I look ugly in webcam what to do with Skype interview?
October 27, 2013 9:57 PM Subscribe
I look very ugly in webcam, but I have a Skype interview tomorrow.
I'm frustrated. Id rather go to a face to face interview. At least I look normal in mirror.
Can anyone give any practical advice for Skype interview? How can I look better instead of like a criminal?
Thanks.
First time Skype interview and I have ADD,feel extremely uncomfortable with this type of setup.
First time Skype interview and I have ADD,feel extremely uncomfortable with this type of setup.
Not sure exactly what the problem is, but try changing your lighting and moving back from the camera. Being too close distorts your face. Just be sure that your background is acceptable.
posted by wintersweet at 9:59 PM on October 27, 2013
posted by wintersweet at 9:59 PM on October 27, 2013
You're not the only one with this concern. Three things, make sure the camera is at a slightly higher angle so that you're looking up a bit and not pointing your face down -- too much squashy chin and nostrils there. Float the little window that shows you up next to the camera so you're not looking off to the side. And, just take a deep breath and know that it's not ideal and very likely that your interviewers are nearly as uncomfortable with the setup as you are.
posted by amanda at 10:04 PM on October 27, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by amanda at 10:04 PM on October 27, 2013 [6 favorites]
1) Elevate your computer.
2) Lights in front and on both sides of you.
3) If you have a Mac, iGlasses.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 10:14 PM on October 27, 2013 [2 favorites]
2) Lights in front and on both sides of you.
3) If you have a Mac, iGlasses.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 10:14 PM on October 27, 2013 [2 favorites]
Sticking your chin out makes you look MUCH better in photos.
I imagine the same is true of Skype/webcam.
posted by jbenben at 10:18 PM on October 27, 2013
I imagine the same is true of Skype/webcam.
posted by jbenben at 10:18 PM on October 27, 2013
Webcams generally use wide angle lenses, as they're intended to operate from close range. If you have or can borrow a stand alone HD video camera, and figure out how to use it with Skype in your set up, and have a room large enough to get the camera the 5 to 8 feet away from your face that normal video camera lenses need for focus and depth of field, you'll look a lot more like your "normal" self. But you might also need either a lot of natural sunlight through windows, or additional artificial lights. If you're going to be doing a lot of Skype interviewing for jobs, and live near a major city, you can even find studios that are setup for this kind of thing, that you can rent by the hour, for such purposes.
Otherwise, try to remember that if this company is extensively using Skype for interviews, they are very likely looking at person after person using Skype with webcams, each of whom bears a striking resemblance to a fish. Very quickly, they come to expect everyone to have exaggerated mouths, puffy cheeks, and funny noses. At worst, with Skype through a webcam, you'll fit right in to their new perceptions. Good luck. Focus on the job, not on your appearance.
posted by paulsc at 10:30 PM on October 27, 2013
Otherwise, try to remember that if this company is extensively using Skype for interviews, they are very likely looking at person after person using Skype with webcams, each of whom bears a striking resemblance to a fish. Very quickly, they come to expect everyone to have exaggerated mouths, puffy cheeks, and funny noses. At worst, with Skype through a webcam, you'll fit right in to their new perceptions. Good luck. Focus on the job, not on your appearance.
posted by paulsc at 10:30 PM on October 27, 2013
Set up the camera so that you are in the third of the right or left side of the screen. And follow above notes on lights and camera position. And get a good background, preferably with some depth and interest.
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 11:16 PM on October 27, 2013
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 11:16 PM on October 27, 2013
Everyone looks like shit from an upwards angle, it's literally the opposite of ye olde myspace angles.
The solution to this webcam problem is:
A. Be in a well lit room, but do not have any exposed light source in the view of *or* within a few degrees of the view of the webcam lens. This will cause glare or other just general image shittiness(refraction and distortion within the crappy 2 cent plastic lens) The best is natural light from a window obviously, but just diffuse light from behind the computer elsewhere in the room like a shaded lamp around or above head level will be good. You want light behind the computer, not behind or above you. I mean, don't glare your eyes out with some direct lighting but get some light going behind the computer, preferably diffuse and a few feet away.
B. Elevate the laptop so it's near the level of your head. You don't want it aiming "up" at you, you want the screen bent totally vertical. Apple seems to be the only company who gets this, and only in the imacs, which are often set up with the OSHA/other workplace standards agencies metrics of the center of the screen being aligned with your eyes. I'm currently sitting at one in a properly configured workspace and the camera lens is aligned with my forehead. This is pretty much optimal. Aim for the camera lens----forehead alignment. Even the shittiest webcam will look better this way.
As a closing note, if you can borrow ANYONES machine that has an HD webcam do it now. They have better lenses, better sensors, less noise, generally less fisheye-ish wideangle lenses, just better everything. A newer mac with the "facetime HD" camera would be best, but the HD logitech and microsoft USB cameras would be good too. Really think and go hit facebook/linkedin/etc and see if there's anyone you know with a new macbook air or something you can borrow for an hour or two.
Do a "dry run" with skype after making those changes, and potentially borrowing a better-equipped machine. Tweak the lighting and position a bit. I bet it'll make a big difference. The lighting thing especially is what separates camgirls from looking like nerds in their poorly lit gaming cave in their parents basement.
posted by emptythought at 1:31 AM on October 28, 2013
The solution to this webcam problem is:
A. Be in a well lit room, but do not have any exposed light source in the view of *or* within a few degrees of the view of the webcam lens. This will cause glare or other just general image shittiness(refraction and distortion within the crappy 2 cent plastic lens) The best is natural light from a window obviously, but just diffuse light from behind the computer elsewhere in the room like a shaded lamp around or above head level will be good. You want light behind the computer, not behind or above you. I mean, don't glare your eyes out with some direct lighting but get some light going behind the computer, preferably diffuse and a few feet away.
B. Elevate the laptop so it's near the level of your head. You don't want it aiming "up" at you, you want the screen bent totally vertical. Apple seems to be the only company who gets this, and only in the imacs, which are often set up with the OSHA/other workplace standards agencies metrics of the center of the screen being aligned with your eyes. I'm currently sitting at one in a properly configured workspace and the camera lens is aligned with my forehead. This is pretty much optimal. Aim for the camera lens----forehead alignment. Even the shittiest webcam will look better this way.
As a closing note, if you can borrow ANYONES machine that has an HD webcam do it now. They have better lenses, better sensors, less noise, generally less fisheye-ish wideangle lenses, just better everything. A newer mac with the "facetime HD" camera would be best, but the HD logitech and microsoft USB cameras would be good too. Really think and go hit facebook/linkedin/etc and see if there's anyone you know with a new macbook air or something you can borrow for an hour or two.
Do a "dry run" with skype after making those changes, and potentially borrowing a better-equipped machine. Tweak the lighting and position a bit. I bet it'll make a big difference. The lighting thing especially is what separates camgirls from looking like nerds in their poorly lit gaming cave in their parents basement.
posted by emptythought at 1:31 AM on October 28, 2013
This was one of the most helpful answers when I asked about interviewing on Skype before:
posted by daisyk at 3:00 AM on October 28, 2013 [10 favorites]
Rather than making the interviewer's image as large as possible or filling the screen with it, make it as small as you can without having to squint at them, then position the window as close to the lens of your camera as possible. This will help you simulate eye contact instead of constantly looking way below the camera lens at the image of their eyes.Thanks again, contraption! I use this trick every time I have an important Skype conversation and I think it really does help.
posted by daisyk at 3:00 AM on October 28, 2013 [10 favorites]
I just saw on reddit a suggestion to put googly eyes on either side of your webcam as a friendly reminder to look at the camera.
posted by saucysault at 6:23 AM on October 28, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by saucysault at 6:23 AM on October 28, 2013 [4 favorites]
You could do like they do in those anonymous tv interviews and hide in the shadows or blur your face. I have a Microsoft HD webcam which is very clear and you can zoom in from a little further away than the standard wide-angle-make-your-face-look-like-an-inflated-balloon-webcam.
Lighting also makes a huge improvement. The light from a computer monitor is generally too blue and surreal. If you are interviewing for a part in a Dali painting it works great but for everything else sucks.
posted by JJ86 at 6:55 AM on October 28, 2013
Lighting also makes a huge improvement. The light from a computer monitor is generally too blue and surreal. If you are interviewing for a part in a Dali painting it works great but for everything else sucks.
posted by JJ86 at 6:55 AM on October 28, 2013
Do they require you to have your video on? Could always say that you're having issues getting the camera to work. Otherwise, I'd say that a lot of the previous suggestions, especially those about lighting or eye contact, are great.
posted by Aleyn at 5:51 PM on October 28, 2013
posted by Aleyn at 5:51 PM on October 28, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 9:59 PM on October 27, 2013 [4 favorites]