A Candidate’s Guide to Remote Interviewing, by Simatree’s John Insabella.

Before the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the US on January 20th, 2020, there was always a question of whether remote work was doable on a large scale. So many variables come into play: Where do you setup your workspace? What do you wear? What time does your day start? What time does it end? Are you more or less available during the day? And maybe most confusing of all, how do you interview?

Since the outbreak, there has been rapid change in all aspects of life. Companies are being forced to run a remote business and many institutions like restaurants, gyms, and social clubs have closed their doors. Unfortunately, these developments have caused unemployment rates to skyrocket nationwide. If you are one of the many people looking for work right now and have landed an interview, it will likely take place via some sort of video conference application. Here are a few real-world tips to help you stand out from the rest!

1. Get set up

Find the best environment in your home and test out all of your equipment (e.g., camera, microphone, software) ahead of time. As with any interview: practice! Practice where and how you’ll be interviewing from, start to finish.

2. Be transparent

If you’ve gotten set up and done your practice you should be able to avoid this step, but as we’ve seen, the unexpected happens! And when it does, acknowledge the issue quickly and move on from it as best you can.

3. Dress the part

Regardless of the role you’re interviewing for, it’s always better to overdress. Avoid distracting patterns and colors as well as all black or white as it could potentially throw off the camera’s exposure.

4. Relax

You’ve done the prep work, now the only way to clearly convey your answers is to be comfortable. Try to answer questions as you would if you were in person as well as having a few thoughtful questions to show your interest.

5. Be attentive

A candidate who is distracted doesn’t stand a chance. Make eye contact (at the camera, not yourself!) and show your passion for what makes you wake up every day and do this job to the best of your abilities. You’ve got this!

6. End with appreciation

At the end of the interview, reiterate your interest and restate your qualifications. End by expressing your appreciation for the opportunity and your excitement about the role. It’s always a good idea to follow up with a thank you email!