Skype interview etiquette

Seuk Kim

Skype and other online video chatting software have become very popular over the past couple of years. Nearly every phone, tablet and notebook computer now has a built in camera that you can use to chat with friends and loved ones as well as business associates. Another area where video conferencing technology is being widely used is with the media. Many TV networks and shows ranging from mainstream news (CNN, Fox News, etc…) to financial news (CNBC, WSJ, The Wall Street Report) now allow guests to be interviewed via Skype when not joining the hosts in person or at remote studios.

As with anything else, there are pros and cons of participating in interviews through Skype. Some of the pros are obvious. Cost and time savings. Familiar environment. Control over certain variables. There are many things you can point out to why it makes a lot of sense.

Some of the pitfalls or cons are not as obvious. Because these interviews are often conducted at the homes or offices of the interviewee, they may not apply the same rules as they would when being interviewed by the media in a studio setting.

On The Wall Street Journal’s website today, I saw and clicked on a link to a little blurb about Asian-Americans which I found to be of interest.

I mean no disrespect to Mr. Siegel, who is an accomplished writer and critic having won a number of awards for his work, but I just couldn’t take him very seriously in this interview. The content is great IF you can get past the messy room, his child playing in the background (I can sympathize with three kids at home ranging in ages 1-4) and his eyes constantly looking off into the corner, but that is a big if. I’m willing to bet that a big portion of the watching audience will notice all or most of those things, which are quite a distraction. Those things are what most people watching this interview will remember, rather than the content.

In stark contrast, Mr. Siegel was interviewed by Jon Stewart of The Daily Show back in 2008. He was entertaining, engaging and vibrant and provided a lot of information which the audience (including myself) really connected with.

If you are ever in the position to be interviewed by the media via Skype, please treat it as you would if you were being called to the studio for a live interview at a studio. If the room or office is messy, please take a moment to tidy up. There should be no distractions for the time when you are “on-air”. Groom if needed. Dress appropriately. Look directly into the webcam as you would into a studio camera. And most importantly, use common sense.