Category Archives: Interview

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 their offices.

Before the conversation starts, decide where you are going to take the call. I will get nauseous if I have to watch as the camera moves around while you find a comfortable spot to prop your phone or iPad.

Reverse the camera so you can see what the interviewer is going to see. Check for laundry, lingerie or any other distractions. Put the cat in another room. You want to make sure they are 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.

If you are hitting the interview circuit this fall, you need to be ready. Pull up a chair and get comfy, because Skpe is here to stay.

We have heard a lot about interviewing at Google and the sorts of bizarre questions hiring managers there ask.  “If you were an animal, what would you be?”  “What shall we have for dinner?”

Lots of people can probably remember going through a three or four stage interview process.  Sometimes this seems extreme but it’s usually rational in that allows the company and the candidate to go on several “dates” to really get to know each other.

Here are some really extreme interview processes.

Tafelmusik, the wonderful baroque orchestra here in Toronto is going to replace their current their current musical director.  Jean Lamon is going to step down after 33 years and an Order of Canada citation.  A search committee has been formed and they will have whittled the candidates down to a short list by the fall when the concert season begins.

Get this:  one of the interviews is with the audience.  Each short listed candidate will have to lead the orchestra in a full concert, rehearsals and all.  Talk about a panel interview!  Not just the entire orchestra but the whole audient as well!

I’m not sure if this is really what happens at Ikea but it looks about right.

If you want to work at an Apple store, you get invited to a group interview for the first stage.  This seems a bit like dance tryouts to me but I guess it allows the store manager to review candidates more efficiently.

Perhaps, most intense of all is the interview process to become an elected official.  That  involves weeks and weeks of speeches, debates, public and media scrutiny and ultimately being  liked by more of the voters than your competitors.

The lesson here is to be prepared.  Understand as much about the process as possible.  Ask the hiring manager, the recruiter and check out places like Glassdoor for more information.

Good preparation will help you show up with strength and confidence.

My first real job lasted eight years. I was not in the same role for that whole time. It was a fast growth company and as things grew and evolved I was thrown into different responsibilities.

I can’t tell you that I loved every day because I didn’t. There were many days when I felt like I was in way over my head. But armed with a high capacity for action (I was younger then) and a sense of humor, I managed.

It was during that time that I learned exactly where what I liked and what I was good at intersected.  That became the jumping off point for the rest of my career.

When I was in the middle of all that work and craziness, I certainly did not think of it as an internship. No way. It was serious. It was my life.

I think about all the things I got to do and try and how often I draw on those experiences now and it amazes me.  It really was like an internship albeit for eight years.

If you look back at the jobs you have had, can you find an intense learning period?   I am not talking about learning lingo and product specs. I am talking about real business learning: customers, innovation, process and all that stuff.

It’s a long weekend. Give this some thought while you are napping or walking off your turkey dinner. These are the kind of stories you will need for your next job interview.  You’ve got the experience. Get ready to talk about it.