I am excited for an interview that I have tomorrow for a job back in the States. This would be a huge bump in pay and position from where I am at now, and would transfer me to a division of pharma that would also interest me more than where I am currently at. Due to me still being abroad, they want to do it over Skype, and So I have a couple of questions.

The first of which, should I do this in my full suit like a normal interview, or could I go with a white button-down and a red tie (for America, obviously)?

The second, lighting and position recommendations? It will be dark, so I thought about doing at my kitchen table facing a white wall with a light directly behind the camera?

Since they want me to do a full research presentation, is it OK to sit down and just talk to the camera, or should I film myself going through the presentation on a screen or a wall?

Thanks for the feedback!

11/9/2016 2:44:54 PM

I haven't done this, but my gut says to present yourself as you would in an in-person interview. If suit is standard for such an interview, I'd wear a suit. I would certainly ensure the lighting and background are appropriate. You don't want to seem lazy, uncaring, and unmotivated to impress.

For the research presentation, I'd say it depends on what they are looking for, which may be tough to determine. If a webinar format is fine (e.g. the viewers see slides only) then it doesn't matter what you do. But if they want to see how you present, I would see if you couldn't work the video, audio, and lighting to accommodate a standing/active presentation. If it's technically difficult (audio is bad, or video range/focusing is off, then I'd say keep seated.

11/9/2016 4:38:35 PM

A headhunter told my friend he should wear a suit anyway, but depending on what kind of culture youre looking to work in probably just dressing nice is fine.

you'll want a background light and a fill light (so like the regular overhead light to keep the background illuminated, then like a desklamp pointed at your face from a few feet away to make sure there's not weird downward shadows).

If you have a way to share your desktop for the presentation so they see your slides, and have your webcam up, that would probably be best, but I can't remember if skype lets you share your screen anymore.

11/9/2016 5:34:23 PM

They have requested that I email them my slides in advance. So, I am assuming that they will follow along. There will be two chemists and a med chemist at the interview. One of the chemists is an absolute giant in the field that is on the potential nobel prize "watch list" every year.

I mean, considering that this is technically an industry position and not an academic one, I shit my pants when I found out just last night that a potential nobel laureate was showing up to my interview.





[Edited on November 9, 2016 at 6:22 PM. Reason : a]

11/9/2016 6:16:47 PM

Video yourself asking questions and answering them and try to get comfortable looking at the camera instead of the screen.

Pretty hard to do if you've never done it.

[Edited on November 10, 2016 at 11:30 AM. Reason : a]

11/10/2016 11:30:03 AM

Thanks for the tip! That was useful.

Love,

Kyle's friend.

11/10/2016 3:14:24 PM

I am a hiring manager.

1) Always suit. Always. If there is a place that is bothered by you wearing a suit, you likely don't want to work there. Personal preference, but I think blue is better for an interview.

2) I would seriously hope they are doing a 'Skype for business' interview and not some bullshit regular skype session. If it is Skype for Business, you can be made a presenter and show a powerpoint, with your face overlayed in a corner. If not, it will be shitty.

3) You should pick a place that in your home that has a neutral background. You don't want people judging you by your surroundings. Of course, if you have an awesome backdrop, like a library, use that.

4) Come prepared with 3 GOOD follow-up questions. Don't get to the end and when they ask you what questions you have to ask, say 'Nope'. Good questions: Can you talk about the type of work place culture that exists? What do you do in terms of employee professional development? I would not waste your time on asking how long it will take to make a decision.

5) SEND A THANK YOU EMAIL.

[Edited on November 10, 2016 at 4:07 PM. Reason : .]

11/10/2016 4:04:20 PM

Thanks for the tips. I did show up in a suit. They did not have the power point thing, but asked me to send them my slides, and so we just followed through it that way. It was what they preferred.

Definitely a pain in the ass not to be able to use a laser pointer.

[Edited on November 10, 2016 at 4:31 PM. Reason : a]

11/10/2016 4:31:07 PM

One last post.

It was a very typical three-person set up: The science director, a dude that works in the lab, and somebody from HR. The presentation about research and goals went very well with the science people, but the HR guy at the end asked a question about how seriously I wanted to come back to the US, and if I would come back if I didn't get the job. And, I asked for some time to think about a response, and said that since I have a son and former wife here in DE, that I would not rush a move back and wait until I found a good fit that would make me happy.

Was that the right answer? The one that he was looking for?

11/12/2016 4:27:24 AM

No cause now he thinks you're a flight risk who is going to leave them high and dry when you start missing your kid.

11/12/2016 11:00:21 AM

what should I do then, lie about not having a kid in Germany? All he has to do is talk to somebody on my recommendation list, and I am sure that it would be brought up.

11/12/2016 2:21:44 PM

Omission is not lying.

11/12/2016 10:32:13 PM

yeah, u right. I was just caught off guard.

11/13/2016 4:46:18 AM

Tomorrow will be two weeks exactly since the interview. I did send an Email immediately after the interview, and now I am thinking of sending another to ask for some updates. I haven't heard anything back form then yet.

11/23/2016 3:09:55 PM

My first was a month ago. I suited up and everything, but sadly I did not get a callback for a face to face interview.

It might be for the best though. I just did a phone interview that went very well and now I am arranging a face to face interview. I would have to drive to the Park for this job, but it would still be with the state and the hiring range is 160-310% of my current salary.

11/24/2016 8:38:16 AM

^ how many positions did you apply to before getting that response?

11/28/2016 4:11:39 PM

Well I am not super looking, but I haven't gotten a raise in a couple of years, so I am looking for opportunities. My boss claims his hands have been tied, so even though I have gotten outstanding performance evaluations, I have not gotten any additional cash. Being a state employee and with kids wanting to stay at their school, I am limited in my choices.

Story on the jobs, first one was posted online. I was a bit overqualified, and it would be a bit of a lateral move in responsibilities, but the job position would have probably been a $10-12k bump in pay. Soon after I did the interview on Skype, the other guy contacted me directly about this position he had and said he wanted me for this job. I was definitely interested and applied. It did not list a salary (different HR) but its title was Senior Network Engineer. I never heard back from the one I did the Skype interview, but then I did a phone interview last week for this position and that is when I found out about the salary range. It would be a minimum $30k raise, so I am MUCH more interested and not at all disappointed that I did not hear back from the other job.

11/28/2016 6:01:50 PM

So you'd be making 80k to 155k. #didthemath

11/30/2016 7:23:35 PM

Haha, pretty close! I was wondering if I gave enough info to figure that shit out. Being a state employee though, anybody with my name can look my salary up, so not super worried about people knowing my pay.



[Edited on November 30, 2016 at 7:59 PM. Reason : I ain't making $hit right now. ]

11/30/2016 7:58:19 PM