So you decided to make the jump and work from home. Good for you! You’re in control of your own career now. Unfortunately, you will occasionally have meetings via online conference calls. Skype can be a wonderful resource for professionals who work from home. It lets people meet you, hear your voice, and see your commitment and your personality. It’s pretty hard to gauge someone’s whole personality from an email or two. Skype lets you meet someone from around the world. However, a Skype call doesn’t mean a lack of preparation on your part. Here are some tips to ensure your Skype call goes as smooth as possible.
- Dress to impress…at least from the waist up.
You need to look professional. Do a test run the day before to make sure your outfit looks okay on the video screen. Does your low-quality webcam make your tie look garish? Are you unable to tell you’re wearing a business jacket? Ladies, really watch your makeup. Webcam quality can either make you look like you’re wearing no makeup or too much makeup. Watch your lipstick choices, as bright red can look clownish. Do a test hair and makeup run. You may want to apply your makeup in the screen so you can see what it looks like step-by-step. - Location, location, location.
Your video conference location is very important. Do NOT have anything distracting in the frame. A blank wall is preferable, but some people choose to set up a background for their conference call. Such a background may include plants or paintings. Do not have anything from your “home life” in the background, such as a couch. You don’t want to look “homey,” you want to look professional.