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Preparing for a job interview can be nerve-wracking in the best of times but getting ready for a remote interview comes with some unique challenges. Instead of traveling to the office with copies of your resume in hand, you’ll be inviting your interviewers to your home via webcam. Not only do you need to look the part, but you need to prepare the space to make a good first impression.
Follow these simple tips so you can enter your remote interview with confidence.
1. Do Your Research
Certain aspects of job interview prep remain the same across the board. You’ll be expected to answer questions about yourself and your experience so your interviewers can determine whether you’re the best fit for the position. Do some research about the company and the position so you can tailor your answers accordingly. If you can find out some information about your interviewers, all the better. It also doesn’t hurt to create a cheat sheet with important information you can reference during the interview.
2. Choose the Location Wisely
Once you’ve prepared yourself for the interview it’s time to prepare your space. Whether you’re doing a phone interview or a
3. Take a Look Around
After choosing the location for your interview, turn on your webcam and view the room from your interviewer’s perspective. Check the background to make sure the room is free from clutter. Make sure your desktop is clean and organized and put away anything that isn’t necessary for the interview. Take one final sweep by sitting down in your chair and turning all the way around, checking the room from every angle. If there’s a door to your office, be sure to keep it closed.
4. Test Your Equipment
Technical difficulties are the last thing you want to deal with during a remote interview. Check your equipment ahead of time, just in case you discover a problem. Make sure your microphone is working and adjust the sound settings if needed. If you’re not confident about the quality of your webcam or microphone, it might be worth making an upgrade. Poor sound or
5. Dress for the Job
A remote interview may seem less formal than an in-person interview, but it’s still your only chance to make a first impression and your appearance matters. Choose a professional outfit and make sure it is clean and pressed. It may be tempting to wear pajama pants with your dress shirt, but you’re better off going with the full outfit just in case you have to get up during the interview.
6. Be Ready on Time
Though you don’t have to worry about planning for traffic on your way to the interview, you still need to make sure you’re ready ahead of time. Make sure your webcam and microphone are set up and you’re seated at your desk to receive the call. Take the last few minutes to review your cheat sheet and take a few deep breaths to calm yourself.
7. Know Where to Look
Most in-person interviews start with a handshake, but you won’t have that opportunity in a remote interview. Introduce yourself and greet your interviewers by name, being sure to look directly into your webcam to create the illusion of eye contact. It’s easy to be distracted by everything on the screen, so you might want to place a sticky note just under your webcam to remind you where to focus your attention. Don’t worry – your interviewers won’t be able to see it.
8. Be Clear and Confident
Just because you’re not in the room with your interviewers doesn’t mean they won’t get a sense of who you are. Body language matters just as much in a
A remote interview requires a little more physical preparation than an in-person interview, but the actual interview process is much the same. Taking the time to prepare your space and dressing the part will help you make a good first impression. From there, it’s all about your skills, experience, and your answers to the interviewers’ questions.
Be calm, clear, and confident about your interest in the job, and do your best to show your interviewers why you’re the best fit for the position.
