Hello, Halloween Pumpkins!
Have you put away the candy yet? PeaceBang had precious few trick-or-treaters and wound up with an enormous bowl of Twix, Starburst and Rollo caramels that she is trying to unload on everyone she knows.
Anyway, I’ve been kind of bombarded with life being interesting and busy so I haven’t had much time to thoroughly answer some of your “PeaceBang, HELP” letters. A couple of you have asked about Skype interviews recently, and I directed you to do a keyword search and find old posts like this one that I wrote way back in 2011.
I’ll add to my original thoughts that it seems important to keep patterns and accessories to a reasonable scale and proportion that does not distract from your face. You can make a handy dress rehearsal video of your own using the camera in your computer, and you should. Take a few minutes’ worth of footage of you talking. Are earrings swinging around, is there a funny thing that you do with your lips when you get nervous? Are you looking down into the camera lens like a cow?
Why do so many people still DO THAT? I really like cows but I don’t want to Skype with them! Find a good angle!
Wear something that doesn’t squish your neck (including clericals unless you feel wrong without them), make sure your shoulders aren’t bunched up with fabric, don’t sit on a swivel chair if you can’t stop squirming around, and make sure that when you clear your throat and shift in your chair during the interview you don’t move forward toward the camera lens and SUDDENLY BOMBARD THE SCREEN LIKE A COW.
I suppose I’ll have to make you a cow video so you understand what I’m talking about.
You know what I’m talking about, right?
Here. I made you a little video.
Your older posts helped me a couple of years ago. I had not thought about the height of my computer and camera. I took a couple of days and experimented with the height and moved an assortment of tables around to get a nice background shot of a bookcase with appropriate titles in a room I could close the door on and not be interrupted by cats. I took a while to get the right set-up and was clearly much more professional that what I started with. I now have a go to set up in my office. Thank you.
Also, remove all pets from the room before the interview and give them a chance to settle down and go to sleep somewhere else, to avoid the dreaded Cat Butt Cameo.
(Fortunately, that was a peer videoconference, and not an interview. Fortunately. Let’s just say my student colleagues got a really good look at something my cat is very proud of but I prefer not to inspect too closely.)
When I got ready to have a Skype interview for a call earlier this year, I discussed it at length with a colleague; decided to wear a clerical collar without much ado. But, (and I can’t believe you neglected this point…grin), we had to decide if I needed to be wearing the suit pants/skirt since they’d be out of eye sight….or if I could wear jammy pants or shorts. (Went with the whole get up in case I had to unexpectedly stand up…grin). Going for some humor here, hope it’s heard that way!
oh i love you so! as i was reading this post, i could imagine exactly what you meant by looking at the camera like a cow, but it wasn’t until I saw the video and saw you mooing that the coffee in my mouth made it onto my keyboard.a perfectly executed spit take, if i do say so myself. it tickled me so, love from here
xx
This is awesome! I’m at my current church because of a Skype interview! (And, you know, the call of God..)
Another tidbit that I found helpful in e.n.d.l.e.s.s. Skype interviews: jot down a few notes on post-its, like the mission statement of the church, a few skills or theologies you want to bring out about yourself, and stick them to the edges of your screen. Then, when you need to gather your thoughts, you’re not obviously reading your notes like a nervous novice, but instead look like you’re just pondering off to the side (when in fact you are reading your notes!). I found it worked really well. I also always put my laptop on top of a couple of sturdy books and had it slightly angled down on me, much more flattering that way.
I don’t expect any Skype interviews soon (please Lord Jesus) but am continually aware that I’ll need to get comfortable with presenting via Skype – teleconferences, webinars, appearances on internet-based programs. I envy your naturalness in front of the camera, but your video reminds me that it doesn’t come without practice.
For the record, I despised Skype interviews with search committees. Mostly because there were a number of distractions on THEIR end. Such as: poor microphone set-up, so I couldn’t hear everything, including the witty remark someone made that cracked them all up and I’m sitting there like Rev. Humorless or Rev. Huh. Such as: the committee that decided to have two people ask all the questions for the group, so I didn’t have a chance to interact directly with them, but was interviewed in front of them. And such as: the committee that sat around the opposite end of a table with a plate of brownies closer to the camera. So I kept seeing ENORMOUS PLATE OF BROWNIES the whole time. [You made me LOL, Rev. Huh! – PB]
When I did a webinar, I received these tips which were so helpful that I wanted to pass them along:
1) elevate your laptop on a stool or something so it’s the right height. Experiment.
2) adjust a lamp so it illuminates your face — perhaps brighter than you think you need
3) put a little yellow sticky at the camera aperture on your laptop, to help you remember to look there
[Great tips, Ruth, thanks! – PB]
I had a Skype interview (non-ministerial) recently. It was strange (unclear who was in the room I was talking to (just the one person? others?), very long multi-part questions and the sense that this was a formality and that the job was intended for someone else). I’ve never had Skype work consistently without weird delays (I think it’s living rurally that gives us a slow speed), so I’m puzzled that it is so popular (it must work better for everyone else!).
But these are all great tips. I wish I had read the old post beforehand! [I don’t know that it works so much better, but it’s happening a lot so it’s good to learn together about how to use it best! – PB]
I love your outfit, PB!
[Why, thank ye! – PB]
Thank you so much for this. I had a Skype interview on Saturday with three individuals. It was supposed to be four, but one had another engagement. There were a couple of technical issues at their end, but nothing major. There was a slight delay when I spoke to when they saw me speaking so we joked about Japanese overdubbed movies.
I did a test run with a friend to make sure everything looked professional. My degree was framed behind me, and the other areas were plain grey office walls. I wore a black clergy shirt with a Roman collar, as well as a black blazer that fits me properly and feels comfortable. I wore simple earrings and a poppy. And a smile.
I found myself getting excited by the conversation so I moved forward in my chair, not quite cow-like, thanks be to God. 🙂 I had a glass of water to the side and had a notebook with jot notes in it I could glance to when it was my turn to interview.
All in all I think it went well. I looked professional but approachable and friendly. I smiled continuously but it was a genuine smile because they were incredible people with which to chat.
Thank you for all your tips! [Thank you for writing in! – PB]