How To Prepare For a Job Interview: 10 Tips To Best To Prepare.

You’ve made an impressive resume and captivating cover letter and got selected for a remote job interview, but now you may be wondering how to effectively prepare for an interview and leave a good impression.

That will get you the job and start working with the flexibility and work-life balance you were searching for.

In this article, we’ll talk about how to prepare for an interview and raise your chances of getting hired.

10 Tips For Remote Job Interview:

Before:

1) Research:

Do some research before showing up for a remote job interview, Go to their website, see how they’re doing, search your specific role-related content, and how well are they managing.

Test the waters before going in. Also look for their mission and values, their branding and how they convey themselves online. Check their reviews, and how past employees think of the company.

Have a clear idea of what you’re getting yourself into. Also write down the names of important people like HR, Founder and other relevant names, you can easily find them on their website.

2) Dress Properly:

Regardless of being remote, it’s important to dress properly, it gives a strong impression that you’re professional and serious about the position.

Do some research on their dress code and dress accordingly. Make sure to cut or brush your hair, and shave or trim your beard to look neat and clean.

And for ladies, if you wear makeup, make sure you look professional, put on light makeup, or at least present yourself well-dressed.

Avoid chains, accessories, too much makeup, or anything considered casual or over-fashioned.

3) Set Up A Quiet Place:

The last thing you want in your interview is the screams of your neighbors or family members.

Choose a quiet place for an interview, somewhere you don’t get interrupted, or any unpleasant distraction during your interview.

If you don’t have a quiet place, consider going somewhere you can quietly give your remote interview.

Also, have a clean background, and avoid having something personal like fiction posters or other unprofessional backgrounds.

If you can’t find a good background, consider using a digital background.

4) Test Your Technology.

Test the software you’ll be using for an interview, and keep your device fully charged and ready.

Check your equipment and the meeting link before the interview, and make sure your webcam and audio are clear and working. Also, set up good lighting.

And finally, make sure your internet is working smoothly. If possible, in case of unexpected, have some sort of backup plan.

During:

5) Be on Time.

Set a reminder for your interview, and make sure to arrive 10 mins early, It’s better to be early than late. Many things could go wrong.

Being on time shows you have good time management and don’t keep others waiting. If your interview is in another time zone, make sure you get the timing right by searching multiple sources.

6) Have Docs Ready.

Have your resume ready, make sure you’ve read the job description clearly and have all the needed documents.

Better if you can have a copy in hand, it gives a good impression that you can go the extra mile, and it also saves you time and distraction.

If applicable, have portfolio and sample links ready. Create a list of professional references and other relevant experiences for the role. So you don’t have to recall every job experience.

And can give concise answers.

7) Listen Carefully.

Active listening is a crucial skill, so listen carefully during your interview and answer accordingly.

Limit distractions, cut your tabs into only one or as needed, look at the interviewer and stay present.

Don’t eat or drink anything, as it can be unprofessional and distracting, don’t get lost in a thought and answer as asked, and don’t change the subject. Keep your answers clear and concise.

If you don’t understand a question, rephrase it and stay calm during your interview.

8) Prepare Some Questions:

Prepare some questions beforehand, It shows you have interest in the role, They can be anything from the company, job or other responsibilities.

We’ll talk about these questions below, so keep reading. Don’t ask those questions right away. Wait for your turn.

Make sure you have the clarity of your role and responsibilities, if not, ask appropriately.

After:

9) Follow up.

If you didn’t hear back, they’re interviewing many candidates, chances are they got caught up in the process.

Craft a personalized and simple message can set you apart, Politely ask about the status of your application, and inquire if they need any other information.

This little effort can make a positive impression on the hiring manager.

Relevant Read: How to follow up after job interview.

10) Keep your options open.

You don’t only need to stick your hopes to one company, keep your options open and apply to many companies.

You need to keep your options open until you officially get the invitation. It helps you avoid any disappointment in case of not being selected.

It also gives you more options to choose which fits your needs well.

Questions to prepare for and how to answer.

• Tell me about yourself.

Purpose: They want to assess your background and communication skills, and how well you can present yourself and your professional talents concisely.

How to answer: Briefly summarize your background and relevant experiences and skills related to the position.

Mention appropriate achievements and milestones that could be helpful, in determining your abilities to achieve position end goals.

• Why did you apply for this Job position?

Purpose: They want to know how well you know the company what are your motives or end goals, and whether they and your goals align together.

How to answer: Share a specific aspect of the role that excites you, how the position fits your aspirations well and the real interest and enthusiasm you have for joining the company.

• Why should we hire you?

Purpose: The Interviewer wants to understand the qualities that make you a good fit and can add value to the company.

How to answer: Share your past success stories that showcase your experience to fully understand the role of how you can produce results, and contribute to the team positively.

• What is your greatest strength?

Purpose: The interviewer wants to understand your level of self-awareness and how your strengths can benefit the company and be valuable to the role.

How to answer: Pick a strength that aligns with the job description and your role, and share success stories of how your strength helped you achieve a specific objective.

It can be time management skills, effective communication or know-how of tech stuff.

• How do you handle constructive feedback?

Purpose: The interviewer wants to gauge your ability to be open, take feedback, improve and implement it.

How to answer: Share your experience with feedback, how you perceive and implement it, and how you consider feedback as an opportunity to grow.

Share real-life examples to build a picture in their mind.

• Can you tell me about your past Job experience?

Purpose: They want to understand your level of understanding, the roles you took, the responsibilities you had and how this experience prepared you to be fit for this Job.

How to answer: Answer a concise and specific answer related to the role what responsibilities you had and how you managed them.

Share your experience relevant to the position.

• What are your salary expectations?

Purpose: Every position has a budget, and they want to understand if your needs align with their budget.

How to answer: While preparing for the interview, do research on the company and answer your salary within those numbers.

Some factors to consider are industry standards, your experience and the company.

Also, when talking about the salary, don’t give an exact number.

Give them a range and indicate you’re open to negotiation and that your main goal is the opportunity itself for your overall career growth.

• Do you have any questions?

Purpose: The interviewer wants to assess your interest in the position and company, and whether you’ve done your research.

Also, it’s an opportunity for you to get clarity.

How to answer: This is where you should ask your questions, get clarity and ask about the hiring process and any questions you have related to the role, your responsibilities and the company.

Relevant read: How to showcase your experience during an interview.

Questions to ask during remote interview:

• What are your expectations for me in this role?
• What are the most immediate projects should I take on?
• What type of skill or area are you missing in a team that you’re looking to hire in a new hire?
• Can you tell me more about the team I’ll be working with?
• What are the next steps in the hiring process?
• What are your expectations for the next 30–90 days for me to achieve?
• On what metrics my performance will be evaluated?
• How do team members collaborate?

Things not to talk about during an interview:

• What’s the starting salary?
• Can you tell me more about health insurance?
• What are the paid leave policies?
• Anything that seems presumptuous.

Conclusion

Preparing for a remote Job interview requires a few crucial steps that will increase your chances of landing the Job.

Like doing proper research, active listening, being mindful and with a genuine interest in the role.

So, consider keeping these steps in mind and properly prepare for a remote interview to leave a lasting impression and potentially qualify for the next step of the hiring process.