Working from home is the new normal for many nowadays. As a result, employers are looking at some different characteristics when hiring. Can you stay motivated? Are you organized? Prepare now to answer these common remote job interview questions.
1. Have you worked from home before?
If you’ve already had a work-from-home job, then you know what it’s like to keep yourself driven and productive. This is your opportunity to explain how you’ve been successful navigating the ins and outs of remote work. Share what you’ve liked about it and how you will continue to do well in those surroundings. Talk about any challenges you have handled. “My earbuds have become a part of my anatomy.”
If you haven’t worked from home, you can still give a worthwhile response. Use your past experiences that might relate to how this position would work. For example, if you spent the last year taking an online class. “I kept myself organized with a daily to-do calendar and set aside a designated time for homework.” Point out how you plan to handle distractions and stay focused.
2. Why do you want to work remotely?
The way you answer this question will tell your future employer more about you than you may realize. For instance, perhaps you said that you love the idea of wearing sweatpants to work. Or, you really hate commuting along I-15. This says that you want the job because it will meet your personal needs.
Instead, talk about why it would benefit the company. Explain that you will be more productive without the distraction of office chatter, for example. This says that you like to see results and want to help the company succeed.
3. How do you stay motivated working from home?
Working in an office environment is pretty straightforward. You clock in at a certain time. You sit in a designated space all day. Perhaps you head to the conference room for a meeting. At home you're on your own time, in your own space. So while the job you're applying for might be similar to an office position you’ve had, it will take a different internal skill set to work effectively from home.
An employer wants to know how you’ll stay on task. Are you good at setting daily goals for yourself? Will you get engrossed in TikTok instead of spreadsheets? (We wouldn’t blame you.) Your answer should show that you know how to keep on keepin’ on.
4. How do you switch off?
Interview questions about working remotely are concerned with how you would handle unique challenges. For instance, when working from home it can be tempting to log back into work — just for a minute — to finish that one last thing. Believe it or not, most companies don’t want you working overtime. Really.
Affirm that you understand the importance of breaks, can clock out when the day is over and have interests outside of work. Burnout isn’t good for either of you, and the interviewer wants to know you understand that.
5. Where do you plan to work?
Sitting on your bed to write a school paper may be fine, but working there on a daily basis can get old — and uncomfortable — pretty fast. An employer may ask if you have a plan for where you will work. This tells them how prepared you are for a remote arrangement.
Do you have a space set aside? Do you have access to reliable internet? Will you have privacy for phone calls or meetings? Whether you will work at home, at the library or in a local coffee shop isn’t the issue. It’s about whether you’ve made plans for what you’ll do.
6. Have you worked with a remote team before?
A significant factor in remote work is engaging with coworkers online. In an office setting, you can easily swing by the manager’s desk when you have a question. If you are collaborating on a project, you may set up in a conference room. Now, Zoom and Slack have become the meeting place.
With remote work schedules, everyone may not be online at the same time. Thus, it could be hours before you get a reply. Also, working as a team may mean doing much of the work alone, then collaborating. Be ready to explain how you would handle similar challenges.
7. How confident are you with your tech skills?
Finally, working from home means you will be relatively on your own when it comes to troubleshooting computer issues. The company may provide you with a sweet setup, but will you know what to do if you can’t connect to a call? What if your computer won’t boot up?
You likely won’t be expected to know how to solve every problem (unless it’s an information technology job, of course). But saying you don’t really get tech or are uncomfortable with new programs may be a red flag. Express your ability to adapt and find answers.
With the work landscape evolving, classic queries about reliability take on a whole new meaning. Find and apply to your next remote job on KSL Jobs. Then prepare to answer these common interview questions for remote workers, so you can smartly show how you’re ready for the challenge.
