How to Ace a Skype Interview

How to Ace a Skype Interview The world is more connected today than its ever been. Thanks to travel and technology, you can patch into almost anyone, anywhere at any time. Increasing global mobility is changing the jobs market, too. The interview process isnt always the traditional face-to-face method anymore. What does this mean? Well, mastering the art of the  question / answer meeting is not enough anymore, oh no. Now theres a high chance youll have to come to terms with video and  phone interviews, which come with their own set of unwritten rules and keys to success. The Skype interview in particular has become a standard for HR departments, though the conventions might seem alien to  those whove only ever had in-person meetings, or perhaps none at all! Fear not, as  Viking has put together the below infographic to  guide you on formalities of the Skype interview, and tips to help you ace it. Check your time zones! If youre on a Skye interview, chances are youre also in a different time zone. Even different states of the same country will have different timezones, so dont shoot yourself i the foot by failing to turn up on time, or getting on the call way too early. Triple check you know where theyre based. Make sure your  profile name is professional Im going to go right ahead and say it:  Sexy_Sharon_69 is not an acceptable name. Shock! Horror! Who’s calling who?  Avoid confusion and decide beforehand If I had a dollar for the amount of times calls are set up, with each party assuming the other is calling them, Id be a very rich lady. The result? Ten minutes goes by, until theres an awkward email exchange along the lines of, Hi, are you still calling in? followed by a, No, I thought you were calling us? Have prompters closeby Keep your application documents and Post-it Notes  in front of you. The great thing about Skype calls is you can have resources near you, to act as prompters when they ask you tough questions. Just make sure they cant see them, and you dont break your neck to look at them when you feel nervous and on-the-spot. Profile picture Check your profile picture isnt you downing a line of Tequila shots, nuff said. Check the tech Is your audio working? Is your camera switched on, and allowing the video to show? How is your internet connection looking? Are you on a proper PC or laptop thats big enough to comfortably host the video? Is there a light source nearby that provides a comfortable atmosphere? Its also wise to set up a practice all first, with a willing participant, just to iron out all the kinks before the  big gig! In addition to these tips, dont  forget to  prepare  for the actual interview subject matter as you would a normal interview. That means having questions ready to ask them, and practicing how to answer the hard asks they probably have in store for you!

Get the Attraction Magnet Working for Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Get the Attraction Magnet Working for Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Building a great relationship between your personal brand and your customers often comes with a path of least resistance, especially when trust is still being established. But this process can greatly improve with the right style of communication. Capturing that first lead and sale is just the first step, and you want to ensure that all of your time and effort is paying off for the long term. A personal brand’s relationship with its customers is more important than ever in today’s social-driven world. Your message and attention to the needs of your market becomes your greatest asset and can make or break a sale. The path to success involves careful attention to feedback, a quick response, and an ability to change when necessary. A great personal brand is built on authenticity, and shows its customers that they care about their needs and desires. How exactly does this work? Through precise email marketing, image and communication. It is a combination of solving problems and drawing them into what you have to offer in a clear, and easy to understand message that will generate a response. A brand with a contrived or automated perception will always be passed over, however; one that is all about transparency and reputation will win more customers. A smart business knows how to effectively reach their market, and also conveys a human approach. How to attract customers There are several steps you can take when building a customer base for your personal brand for long-term success. • Make your brand available How do new leads and customers perceive your business? Do they find it difficult to communicate with you or do you offer helpful feedback? When sending out communication decide to stay open to questions and concerns that may arise and be quick to respond, especially if there was any type of mistake on your part. • Provide information that is beneficial Everyone loves to receive something special, especially when it’s free. When creating an email campaign offer a free video, report, great tips, ect. Tailor this to your personal brand’s niche, and provide something of real value that they can use, and they will be more willing to trust your company and make a purchase. • Get rid of the monotony Have you ever received a series of the same types of emails from a brand over and over? What do you do with this type of communication? Most of us click the trash or delete button. Think about what stands out for your readers, and create a mixture of emails that will capture their attention. This could include anything from an inspirational video or a humorous take on a current topic in your market. There is a lot of room for creativity here use it to your brand’s advantage! Taking the time to build your email communication for your personal brand will not only attract more responses, but also helps you stand out from the rest and get noticed through word-of-mouth. When you provide something of real value, and are honest your brand will create a customer for life.

5 Ways to Turn Around a Bad First Impression - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

5 Ways to Turn Around a Bad First Impression - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Weve all heard it before first impressions mean everything. But, what about that moment when you blow your first impression? What now? Is your relationship with the hiring manager, your boss, or the client doomed? Dont worry there are ways to turn around most situations in life, and turning around a bad first impression is one of them. But before you can do that, you have to understand what caused that bad impression of you. It could be a number of things: piercings or tattoos, an out-of-place joke, or even the manner in which you introduced yourself. Whatever the case, if youve found yourself victim to a bad first impression, dont panic. Here are five ways to turn that bad first impression around: 1. Reassess your appearance. Did you know that  55 percent of a persons opinion is determined by physical appearance and 93 percent is based on non-verbal input? Unfortunately, appearances impact first impressions, so spruce up your wardrobe and look as professional as possible while still being you. Consider reassessing how you are perceived by others, including your body language. Uncross your arms, make eye contact, and smile a little! Youll already seem much more inviting. 2. If you made a mistake, apologize and move forward. Sometimes bad first impressions are caused by genuine mistakes. Perhaps you discussed a touchy subject unknowingly or mistook your new contact for someone else. Simply apologize for your mistake. Send a note after your first meeting, apologizing again to smooth over the situation. 3. If your personality was misjudged, try to show your true character. Bad first impressions often occur through  misinterpretations of your own personality traits. If youre a generally shy person, that shyness may come off as being rude or inconsiderate. Similarly, a feisty personality may be perceived as overbearing and disrespectful. Whatever the case, try to adjust your responses to balance this personality trait. If youre shy, smile more and initiate conversation. If youre too outgoing, take a step back and listen. 4. If you were late or early to a first meeting, be honest as to why. Being late can truly ruin a first impression. But be honest about why you were late and apologize as soon as possible. If the meeting wasnt missed, be sure to make the most of your time with your new contact. Were all busy, so even being too early can throw a wrench in anyones day. Always be cognizant and respectful of your contacts time. 5. When all else fails, avoid overcompensating for flaws. At the end of the day, you should  always be you. Dont change your personality to overcompensate for a bad first impression. If youre changing yourself, then forget it! Your new contact may not have been worth your time anyway, and the best advice might be to walk away from the situation. Its easy to feel stuck after making a bad first impression. But if you can identify what went wrong, its not too difficult to make up for that mistake. Have you ever made a bad first impression? How did you change that impression? Author: Heather R. Huhman  is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder president of  Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for job search and human resources technologies. She is also the instructor of  Find Me A Job: How To Score A Job Before Your Friends, author of  Lies, Damned Lies Internships  (2011) and  #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle  (2010), and writes career and recruiting advice for  numerous outlets.