Remote job interviews are a relatively new concept, so not many people get the hang of it just yet. In today’s episode of preparing you for a terrific career, we will show you how to prepare for a remote job interview. Make sure to read and share this article because I’ll be exposing every lesser-known detail by which your recruiter will be evaluating you.
You don’t want to miss any part of this at all. This is good stuff.
1. Go Over Your Resume and Cover Letter
In previous articles on the blog, I covered everything you need to know about preparing a killer resume and cover letter. If you haven’t checked that out already, please do. I busted some myths and exposed some secrets about resumes and cover letters that you won’t get anywhere else. Those articles will make all the difference in your job hunting.
When writing your cover letter, ensure you highlight your experience in dynamic working environments. You want to show your potential employer that you can manage yourself and deliver results on the job without supervision.
If you’ve never worked remotely before, think of any relevant example that could apply. For instance, did you write your Ph.D. thesis from your kitchen counter? Mention it. Did you prepare your lesson plans or grade your students’ papers at home while working as a tutor? That’s a great mention too.
Another reason to go over your resume and cover letter is so that you can refresh your memory about your accomplishments.
You’ve done an amazing job in all your previous roles. You wouldn’t want the pressures of having an interview to cause you to go blank. So, go over all your accomplishments and note key points on a notepad or a Google doc, so you don’t forget.
2. Schedule Your Interview With Clear Details
For many companies, you’ll be emailed the details of your interview; all you have to do is show up. For other companies, you would have the luxury of discussing the interview details and then agreeing.
If the latter is your case, then clarity is of the essence. Even if the former is your case, clarity is still of the essence, but I’ll get to that later.
Be Sure of the Time Zone
When discussing with your interviewer and scheduling your remote job interview, it’s important to discuss time zones. It’s naive to assume that the person interviewing you is in the same time zone as you. And even if it’s obvious, it’s always great to ask. Who knows? Your interviewer might be in another time zone on the day of your interview.
So, when stating the times, you’d be available for an interview, always mention the time zone and chip in the time difference between you and your interviewer. It’s best practice. Here’s one way you can do that.
Let’s imagine you’re in Nigeria, and your interviewer is in Halifax, Canada. You could say, “I’m on Western Africa Time, which is GMT+1. That puts me five hours ahead of Atlantic Standard Time. Can we have the call at noon, your time?”
Decide on the App for the Meeting
After confirming the time, the next thing to discuss would be the platform for the interview.
So you don’t get stuck that day, it’s best for you and your interviewer to agree on multiple platforms for the interview. This way, if your preferred application isn’t going great, you can easily move to another one.
So, be sure to offer a phone number, WhatsApp number, Skype ID, or any other platform that makes sense for a remote job interview.
If Your Interviewer Provides All the Meeting Details, Do This
For those who might not have the liberty to discuss these details with their interview, go over all the details you were sent carefully. If there’s any aspect of the information that isn’t clear, like time zones for instance, be sure to send an email to clear things up.
3. Test Everything
This is not the time to be shy. It’s better to clear up any potential for confusion ahead of time rather than get to d-day and appear unserious or uninterested in the job.
By everything, I mean everything.
We all love technology, but they are not 100% dependable, and they have a knack for knowing precisely when you need them to be at 100% so they can proceed to fail you completely at precisely that time. This is why you must test everything.
Test Your Internet
Test your internet signal. What part of your house is the signal the strongest? Is there any other suitable location besides your house where internet signals are also great?
Don’t just know. Run a test by setting up a meeting, preferably with someone who does not live with you. If you can get someone who lives around your interviewer’s location, that would be perfect too.
It wouldn’t be an idea to get a spare internet router too if you can.
Test Your Devices
When you’ve confirmed your internet strength, check your devices.
I suggest you get a good mic and headset for your interview. These devices don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. But if you can afford either or both of them, you might want to get them to improve your communication.
Also, be sure to test them before your interview and get a spare for everything, if possible. Don’t forget to charge all your devices fully as well.
Do a Meeting Test Run on the Proposed Application for Your Interview
Find out what platform the interview would be on and practice. The most common platforms for remote job interviews are Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, and Whereby. If you’re not used to your interviewer’s preferred platform, take a tour around the app before the meeting.
Be sure you know how to log in, share a presentation, use the whiteboard tools, etc.
Of course, all of this is not to say that preparation will make sure nothing fails. However, if you are familiar with all your tools and tech before the interview, you’d be better prepared in case of any negative eventuality.
4. Practice for an AI Virtual Interview
Some organizations will conduct their first round of screening with an AI virtual interview bot. In such a case, your first interview might be with a bot. So, prepare accordingly.
Common AI bots used for such interviews include HireVue and Interviewer.ai. If your interviewer schedules you for a screening on either one of these platforms, then make sure to get familiar with them.
Find out what information the bot will use to evaluate you. It could be word choice, body language, or the ability to speak in complete sentences. Know the platform’s quirks and play to them.
5. Prepare What You’re Going to Say Ahead of Time
I already mentioned going through your resume and cover letter and taking note of major accomplishments you’d like to share with your interviewer. But that’s not all. You must also be prepared to ask your interviewer questions.
Ask Questions About the Company
You’ve heard it before, but it’s worth repeating. Never say no when your interviewer asks you if you have questions. This is why you must research the company or the person you’re hoping to work for.
To do this, check out the company’s website and understand its mission and why they feel it’s important. Then assess yourself and your skills and see how they fit into that mission.
You might also want to familiarize yourself with their achievements, company culture, and even investors. This way, your answers will be more informed, and your questions will be more impressive.
Because it’s not just enough to ask questions. You have to ask quality questions. For instance, asking questions whose answers you could easily find on their company website isn’t a great move.
That said, you want to have three to four great questions about the company on hand before you get to your interview. But also make sure to pay attention during your interview and even take notes, as questions could also pop up in your mind while your interview speaks.
Ask Questions About the Organization’s Structure for Remote Work
You should also prepare questions that are specific to working remotely. Here are some you can ask:
- Do some tasks require fixed hours?
- What is the team’s communication schedule?
- Would any travel be required at any point at all? Maybe for training, get-togethers, etc.?
- If your potential employer is abroad, what’s the arrangement for local holidays?
- Any security strategies for remote workers?
One more thing. You should be prepared to tell your interviewer why working remotely interests you. It could be the work-life balance or the fact that you’re more productive in your home office. Whatever your reason, prepare it beforehand.
Also, be prepared to describe your work ethic in your interview, explaining how you always manage to stay organized even when you work from home.
And if you’re asked why you applied for a position, be upfront with your interviewer and let them know if the remote opportunity was a factor.
6. Set Up a Workstation
If you don’t have one, set up a workstation before your interview. Your future employer needs to be sure that you are prepared to work from home, so you want to interview from a workstation instead of your smartphone.
Thankfully, you don’t need anything too fancy. A simple chair and table would do.
Make sure that the place you’re choosing for your interview is clutter-free. That means no funny backgrounds. No wandering child, parent, spouse, or pet.
Also, check out the lighting and make sure it’s on you, not behind you.
If your home does not have a spot with a great background, there’s nothing wrong with using virtual wallpapers. Just make sure they are not ridiculous, like one that makes you look like you’re at the beach.
Any material you’ll be sharing with the team during the interview should have been sent to your interviewer before time. Also, make sure you have them downloaded to your computer. You don’t want a situation where you have to share your screen, and the link to your portfolio suddenly decides not to open.
7. Dress for Success (At Least on Your Top Half)
Some people might find that dressing up completely from head to toe, even for a remote job interview, makes them feel more confident. But you don’t have to, though. Nobody will ask you to stand up to confirm that you’re properly dressed from top to bottom. Just try to look great from your head to your waist.
You can literally wear whatever you want from your waist below, but some have found that wearing a pair of shoes, at least, works magic for their composure. I say different strokes for different folks. What’s more important is that you research the company beforehand and find out the culture there.
If they love to keep things formal and you come in a smart casual outfit, you could look unserious. But if they are a more laid-back company and you come with a suit, you could look too stuffy and therefore not a perfect fit for the company. So, dress to fit the company’s work culture.
8. Be Human
First, take a deep breath and don’t overthink this. What you’re having is a conversation. So, treat it as such. Be sure to smile and even laugh where necessary. It shows that you’re actually listening to what the interviewer is saying.
Plus, if your interviewer is trying to make you laugh, they are trying to make the interview less tense for you. So, don’t make things harder for yourself.
Also, as much as possible, avoid touching your hair or your face. If your hair gets in the way, it might be better to make it into an updo. Is your jewelry too big, or is it dangling around a lot? Then swap it out for something less distracting.
You see, with remote interviews, all the interviewer can see when they look into the camera is you. So, continuous movements are easily amplified, posing a distraction to your interviewer. This is why you might want to consider perfecting the art of keeping your hands to yourself.
This does not mean that you should be robotic, though. Be sure to gesticulate but remember that it’s a speech, not a puppet show. So, your hands should not be moving more than or even as much as your lips.
9. End the Call!
This is very important. Before you let off that squeal of excitement or heave that sigh of relief, make sure the call has actually ended, and you’ve been disconnected. You wouldn’t want to end up in an embarrassing situation because you said or did something inappropriate, not knowing your interviewer could still hear and see you.
Did you find these tips helpful? Let me know in the comments. And don’t forget to share this article with a friend. You might be saving someone from a virtual interview disaster.