Remember the good old days of, studying responses to common questions, rehearsing, reading up on the position you were interviewing for, showing up on interview day at the location with a fresh haircut and a freshly pressed suit, and sitting down to a 45-min to an hour interview?

Afterward, you would take quick stock of how you did and wait on pins and needles until you received a phone call with a “yay” or “nay.” Well, those days are seemingly gone, and many of us, to be sure, mourn their loss. But times, as they say, they are a changing, and today’s job prospects face a grueling process that often involves meet and greets face to face and online that can equal up to five interviews.

Some of these interviews can even take place online or over the phone, which can bring along new challenges and stressors for some interviewees and even, believe it or not, interviewers. Many companies even bring on a hiring manager or talent scout to be in charge of the whole process, from the first Skype interview to training new hires.

Surely, you get the point. There is nothing wrong with advertising locally, but it significantly narrows your talent pool. So, in steps the Internet and Skype. Suddenly the school is interviewing candidates from California, Canada, and Witchita, and, if you do not think folks can work remotely, think again.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 13.4 million U.S. workers worked from home as of 2012, and CNN Money reported that the number of people who worked at home at least one day per week jumped to 9.5% in 2010, up from 7% in the previous year. The upshot is that remote, in many cases, is the new face-to-face, so you had better be prepared for your Skype interview with these Skype interview tips.

Inevitably you are going to come across an online interview in your time, so there are a few things to think about before the app on your desktop starts hopping up and down and chiming loudly. Luckily, with help from Forbes, we have some Skype interview tips that will hopefully help you prepare for your meeting.

• Look the Part - This may seem dramatic, especially since traditional interview attire is a formal suit or dress. However, companies and organizations tend to want a new employee who can hit the ground running, so, in other words, don’t dress like an anchorman if you are interviewing to be a beat reporter.

• Use Your Tools - The Internet may assist companies in facilitating what may seem like a grand exodus unto a job, but it also allows you to more easily do some of your own research first. So, before your interview, check out the company's website and social media presence to try to get a handle on how the company operates. Also, tools like LinkedIn, are invaluable, as, inevitably, one of your connection may have the real scoop on what working for the company is really like.

• Prepare Your Background - While you may be thinking, “Wow! No suit. I can just show up in my pajamas and no one will know.” This may not be entirely accurate, as the interviewer is likely to be taking notes on your surroundings throughout the conversation. He or she may be noting if the space is quiet or load, professional or cluttered, so do a little housekeeping first.

Without you even noticing, the interviewer may be noting if you are Skyping from a home office or the living room so pick a bright, clean spot as this will affect the mood of the interview more than you may think.

• Practice Makes Perfect - Many times Internet users get into the habit of thinking because they are sitting behind a computer they are somehow shielded from the conversations that take place in cyberspace. Facebook is a great example. Don’t get tricked into thinking you statements and conversations have no impact on those at the other end.

Talking on Skype is, in many ways, just as real as talking in person, so it never hurts to get in a little practice. What’s more, conversations can be recorded so practice making eye contact, active listening, and smiling for the camera in case your meeting is later reviewed.

Moreover, do not overestimate the importance of smiling often, especially upon introduction and on exit. Plus, go ahead and practice a natural and engaged expression as your “go-to face” during the interview. It may not feel natural at first, but, with practice, it will begin to feel more comfortable as you move forward.

If all of this seems overwhelming, just take a deep breath and remember that you can place as many notes as you want in front of you out of sight. Answers to common questions as well as any info on the business can be easily accessed by glancing down and looking away from the camera from time to time.

Ben Cober (from the sameForbessource), director of research and development at PGAV Destinations in St. Louis, MO, even recommends that you “place your resume in front of you,” as well as news about the company, questions you want to ask, and potential talking points.

However, you will want to avoid reading the notes verbatim, as that is not something you would do in a face-to-face conversation. And speaking of natural, Cober goes on to say that putting the pause on a conversation to address technical issues is not a necessarily a dealbreaker, especially if it is done at the beginning of a conversation.

Technology can, in fact, break down, and connections can become sporadic. Asking the interviewer for a minute to address technical issues may relay that you are a problem-solver, Cober says, and, beyond that, he affirms, “it is just plain polite” and employers should respect that.

No. We are not talking about encryption here. We are talking about what one article calls “the first five seconds” of your digital interview. It turns out that humans are really human after all, and a good handshake it worth a million buck. It is something Paul Bailo, digital marketing technology executive and author, calls “digital chemistry,” and it is not all that different than actual physical chemistry.

What Bailo is referring to are those few seconds when the hiring manager first sees you and the atmosphere you have created for your Skype interview. Those first few seconds may determine whether you get the canned interview or something more real and engaging.

This may seem intimidating, but it is not all that different than a real handshake. Now, you may be picturing John Wayne in chaps and a Stetson on horseback telling you a handshake can reveal the “real grit of a man,” or something to that effect. But, the handshake itself is only part of the process, which also involves eye contact, smiling, and body language.

In fact, experts estimate (Skype interview or not) that 90% of the cues that people give off in a typical everyday interaction are non-verbal, so looking the part might not be enough. Solid eye contact, a confident nod, sitting up straight, and warm smile all play into what is called the “digital handshake.”

However, Bailo admits it is hard to get warm and fuzzy with a digital avatar, so he gives the following tip. “Try downloading a photo of the hiring manager” if you can find one. And while you are practicing for showtime - maybe even during it - have that picture available to reference. This will humanize your experience and reinforce that you are actually talking to a person on the other end of the Skype call.

So maybe a Skype Interview is not such a bad thing. Maybe you don’t have to get up as early or drive in inclement weather, and, surely, you will save on gas. Just remember these Skype interview tips and you will be well on your way to landing that new job or bagging that promotion.

Just dress the part, find a quiet profession space for the interview, rehearse, and humanize, and you will have about got it. Also, remember the interview is often won or lost in the first five seconds, and, yes, you can cheat on this assignment.