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How to succeed in remote interviews

Updated: Nov 28, 2022

Remote hiring has become a common feature in recent years. Follow ten tips to be your best when interviewing remotely:

  1. Set up your space in advance:

    1. Test your microphone and webcam

    2. Have a clean, uncluttered background

    3. Ensure the lighting is falling on your face, and is bright enough that you can be seen while not too bright. (Avoid being in the path of direct sunlight.)

    4. Ensure your face fills the screen, so you are visible for people with poor eyesight

    5. Have your eyes at the level of the top third of the screen.

    6. If you will be wearing glasses, make sure the light falls on your eyes so they are visible.

  2. Check you have received the meeting link/access code from the recruiter or your contact at the organisation, and check it works.

  3. Ensure you have their phone number to call them if the technology fails on the day.

  4. Do an internet-speed test to ensure your picture and speech will be clearly seen and heard. Ask other household members to stay off wifi if your internet is problematic. Be ready to connect from your phone as a fallback.

  5. Have notes handy to remind you of the important points you want to make. I clip these to the top edge of my laptop screen with clothes pegs!

  6. Rehearse before you go live:

    1. Ensure your pace is easy for your interviewer(s) to follow - practise talking slowly and clearly. Depending on the interviewer's internet connection, the call may cut out for a second here and there, and talking slowly will ensure you're understood and will help you look and feel more relaxed and confident.

    2. Use hand gestures, and an upright and open posture.

    3. Eye contact is important. Practise looking into your computer camera lens as you talk. That will make it feel like a real conversation to your interviewer(s), and that they’re getting to know you.

    4. Record yourself. Play it back to see how you look and sound. Acknowledge what you do well, and adjust what will make it even better.

    5. Shut doors and windows to eliminate unnecessary noise.

  7. Enter your Zoom meeting or interview 3-4 minutes before the scheduled time.

  8. Remember that some hiring managers may be conducting video interviews for the first time, so may be unconfident interviewing remotely. Give them grace.

  9. Spark interesting conversations. At the start, go beyond the usual small talk; look up your interviewer on social media to identify common interests or experiences to ask about; be curious about the team, their mix of office-based and remote staff, etc .

  10. If you didn’t hear a question clearly, ask them to repeat it. If you’re unsure what exactly they’re asking, ask them to clarify. This is true in any job interview and especially on video.

How can these tips help you feel comfortable and confident with the set-up, enable you to be relaxed and perform at your best, to get the job offers you want?


Let me know and Good luck!


Source: Esther Stanhope’s brilliant zoom techniques, my experiences and friends’ tips.

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