friends to get ready. Pull up a chair and get comfy, because Skpe is here to stay.

Until recently, I was a strong advocate for sending a hand written note to the hiring manager after an interview.  I have come to appreciate that an email will do just fine. Emails are easier, quicker and you don’t have to worry about terrible hand writing.

Thank you notes help to cement your qualities of professionalism and the ability to follow up.  These are two characteristics are important for pretty much every job and the more you can bolster the positive impression you made during the interview, the better.

Your note should thank the person for their time and recall one or two points that were raised during the conversation.  The last bit should confirm your interest in the role and the company.

Ideally, you want to send the note the day after the meeting.  You don’t want to do it the moment you leave.  When you send it the day after, it shows that you have taken time to reflect and that you are organized enough to fit it into your busy day.

If you did not get a business card during the conversation and you do not have the contact information for the hiring manager, then send your note to whoever set up the meeting and ask them to forward it.

Thank you notes are an easy way to score points in the interview process.  Make them part of your post-interview follow up.

I heard a fantastic phrase last week.  One of our senior sales leaders was talking with us about value propositions, enhanced authenticity and other eye rolling stuff.  I was starting to glaze over when he came out with this gem:

Don’t just show up and throw up.

What a perfect way to describe what happens when you head into an interview and you are nervous as hell.  The first question is thrown out and off you go.  You do a complete and uncontrolled brain dump.  Then you run out of oxygen and can no longer remember the question.  So embarrassing…..

Don’t get me wrong.  Nerves won’t ever go away.  There should always be some anticipation and a sense of excitement when you meet with new people.  I get that feeling even when I am meeting people I already know and I talk to strangers for a living.

The key is confidence and that comes with research and practice.  Once you know you have secured an interview, research the company.  Use LinkedIn, industry news sources and your network to find out what you can about the company.  Look for information on growth, awards, competitors, culture, locations and values.

Spend some time thinking about your experience and what might be relevant to the hiring team.  What stories could you share that would induce some good eyebrow raises and head nods?

Prepare five or six stories that illustrate how you deal with challenges, how you set priorities, how you tackle something new.  Practice telling these stories.  Make sure they sound smooth and they hang together so you don’t drift off in the middle.

A good career example is like a good joke.  You have told it many times and you know when to pause and when to keep going to get the desired impact.

That preparation should allow you to walk in to an interview ready to share what you know and learn what they need.  And that’s the goal.

It’s spring here in Canada and if you are doing the interview circuit, you need to be prepared.

There is nothing worse than sniffling during a conversation.  You try to be subtle by wiggling your nose or casually wiping your sleeve near your nose but face it: there is no substitute for a tissue.  So start each day by putting one in your pocket, sleeve or bra strap.

If you have a bit of a cough or a tickle (and who doesn’t these days?), then put some lozenges or tic tacs in your pocket, purse or briefcase. You can pop one while you are waiting for your meeting to start.  It will give you something to do with your hands.

Make sure you give yourself extra time before the interview but don’t hang around the reception area – that’s not cool.  Plan to take a few minutes in the lobby for your body temperature to sort itself out.  Your face and hands will be cold but your armpits will be working overtime.  It will be better if you greet the person you are meeting with warm hands and the tell-tale half moons of nervousness will have dissipated.  Take off your coat, blow your nose and wait until everything comes to room temperature.  Then head upstairs to announce your presence.

Finally, no matter how much of a Tim Horton’s or Starbucks fan you are, don’t take your coffee into the meeting unless you are prepared to offer some to the other person.

Set yourself up for a great first interview:  arrive early, finish your latte in the lobby and pop a tic tac.