Remote Interviews Best Practices Recruiters Won’t Share (+Checklist!)

Remote jobs are now more popular than ever before. It makes sense that many more are seeking remote jobs after the pandemic lockdown. We are now used to planning our lives around the work rather than the way around. This lifestyle change also means we’re familiar with virtual interviews. So, while the search and demand for remote jobs continue, you must continue to hone a good understanding and practice of remote interviews best practices.

Knowing how to apply for a remote job is not enough these days; you will also need to know remote interviews best practices to close the deal.

Therefore, getting the best tips for making a good impression during a remote interview helps you be adequately prepared to take advantage of any job opportunity that comes your way.

This knowledge has certainly helped me throughout my eight years (and counting!) of remote career, and I’m still constantly improving and staying in the game.

If you haven’t experienced a remote interview before, you might have a hard time gathering your bearing in a remote interview setup. But your lack of experience shouldn’t need to worry you if you have a few tricks up your sleeves. 

From the best tools for remote interviewing to the complete remote interview preparation checklist I’ve prepared for you, here’s everything you need to know to score your remote dream job now!

What Is A Remote Interview?

A remote interview refers to any type of interview not conducted in person but rather over the phone or via an online platform. Just like with physical interviews, the purpose of this process is to assess the capabilities of the interviewee and ascertain whether they’re suitable for the position they’re applying for.

This step is usually the first in a series of events, so you must understand the basics of overcoming nervousness during a remote interview. Making a good impression here is the only thing that ensures you qualify for the next stage of the screening process.

What Are Remote Interviews Best Practices?

Remote interview best practices are the tips and hacks you can use to ensure that you scale through the off-site interview process. These techniques detail everything from how to answer common remote interview questions to the best remote interview follow-up etiquette.

With this all-encompassing remote interview preparation checklist, you’ll be better prepared to ace even the most challenging virtual interviews!

Remote Interviews Best Tips For Making A Good Impression During A Remote Interview

Dominating any remote interview setup isn’t hard. You need to know the right moves to make and when. One of the biggest hurdles off-site workers have to cross is overcoming nervousness during a remote interview.

Becoming the complete package for your following interview means learning how to divide the various aspects of your remote interview into compartments and then dealing with them accordingly.

So, beyond simply knowing the answer to “What is a remote interview?” you should also be able to identify the various stages of your virtual interview and the best approach for dealing with each one.

Below is the complete guide to all you need to know before stepping into any remote interview setup.

Remote Interview Preparation Checklist – Before The Interview

Succeeding at your next interview starts long before you get on that Zoom or Skype call with your interviewer. There are several things that you need to put in place to make sure that you have a hassle-free experience here.

You can start with:

Familiarizing Yourself With The Virtual Interview Platform

There’s Skype, Zoom, Pexip, and many other great tools for remote interviewing out there. And while they may perform the same function, the fact remains that they don’t operate the same way.

They are fundamentally different products from different brands, so they each employ a different approach to address remote communication needs.

This is why, at the top of the list of best tips for making a good impression during a remote interview is learning how to familiarize yourself with the tools used for the process.

This is the surest way to prevent incidents of virtual interview technical issues.

When you know your way around the tool that will be used, you won’t struggle to follow the interview proceedings. In addition, even if an unexpected issue crops up, because you know your way around the platform, you will have an easier time managing the development.

Noting All Instructions Carefully

You may not know this, but, on the whole, virtual interviews can be quite difficult for companies to conduct. To cope with the challenge of completing such an operation, most businesses have adopted the approach of presenting interviewees with the process protocol before the interview itself.

These instructions will usually contain everything from the interview to the documents you should make available and even what format the said documents should be in.

You can’t afford to overlook or make light of this information. Ensure you go through these instructions with a fine-toothed comb and fully understand all that’s expected of you. That way, if you encounter something you don’t understand, you can reach out ahead of time and resolve any issues.

Understanding The Job Description

This is one of those tips for making a good impression during a remote interview that sounds like a no-brainer. Yet, you’d be surprised by how many people apply for a gig without taking stock of what’s expected of them in that position.

So that you don’t make blunders that could’ve been easily avoided, don’t hesitate to take your sweet time reviewing the job description.

In saying this, it’s important to stress that you should only work with job descriptions that are clear, concise, and definitive. This ensures that expectations from both ends of the spectrum are well understood.

Preparing For The Task Ahead

Proper and careful preparation is necessary for flourishing in the remote interview setup. The main reason is that you can’t make a positive and lasting impression by accident. As such, every action and utterance has to be well thought-out and planned.

To that end, some things you can do include thoroughly researching the company’s history and culture, evaluating and understanding your personal and professional strengths, and, where possible, gaining background knowledge on your interviewer.

You’ll merge all that information into something concrete and tangible for your interview session.

Rehearsing And Role-playing As Remote Interviews Best Practices

You must’ve gathered all the necessary resources to make a strong case for yourself. There’s just one more thing you need to attend to – presentation.

Making a conscious effort to coordinate elements like your speech pattern and body language during virtual interviews can do much to make your interviewer genuinely consider you.

Along these lines, some things you can do include practicing how you’ll introduce yourself and the different ways you can phrase your answers to common remote interview questions.

In the same vein, you should look into elements like maintaining a good posture, leaning the right way, avoiding over-gesturing, keeping your expression neutral, and several other key variables relating to body language during virtual interviews.

When you have this down pat, you’re less likely to get caught off guard at any point during your remote interview.

Remote Interview Preparation Checklist – During The Interview

We move to the next stage of mastering remote interview best practices. Here, we’ll be looking at the best ways to handle yourself in the face of the pressure of speaking with your interviewer via a virtual resource.

You’re inching a step closer to your dream of securing that dream job when you:

First Impression Counts

“Virtual interviews aren’t real, so you don’t have to go overboard when dressing for them.” –said some people.

Do NOT make the above assumption!

While it might’ve been normal to take remote interviews with fun in the past, the truth is that the situation has changed. Significantly. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that remote interviews quickly become the new normal.

The moral of this is that you have to approach such meetings with all seriousness, and the best way to show how serious you are is with your dressing.

Unless expressly told otherwise, you should endeavor to enter every remote interview setup dressed formally. Doing so will eloquently communicate how seriously you take the meeting and the lengths you’ve gone to prepare for it.

There’s also the fact that dressing this way can give you a lot of confidence. It can also contribute to further enforcing positive and confident body language during virtual interviews.

Stay Confident Despite blunders

Yes, this is easier said than done, and we all know it. Especially when things don’t go smoothly during the interview. However, you have to master this art if you want to have any hope of staying in the running for that dream job.

There are several ways that you can develop this particular thick-skinned trait.

Some things you can do include ensuring that you stay alert throughout the interview, practicing some calm breathing techniques, ensuring that you have all your answers at the tip of your tongue, and maintaining complete control of all body movements.

Remember your interviewers are most likely to appreciate how you handle stressful situations rather than judge your imperfections. After all, we’re only humans.

Show Your Expertise

Another of the best tips for making a good impression during a remote interview is never hesitating to make a splash.

Many will consider tooting your own horn bad form in an interview. However, you must remember that if you don’t talk yourself up during a remote interview, no one will do it for you.

Now, showing your expertise doesn’t imply that you have to brag about the different things you can do. Rather, it simply means that you shouldn’t be slow in pointing out the specific skills in your tool bag that make you the best person to fill the available role.

You can talk about everything from relevant certifications to previous experiences that will add value to the company.

Don’t Be Afraid To Express Yourself

Suppose I had to point to one reason why virtual interviews are still a pain to most professionals even with the best tools for remote interviewing. In that case, it’ll be that this method of evaluating a potential employee is too clinical.

As the human element in the interview session is greatly downplayed, you may easily get thrown off your game.

Something you can do to help yourself stay firmly grounded is ensuring that you’re vocal yet tactical with all your opinions. Let your interviewer feel the potential value you can bring to the organization by contributing intelligently to the interview process.

Remote Interview Preparation Checklist – After The Interview

Although we are nearing the finish line, your job isn’t done yet. No matter how you believe you performed during the interview, there are a few things you still have to attend to after the session has been completed.

The Best Remote Interview Follow-Up Etiquette

Many of my closest colleagues often tell me that the hardest part of having an interview is waiting for them to get back to you. That wait can seem torturous and unending. And sadly, most times, there isn’t much you can do beyond bearing with it.

That said, there are a few things you can do to maintain form and keep your employment eligibility as high as possible. Some of the best remote interview follow-up etiquette include:

• Never complain about the length of the application process
• Never pointedly ask if the company intends to hire you
• If you must, use only the most formal and polite tones to inquire for updates about the interview process
• Don’t ask the company why they haven’t made any decisions yet
• Only contact the hiring manager and not any other personnel in the company
• Don’t attempt to rush the process

Don’t forget that there may be delays in contacting you for several reasons. Reaching out to the company too often or not contacting the right sources during your follow-up can hurt rather than help your cause.

Score Your Remote Dream Job Now With This Remote Interviews Best Practices

For various reasons, the stakes are just always higher with online interviews. This is why, as a professional who doesn’t want to take chances, you must brush up on your remote interview best practices.

Knowing how to prevent virtual interview technical issues, navigate different tools for remote interviewing, and answer common remote interview questions confidently can help greatly overcome nervousness during a remote interview.

Similarly, dressing smart, controlling your body language during virtual interviews, maintaining a confident disposition, and showing off your repertoire of skills will boost your chances even more!

And once the evaluation is complete, you need to avoid pitfalls by observing the highest remote interview follow-up etiquette.

Popular Questions About Remote Work Interview

How Long Should I Wait Before Following Up On An Interview?

Professionals recommend that you wait about five to eight days before initiating a follow-up on your interview. This time will help keep you on the interviewer’s mind without making you appear over-eager or forceful.

How Do I Make Sure I Ace My Remote Interview?

You can ace your remote interview by following the remote interviews best practices guide as closely as possible. This article will teach you how to prepare for the interview, perform during the interview and give yourself an edge post the interview.

Is Having A Remote Interview Easy?

Yes, having a remote interview is easy. You need to understand the different tools for remote interviewing and handle yourself well in the remote interview setup.

Remote Interview Vs. Traditional Interview – Which Is Better?

On the whole, remote interviews are better than traditional interviews because they allow the interviewee a measure of comfort and control over the interview process. Additionally, they are generally less time and resource-consuming as well.

What Remote Interview Challenge Should I Beware Of?

You should beware of virtual interview technical issues. The reason for this is that they can happen without rhyme or reason. Another thing you should keep an eye on is your body language during virtual interviews. You don’t want to give anything away unconsciously.

Will This Remote Interviews Best Practices Get Me A Remote Job?

Like every job interview, you must invest time, effort, and practice to secure your dream job. There’s no overnight success. It took me close to 7 years to work in my remote dream job with the best employer anyone could wish for. But you can definitely achieve success earlier with strategic planning and efforts. I recommend you start here if you’re a newbie or download my free remote interview preparation checklist once you’re called for an interview and need a guideline to prepare.