Win Skype prizes by watching our disastrous video job interview
Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Extracurriculars, Recession
What you are about to see is a dramatization! Jason Cochran -- er, "Mason Mockran" -- is trying to screw up his job interview, but in a plausible way, so that you can benefit from his career-halting gaffes.
An increasing number of companies are using Skype video conferencing for their job interviews, including Zappos. It's tough enough putting on your best clothes and sitting down for a face-to-face meeting that could determine the direction of the rest of your life. Now, you also have to know how to come across well on camera, too.
So we asked a career coach from 360JobInterview.com to help us conduct a bogus job interview that could best show you what not to do if you're asked to interview for a job by Skype. Our coach was Maria White, a high-powered human resources consultant for Lehman Brothers and the aerospace industry, and she laced our computer-to-computer job interview with a few classic booby traps.
Even though the interviewee seems, on the surface, to be confident and relaxed, in fact, "Mason" does a bunch of things that will likely torpedo his chances at getting this unspecified job. There are some definite wrong answers to these typical job interview questions, and "Mason," who is often vague and unprepared, gives every one of them:
Question: "Do you know much about this position?"
Don't say what "Mason" says: "No. Tell me about it." Do some prep work, and if you don't know specifics, at least be able to talk about the goals of the company itself.
Question: "Why did you leave your last position?"
Candidates who left because of a bad position often make the mistake of speaking negatively about their previous employer. Don't. Even if you were right, it makes you look bad.
Question: "So tell me about yourself."
Unprepared candidates, like "Mason," usually make the mistake of rambling on and on about family and life rather than discussing their professional history.
Question: "What would you say is your greatest weakness?"
The best way to handle this question is to state a weakness and turn it into a benefit (i.e. "I sometimes won't rest until a job is done absolutely perfectly.") Don't say something slightly scary ("I have a short fuse") like "Mason" does.
Question: "What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment?"
Make it a professional accomplishment, not a personal one. It's nice that you went to cooking school, but the company is looking for someone to solve their staffing needs, so stick to painting a picture of yourself that makes their professional dreams come true.
Question: "What do you feel will be your biggest challenge in this position?"
A minefield. Be careful not to frame your answer by revealing or discussing your weaknesses, and don't make the mistake of speaking pessimistically about the position. This is an ideal opportunity to show that you've done your research about the business and the job. If you haven't done your homework, it can be a deal breaker.
But there are even more performance mistakes in this video. For one, when Jason pretends to be Mason, he is fixed on the video image of Maria on the side of his screen and not on his computer's camera. Just because you're on video doesn't mean you shouldn't look someone in the eye, and in the world of video conferencing, the camera is the "eye." Don't be distracted.
Also, when he thinks about his responses, his eyes wander. That gives him away as not being confident and not having done his prep work. Judge Judy eats people for lunch for that.
Finally, the video location is too busy, with people milling about in the background where they can distract.
Those priceless video interview tips are free, courtesy of WalletPop. But the freebies don't stop there. We're also giving away some goodies, courtesy of Skype, so that you can warm up for your own future run-in with teleconferencing.
Three winners will be selected at random to win one of each of these fabulous prizes:
* A 2.4 GHz True Digital Stereo Wireless Headset, certified by Skype.
* A Skype Unlimited World subscription plan voucher, which allows for unlimited calls to landlines in over 40 countries for three months.
* Fame and respect from your friends (participating locations only).
Other details of the contest --
An increasing number of companies are using Skype video conferencing for their job interviews, including Zappos. It's tough enough putting on your best clothes and sitting down for a face-to-face meeting that could determine the direction of the rest of your life. Now, you also have to know how to come across well on camera, too.
So we asked a career coach from 360JobInterview.com to help us conduct a bogus job interview that could best show you what not to do if you're asked to interview for a job by Skype. Our coach was Maria White, a high-powered human resources consultant for Lehman Brothers and the aerospace industry, and she laced our computer-to-computer job interview with a few classic booby traps.
Even though the interviewee seems, on the surface, to be confident and relaxed, in fact, "Mason" does a bunch of things that will likely torpedo his chances at getting this unspecified job. There are some definite wrong answers to these typical job interview questions, and "Mason," who is often vague and unprepared, gives every one of them:
Question: "Do you know much about this position?"
Don't say what "Mason" says: "No. Tell me about it." Do some prep work, and if you don't know specifics, at least be able to talk about the goals of the company itself.
Question: "Why did you leave your last position?"
Candidates who left because of a bad position often make the mistake of speaking negatively about their previous employer. Don't. Even if you were right, it makes you look bad.
Question: "So tell me about yourself."
Unprepared candidates, like "Mason," usually make the mistake of rambling on and on about family and life rather than discussing their professional history.
Question: "What would you say is your greatest weakness?"
The best way to handle this question is to state a weakness and turn it into a benefit (i.e. "I sometimes won't rest until a job is done absolutely perfectly.") Don't say something slightly scary ("I have a short fuse") like "Mason" does.
Question: "What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment?"
Make it a professional accomplishment, not a personal one. It's nice that you went to cooking school, but the company is looking for someone to solve their staffing needs, so stick to painting a picture of yourself that makes their professional dreams come true.
Question: "What do you feel will be your biggest challenge in this position?"
A minefield. Be careful not to frame your answer by revealing or discussing your weaknesses, and don't make the mistake of speaking pessimistically about the position. This is an ideal opportunity to show that you've done your research about the business and the job. If you haven't done your homework, it can be a deal breaker.
But there are even more performance mistakes in this video. For one, when Jason pretends to be Mason, he is fixed on the video image of Maria on the side of his screen and not on his computer's camera. Just because you're on video doesn't mean you shouldn't look someone in the eye, and in the world of video conferencing, the camera is the "eye." Don't be distracted.
Also, when he thinks about his responses, his eyes wander. That gives him away as not being confident and not having done his prep work. Judge Judy eats people for lunch for that.
Finally, the video location is too busy, with people milling about in the background where they can distract.
Those priceless video interview tips are free, courtesy of WalletPop. But the freebies don't stop there. We're also giving away some goodies, courtesy of Skype, so that you can warm up for your own future run-in with teleconferencing.
Three winners will be selected at random to win one of each of these fabulous prizes:
* A 2.4 GHz True Digital Stereo Wireless Headset, certified by Skype.
* A Skype Unlimited World subscription plan voucher, which allows for unlimited calls to landlines in over 40 countries for three months.
* Fame and respect from your friends (participating locations only).
Other details of the contest --
- To enter, simply leave a verified comment on this post.
- The comment must be left before Monday, Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You may enter only once.
- Three prize winners will be randomly selected to receive a 2.4 GHz True Digital Stereo Wireless Headset and a three-month Skype Unlimited World subscription plan voucher. The total value of each prize set is approximately $118.
- One to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and over.
- For official rules, click here.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
8-12-2009 @ 11:13AM
G. said...
As a person who has sat on both chairs, these errors are very common and natural. The best defense for any interview is PREPARATION. Simple is always best. Be prepared, be relaxed, be confident, be focused, and SMILE. It's not just the words that are said that are heard in the interview, but the words that are not.
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 11:11AM
Sam Grabelle said...
I struggle with what I've learned about the difference between what an employer is looking for in an interview and what they actually want on the job. I shine in interviews and am more often than not offered the position. The problem arises when I am the same outgoing, energetic, intelligent, assertive and independent person on the job. It seems they thought that was what they wanted but when it comes down to it, they really just want another drone who will keep quiet, stay in line, and do what has always been done without really changing anything. I was hired for my last position because I could help them spend the $2 million grant on significant and important changes in the way they operated. Two months in I was reprimanded by an executive for "moving too fast" and was told that "things move at a snail's pace around here so you need to do so also." I was fired from a bartending job because I was "too smart" and didn't fit in with the blue collar customers. I was let go from a sales job because I determined that their income projections for my territory were off by a huge margin. I was forced out of a social work job, in part, because I was "too happy all the time" and because I dared to talk about work after 5:00 at a company gathering. It is hard for me to accept positions without wanting to sit them down and get them to swear to me that they will continue to like the qualities they are hiring me for in six months. Whew. Thank you for letting me vent a bit.
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 11:30AM
G. said...
Sam,
If I may comment here,
The common denominator of your employment history is "You".
It seems in each of the jobs that that you have described, you have had some type of negative interaction with someone or persons in the company. I suggest reflecting on yourself and your qualities and evaluate if you really are on target as to howpeople perceive you in the workplace. I often ask my friends to give me feedback on how I am projecting myself to be and if it is matching how I feel
I am being perceived. For example, you describe yourself as assertive. Is there any component of yourself that is "aggressive" vs. "assertive"? What about your independence? Does your independence become perceived as not being a team player? When you give intelligent feedback, does it come off as being critical vs. constructive? Is being outgoing perceived as infringing on others' boundaries? Just food for thought. It seems you have been in many vocational areas, yet find yourself in the same situations. Ask a friend what they think. Authentic and genuine feedback is good for the soul. Good luck.
8-13-2009 @ 3:32AM
Mary said...
I suggest becoming self employed or starting your own business. But if you keep hacking you will eventually find a place that values your talents. Or you will have to find a way to reconcile your common sense with nonsense to stay employed.
8-13-2009 @ 10:37AM
richard said...
You sound like an entrepeneur , companies have their own agenda ,and culture.
And the bosses don't like to be outshined.,
Get on your own wagon--you are a mover a shaker--but be kind and humble,after all , your past employer, could be your next costumer.
8-31-2009 @ 8:22AM
BShields said...
No matter what the job/position you are hired for, your first priority is to make the person you report to look good. From your statement it appears that your perception of what you were hired for is not aligned with what the employeer truly wants. Remember that most supervisors, managers, CEOs, etc. do not want an "underling" to out shine them. Consider running all your ideas for change/innovation by your immediate supervisor. Ask for permission to implement any change -- no matter how small.
You probably have geat enthusiasm and energy for the jobs you take on but remember you are dealing with others who may have fragile egos and need to always appear to be in charge and the "leader."
8-31-2009 @ 1:37PM
miriam said...
I think this youtube link was a great education tool. It's really easy to tell someone everything they should say and know before going to a job interview but for someone like me whose a visual learner, this is by far a more advanced tool.
I got to see how the responses got reactions from the interviewer. You could see on both their faces that the further the interview was going the less likely he was going to get the job.
Whenever I've been on job interviews, I always try to pay close attention to the interviewers face after I give my response. If they do not seem impressed or interested, I try to add more to what I've already said because I may have forgotten some key facts the first time around.
8-12-2009 @ 11:36AM
Willy said...
I told an interviewer (for an online publishing company) once, "If it plugs in, it doesn't work for me." I didn't get the job. What a dope I am.
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 12:28PM
Kym said...
Very interesting format for an interview. I have interviewed many people over the years and thought the interviewer was very professional towards the candidate. I'm not sure I would have allowed the interview to continue that long had he interviewed with me! But the video is great and I know several friends who definitely need to watch. We did mock interviews as well, so that I could provide some feedback. I agree with the advice given that one must be prepared, however I suggest not being "overly-prepared." I want to see the candidates personality, not hear a regurgitation of the company website. Acing an interview takes a good balance of personality and preparedness. Also, many times "less is more" when answering. Rambling is never good. It has been my experience that if the interviewer wants to know more they will ask you to expand.
Thanks for providing some great information that can definitely benefit people in today's shrinking job market.
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 12:32PM
Nick Cobb said...
Another good reply for the dreaded, "What are your faults?" questions is: "I'm a perfectionist."
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 1:18PM
Steven said...
Most of these things are really just common sense, but without some basic preparation and a little research on the company and position all common sense goes out the window when in the hot seat. I spend about 15-30 minutes doing some online research and also make a call to the company and talk to whoever answers about themselves. Most people freely give up good info you can use in your interview.
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 1:22PM
Steven said...
..
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 3:05PM
Amanda said...
Yikes! From not knowing anything about the company for which he hopes to work to discussing personal accomplishments like training for a marathon instead of professional ones -- and then, again, dissing his old company in the process -- to saying at the end that he's over-qualified for the position but that he's willing to take a "junior" position because of the economy, he really doesn't come off as professional or qualified.
As for me, my worst experience -- although the interview team, yes, there were two of them, were very nice and encouraging throughout -- was realizing that I had misinterpreted the info in the job posting and while talking about how good a match for the job, listed several reasons why I WASN'T a good fit for the actual job. (I had thought that it was a receptionist/administrative assistant position where I would have a lot of people contact and be doing a lot of varied tasks during the day when the actual position was an administrative assistant position where I would be at a desk in a cubicle or in the file room scanning documents. Very little people contact and not a whole variety of work. Ooops!) Then the two very young looking, nicely dressed -- in lovely summery yet professional dresses, while I was wearing a linen jacket and pants -- ladies mentioned that there were great health benefits and that they both were looking into getting Botox injections! I thought of saying that "Oh gee, you both look great and certainly don't need Botox." but I was so gobsmacked that I couldn't get my mouth open and just kept smiling in an agreeable manner while they continued and also told me that the dress code was office casual. I ran into the ditch again by saying that I pretty much lived in jackets and pants but that I could lose the jackets. Oh, well.
When I got the rejection e-mail, they said that they liked me but that another candidate was more qualified for the position -- read didn't disqualify themselves in the interview, LOL -- but that they would keep my resume on file since they were expanding and more positions would be opening up. Nice let down from very nice people. I have certainly learned to read the job listings very, very carefully. :)
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 6:08PM
Michelle said...
I think a few of these mistakes are more obvious when interviewing via Skype. I havent interviewed in a while, but these are great tips! A lot are also aplicable to phone interviews.
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 6:31PM
susan smoaks said...
I haven't ever done a skype or phone interview, but I usually do very well.
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 7:59PM
BeBe said...
I have made several of those interviewing mistakes myself in the past. I remember rambling on about myself and my health problems and children not long after I was trying to find work after many years of being out of the work force. I haven't been on too many interviews lately and I honestly really can't stand to have to do it. Even in practice I get very nervous and I am not sure if I will ever be comfortable or good at it.
Reply
8-12-2009 @ 7:33PM
Kris said...
Is this a trend that's becoming more popular? Wouldn't an in person interview be better?
Reply
8-13-2009 @ 1:30AM
Lee Lee said...
When companies recruit people from out of state, it's less expensive for them to Skype versus paying them to fly in for interviews. When HR have narrowed to one to three candidates, they might be willing to pay to fly the one for the face-to-face interview.
8-12-2009 @ 11:29PM
dawn said...
The dreaded question in an interview? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I don't know..."alive" and not living in a van down by the river...
Reply
8-13-2009 @ 12:38AM
Jackie Dominico said...
OMGosh dude, no way. Thats the funniest thing I have EVER seen!
Reply