Modern technology and the internet are changing the face of HR and recruitment in companies across the globe.
Today, many HR managers conduct an initial job interview via Skype before inviting the potential candidate for a face-to-face meeting. Those who are not used to communicating by video conference in English may be apprehensive about having a Skype job interview, but there is really nothing to fear. With the right guidance and online job interview preparation with a native English teacher you will gain the fluency, style and confidence required to make a winning impression.
It is important to remember that the principles of interviewing do not change just because the recruitment process has moved to an online format. You will be asked the same questions, will have the same interviewer and will be expected to behave in a businesslike manner just like at a face-to-face interview. However, getting used to the technology and online format is important and it is worth practising your Skype job interview technique prior to the big day.
There are two main approaches to modern interviewing – factual and behavioural. Traditional questions will be fact-based and designed to acquire or check information about your previous positions, duties, education, family status, age, etc. On the other hand, behavioural questions will focus on trying to understanding how you behave in various work-related situations; the premise being that future performance can be predicted based on your past behaviour and analysis of it. Here is an example of each question type:
Traditional: “When and why did you leave your previous place of work?”
Behavioural: “Give me an example of a conflict situation you encountered at work and how you dealt with it.” (Follow up: “Do you feel your response was appropriate? Who was to blame for the argument?”)
When you have a job interview via Skype in English you can expect to be asked both traditional and behavioural questions. It is a good idea to write lists of questions that you think may come up during the interview – i.e. if you were the interviewer, what would you ask? Then you can start thinking of the best way to answer and convey a positive self image. Preparing alone is much harder, so ask a friend or relative to help you through role-playing and Q&A. If you are concerned about your fluency in English and lack experience of interviews in the language, then job interview preparation with a native speaker by Skype is worth considering.
Before you have your job interview on Skype make sure to check the following:
If you would like to prepare for your job interview online with the help of an experienced British English tutor, then visit our homepage to request a trial consultation and get started today.
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