Read on…

For a Skype job interview you will need to dress up, be professional (no noises in the room or neighbors outside mowing the lawn).  Although it may seem informal, try to take it just as seriously as a real interview.

Tip: you can be the one to recommend to have a  Skype job interview.   If you think they’re techy enough to go for it, it’s a win-win-win for you.  Why?

• You’re being proactive.
• You’re offering to save them money.
• You’re also showing that you’re tech savvy.

Another plus: if you are the first one who have offered to do a virtual interview for them – this will indicate your initiative.

So what is Skype you ask?

Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other users of the service and, in some countries, to free-of-charge numbers, are free, while calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee. Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.

To get started, download and install Skype and create a free user account.  Your computer should have a fast broadband Internet connection, and you need a USB headset and mic (cost is from $25 to $30).  If you have laptop, the built-in mic will work, but a headset sounds sound better. If your computer has a Bluetooth chip, you may be able to use the Bluetooth headset you use for your cell phone.

Now you are all set to make Skype calls from your computer.  The software will allow you to test out your setup with a  prompt asking you to say something. Skype will then play back what you said—if you can hear yourself, your setup is working.)

Calling other Skype users is free so arrange for your interview call in advance with an employer who is willing to use Skype for the intervew.

Calling people who don’t use Skype: This can be done but it is not free.  Skype can connect to the phone system so you will need to give Skype your credit card number (or your PayPal account). Then type in the phone number and press Call.

Bottom Line: Since you are already paying for an Internet service connection, there really is no need to pay for phone service, too. The Internet is already your phone. Use it.

a) Select this link to watch a short  Time magazine video entitled  How to Ace a Job Interview on Skype:

Time Video – Using Skype

b) Select this link to read the original  Time article entitled How Skype Is Changing the Job Interview:

Time Magazine Article

Blurb from the article:

“Get ready for a closeup: your next job interview might be on webcam. Looking to save time and money, companies are turning to video-chat software as a cheap, low-hassle way to vet job candidates. That means a growing number of people looking for work are meeting their prospective new bosses not at the office but in the comfort of their own home.”

Many people outside of the online marketing realm, unless they are under 25 years old, have difficultly understanding the concept.

In a nutshell, Social media is Web 2.0, or interacting with others online.  Web 1.0 was all about showcasing oneself, while Web 2.0 involves a sense of community and openness in which the line between author and reader is blurred.

Savvy businesses and organizations are beginning to utilize social networks to interact with current and prospective clients or customers, introduce new products and services, and launch viral campaigns to involve its market.  Businesses are able to communicate directly with target markets and monitor what others are communicating about its brand or service.

Most organizations are recognizing the value of social media but clueless how to use it.  A job seeker who understands Web 2.0 automatically can have an edge over the competition.  If a company is on Twitter or Facebook, job seekers can get a pulse on what that company values.

To understand what social media is, consider the six main categories:

• Social Networks. In general, these sites allow users to build a profile, connect with friends, and interact with others who have similar interests on the site.  The most popular social networks are MySpace and Facebook.  For business use, LinkedIn is a rapidly growing network of professionals.
• Blogs and Micro-blogs. Blogs are probably the most popular form of social media because they existed before Web 2.0.  Many people write blogs to convey their expertise on a subject, review products, report news, or simply as a diary for all to see.  On the flip side, blogs have become a recognized news source.  The social aspect of blogs involves reader comments and sharing.  Micro-blogs, like Twitter, allow for immediate posting and more interaction.
• Social Bookmarking. Social bookmarking sites such as Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon and Diigo, allow users to access their bookmarks from any computer and share them with others.  Rather than bookmarking a Web page in your Internet browser, you can save it on Delicious to access it from anywhere and give your network access to your favorite articles and Web sites.
• Video Sharing. Popular video site, YouTube, has become almost synonymous with online videos.  Not only are videos entertaining, they are also highly searchable.  Other video sharing networks include Blip.tv, Dailymotion, Hulu and Yahoo! video.
• Podcasts. These include audio or visual files that are available through subscriptions.  Podcasts can be live presentations, webinars, teleseminars, radio shows or anything that contains and audio or video file.  iTunes is a hub for all genres of podcasts and anyone can submit a file to be heard around the world.
• Wikis. These websites contain user-generated content and allow people to add or revise information about a given subject.  Pages become communal documents in an online database.  The best know wiki is Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.  Other wikis include About.com and Squidoo.

The common thread in each of these social mediums is content creation and distribution.  New media users are not selfish with their ideas or work, instead they share their work with all of their networks through syndication.   Applications like Ping.fm make the distribution process simple, so that content can be disseminated to a number of networks at once.

You can become new media savvy if you remember the following steps: Create, Syndicate, Comment, Repeat.  Use this to your advantage during the job hunt to connect directly with your prospective employers or blow them away with your knowledge during an interview.

Source: Anne Carr, Account and Social Media Director at Bolt Public Relations

Why not listen to a podcast of job seeking tips while you are checking your job boards and networking on Linkedin?

• A podcast can help you find local jobs, identify trends, research salaries, and secure that offer letter.
• Podcasts include audio or visual files that are available through subscriptions.
• Podcasts can be live presentations, webinars, teleseminars, radio shows or anything that contains and audio or video file.
• you can also use iTunes – a hub for job seeking podcasts.

Most organizations are recognizing the value of social media but clueless how to use it.  A job seeker who understands this Web 2.0 technology (podcasts) will automatically can have an edge over the competition (your fellow job seekers).

Get Started (3 steps):

1. You need to have Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) installed on your computer to play audio clips and you should have JavaScript enabled.
2. A new window will Open (in your Browser) when you select the Podcast Link (see choices below)
3. Turn on your speakers or put on your headset

That is all, Now you can listen to job seeking advice while you are networking via the web

Recommended podcasts:

JobRadio.fm -  the only radio station devoted to career advice,  24 / 7

Note: This is a key Podcast that is highly recommended – Adding Keywords to your Resume

(Click here for podcast)

Jennifer M Scott of Hireeffect.com gave a great talk on adding keywords to your resume at last month’s Career Resource Expo in Stamford, CT. She took many questions from the audience of jobseekers.

Examples from Job Radio:

• How to instantly connect with anyone
• 5 things you need to know about headhunters
• Whats your best career advice?

Follow on Twitter

Job Radio Archives Link

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JobSearch Radio -   your job search simplified; hosted by Kyle O’brien, broadcast on Mondays @ 10:00am PST

(Click image for podcast)

Dave Coates of PCC Structurals and Steve Jones of Monument Consulting talk about building job search strategies and how to emotionally approach searching for a job.

Examples from JobSearchRadio:

• A chat with Job Search Coach Rita Ashley, author of Job Search Debugged
• Hear Mark Cummuta, CIO of Job Angels
• A talk with Alfonso Lerma of My Job Searcher and job seeker Todd Hutchens

Job Search Radio Archives Link

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Do you have Winamp or another Media Player?

Just copy & paste this link into your mediaplayer:   http://war.str3am.com:8010/listen.pls …for the streaming of the last played broadcast.

Example of Player:

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Another Option: BlogTalkRadio

BlogTalkRadio is the social radio network that allows users to connect quickly and directly with their audience.  Go to this link and search on Jobseeker (for example).

Example:   Savvy Jobseeker Podcast

Savvy Jobseeker Podcast, hosted by Job Search Consultant, Roxanne Ravenel, discusses topics important to job hunters – just like you – ranging from resume building tips and interview strategies to methods for tapping into the unpublished job market and salary negotiation tactics. Pull up a seat, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and let’s get acquainted. Listen to our most recent show or browse the archive for past shows.