Skype Interview? 7 Tips to Be at Your Best

In the brave new world of tech-savvy remote interviews, every job applicant can benefit from a few Skype interview tips. Even if making a good first -- or fifth -- impression isn't always done in person these days, many of the same golden rules apply. Here are seven tips to help you get your game-face on for a job interview, Skype-style:

1. Put your hands where your interviewer can see them. Take the cue from Busta Rhymes: "Put all your hands where my eyes can see." Much of communication comes from body language and hand movement. Show 'em what you're "saying."
2. Don't lie or exaggerate. Remember, padding your resume may help get your foot in the door, but it can get you fired too. The same goes for misrepresenting the truth during a Skype interview. But remember, there are certain questions your interviewer can't ask you during an interview.
3. Pay attention to lighting. Aim light at yourself from the front, not from behind, suggests U.S. News and World Report. If you have lights behind you, you may appear on screen as a dark silhouette, which is a gamble. You might look intriguing and mysterious, or just plain old creepy.
4. Address tech problems immediately. It's not uncommon for Skype sessions to have a technical hiccup or two. If it becomes very distracting, politely let them know, stop the call and redial, suggests Forbes. They'll appreciate the initiative.
5. Consider a conferencing app. If you're discussing sensitive information, you may want to look into a conferencing app. Skype is great because it's free, but there are a number of conferencing apps that are more secure.
6. Look the part. Dressing too casually can be a death knell for a job interview. You could be that person in the Skype world who dresses the top half in a suit and the bottom half in boxers. But if you accidentally move the camera down, good luck, Carlos Danger...
7. Don't forget to smile! Though you may feel odd about grinning into a tiny hole in your laptop, it's the best way to break the ice and show that behind the camera, there's a human.

Of course these are just a few tips to be at your best in a Skype interview. Related Resources:

• Ace Your Skype Job Interview: 14 Smart Tips (MoneyWatch)
• Where Is Unemployment Discrimination Illegal? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
• Zimmerman Trial Interrupted by Skype Trolls (FindLaw's Blotter)
• Job Applications and Interviews Overview (FindLaw)