If you've ever interviewed for a job, you know that it can be stressful. What's even more challenging is the fact that many companies now offer the option to do remote interviews. It's not just a matter of being nervous or unprepared — when you're interviewing from home, there are additional challenges that might not come up in an in-person interview. That's why I'm going to share my top tips on how to nail your first job remote interview and make sure it goes smoothly.
Prepare for the interview
Before you start thinking about what to wear or how to answer questions, there's one thing you need to do: research the company.
This is especially important if this is your first remote job interview. You should know as much about the company and its culture as possible so that when they ask why you want their job, you can give them an honest answer that shows them how excited and passionate about working for them (and not just because it's a nice paycheck).
The best way to do this? Look at their website--not just their careers page but also any pages dedicated specifically to employees such as "About Us." This will give you an idea of what kind of environment they have created for themselves and whether or not it matches up with your own ideals. If there aren't any employee-focused pages available on their main site then check out social media accounts such as Twitter/Facebook/Instagram etc.. These platforms often include pictures taken inside offices which can give insight into what life looks like behind closed doors!
Create your interviewer persona.
Creating your interviewer persona is a simple exercise that can help you to prepare for your interview. Your interviewer persona is the person who will be sitting across from you during the interview, and it's important to create this character because it will help you see things from their perspective.
To create your interviewer persona:
Think about what they look like (e.g., age, gender). Do they dress professionally? Are they wearing casual clothes? What colors do they wear most often? How would their hairstyle or makeup style make me feel if I was meeting with them in person today.
Think about where they work and why they chose this company over others; what sort of work experience have they had in similar roles before; how long have been working at this company; what kind of projects has he/she worked on previously etc.
Create a "live video" interview scenario with a friend to rehearse your responses
Practice in front of a mirror. This is the most basic form of practice, but it's still effective because you can see your body language and facial expressions. Make sure to keep eye contact with yourself as you respond to questions.
Practice in front of a friend or family member who is not familiar with the job interview process (this will help you focus on what matters most).
Practice on your phone or tablet using apps like FaceTime (Apple) and Skype (Microsoft). The key here is to find something that allows you to record yourself so that if anything goes wrong during the call--for example, if there's no sound coming through--you'll have it recorded so that someone else can watch it later if necessary!
Prepare questions to ask at the end of the interview
At the end of the interview, you'll be asked if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to show the hiring manager that you're interested in the role and company.
What's the culture like at [company name]?
Who will I be working with on a daily basis?
What benefits does [company name] offer employees?
How does this position fit into your overall strategy for growth over time--what do you see as its future trajectory within [industry]?
Don't forget to smile throughout
Smiling helps you connect and communicate with the interviewer, as well as appear more confident. It also gives the impression that you are happy to be there, which can help relax you and make it easier for them to get a sense of who you really are as a person.
You can nail your first job remote job interview!
Prepare for the interview.
Create your interviewer persona.
Create a "live video" interview scenario with a friend to rehearse your responses.
Prepare questions to ask at the end of the interview.
Don't forget to smile throughout!
We hope this article has given you the confidence to nail your first job remote job interview. If you follow our tips and prepare well, there's no reason why your next interview shouldn't be a success!
If you're ready to put your job interview skills to the test and interview for your dream work from home job, check out the latest legit remote jobs from Legit Mom Jobs here.