Interviewing virtually has become increasingly common. It is a standard practice in remote-flexible workplaces like Karsun. Given the competitive remote work environment, it is more important than ever to be well-prepared before starting your interview.
Our Karsun Talent Team hopes every candidate has the opportunity to present their best self on the path to finding their next. Today, as part of our series on remote jobs, we are sharing our best virtual interview preparation tips. If you are preparing for a virtual or remote interview, consider these tips.
How Can I Prepare for a Remote Job Interview?
There are several strategies to help you succeed in the virtual format. Set up your technology and space well in advance, practice and prepare your responses and send a follow-up note are all common recommendations. We have expanded on these tips for remote job seekers. By preparing well and paying attention to these details, you’ll present yourself as a confident and competent candidate in virtual interviews.
Setting Up Your Technology and Equipment
The first step in preparing for any virtual interview is using reliable equipment. Test your camera, microphone, and headphones to make sure everything works smoothly. Next, test Your technology. That includes checking your internet connection. Finally, you should familiarize yourself with the platform or website used by the company performing the interview. Do not wait until your appointment to install new software. Whether it’s Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or in the case of an interview with a Karsun hiring team, Google Meet, make sure you know how to use it before the interview.
Setting Up Your Space
Plan ahead and set up your space in advance of your remote interview. Create a professional environment by having a quiet space and all materials nearby. In addition to locating a room with minimal background noise and distractions, make sure you inform household members. Let others in your home know you will be interviewing to avoid interruptions. And while many of us like to keep our phones on our desks, please, silence your phone and disable notifications on your computer to avoid distractions.
As part of preparing your environment, you may also want to consider the room you will use. Check your lighting and position yourself so that your face is well-lit. A lamp behind your camera can help. A clean, uncluttered background looks more professional and reduces distractions.
Finally, have your materials ready. Prepare notes on your experience or other common interview questions. It can also be useful to prepare questions for the interviewer. Place these nearby, but avoid reading directly from them during the interview.
Dress and Act the Part
In addition to preparing your technology and interview space, you should plan to dress professionally. Wear appropriate attire as you would for an in-person interview. Avoid overly bright or busy patterns. And remember you should dress for your full body, not just the top half, in case you need to stand up during the interview.
Acting the part is critical too. If you are not used to video interviewing, it is a good idea to practice eye contact and body language. Practice looking at the camera, not the screen. This creates the illusion of eye contact and makes you appear more engaged. When it comes to your body language, good posture conveys confidence. Consider using hand gestures sparingly. While these can aid communication, too many gestures can be distracting on screen. You may also want to practice to see what gestures are visible to your camera and on screen.
Practice, Practice, Practice
The final interview preparation steps are to plan your answers and practice with mock interviews. When you prepare your answers, practice common interview questions. Be ready to discuss your experience, skills, and why you’re a good fit for the role. Many companies, like Karsun, use common formats for your examples. Prepare your examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to create structured answers that match these formats.
Once you have planned your responses, practice mock interviews with a partner. Work with a friend or use online tools to simulate the virtual interview experience. Get feedback, then improve your answers.
Following Up
Sending a follow up note to thank the interviewer for their time is still a best practice. When interviewing virtually for a remote job, consider sending a thank you email. Remember, your interviewer may also be remote and they may not be able to receive mail at the address published on a company’s website. Instead, send a personalized thank-you email to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the role.
Karsun Solutions is the place where enterprise modernization experts from every background can find their next. To help candidates looking for their next remote job, throughout this month we are sharing our top remote job tips. Previously we shared our tips for avoiding remote job scams. We hope you join us as we share more tips and if you are looking for your next, check out our remote jobs at https://www.karsuncareers.com/jobs.