Questions to Prepare for and Ask During a Remote Interview

Although virtual interviews have been practiced before the coronavirus pandemic, they’ve certainly increased in popularity during these times. At its core, a remote interview seeks to achieve the same goals as an in-person interview.

However, given the uncertain circumstances of the work world due to COVID-19, interviewers may be asking questions specific to remote positions that you should be prepared to answer. Similarly, you should be ready with questions to ask when interviewing for a remote job. By familiarizing yourself with these sets of questions, you’ll be well on your way to nailing your remote interview.

Questions to Prepare to Answer

Your interviewer will likely ask you basic interview questions to get to know you. You’re probably used to these questions, as they’re your run-of-the-mill questions to learn more about you. Beyond those basic questions, you may be wondering what other questions you’ll be asked.

This list below outlines common remote job interview questions to prepare for — and explains why an interviewer would ask such questions to help you get ready.

• Do you have any prior experience working remotely? With this question, the interviewer is likely trying to assess whether you’ve had experience working in a remote role. They want to know if you understand the demands of working remotely and how effective you can be in that environment. Don’t lie if you haven’t had experience — with the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers are open to different types of employees with a range of experiences.

• What kind of work environment do you enjoy? With this question, the interviewer is trying to ascertain if you’re someone who can be effective working at home individually. It’s another way to determine whether you can be successful in a remote role without asking bluntly. It will also help the hiring manager determine whether they can give you the environment you need to thrive.

• Think about a time when you needed to make a decision but you didn’t have all the necessary information and a manager wasn’t around. What did you do? In a remote role, you may not be able to reach a manager or supervisor at all times. In addition, you may not always have all the information you need to complete a task. As such, interviewers are looking for someone who is confident in making decisions and can problem-solve on their own.

Being prepared to answer these three questions will help you cover your bases before you head into your remote interview. While interviewers may ask variations of these questions, having an answer prepared will help ensure you’re polished and poised for the interviewer.

Questions to Ask During Your Interview

While you might think all remote jobs are created equal, they’re not. Remember what to ask in a remote job interview by using the following questions to gather important information:

• What does the average day look like for someone in this position?
• What are your expectations for a daily schedule?
• What communication methods do you use to keep employees connected and enable collaboration?
• What technological requirements are required for this job? Do you provide this equipment?
• What challenges have you experienced with remote employees before, and how have you overcome them?

Getting the  will answers to these questions will not only help you determine if the remote role is right for you, but it will also show the interviewer that you’ve done your research and you’re interested in such a position. Going that extra mile can make a good impression on interviewers and can go a long way in your search for a job.

For more interviewing advice, browse our library of helpful resources, tips, and tools.