6 Things That Interviewers Want Us To Know About Remote Interviews
6 Things That Interviewers Want Us To Know About Remote Interviews
6 Things That Interviewers Want Us To Know About Remote Interviews
By Eileen Hoenigman Meyer
October 06, 2020
Summary
In some ways, a remote job interview can seem like a welcome relief from the traditional format.
A remote meeting doesn't earn you full access to the body language and social cues that your interviewers exhibit.
The social awareness and mores around remote interviews are still emerging for those on both sides of the interaction.
As you prepare for your next remote job interview, consider this inside scoop from several interviewers-their insights about what matters and what may be less important.
Jonas Bordo, CEO, and Co-Founder of Dwellsy, explains: "I need to get to know you via Zoom, which is hard. In the old days, we would have made small talk while we walked to the interview room, but we don't get to do that anymore. All of that preliminary small talk is important - it's in those conversations that you get to learn about me and me about you. Invest in that time, and don't rush into interview questions."
"I know that remote interviews are awkward and a poor substitute for in-person interviews, but it's best just to accept the awkwardness," explains Calloway Cook, President of Illuminate Labs.
Cook recommends, "Stay mission-focused, and make light of remote awkwardness whenever possible. Acing remote interviews requires more focus than acing in-person interviews, in my opinion, because there are so many external factors like connectivity that affect the dialogue."
"If there's an awkward silence during the interview, don't panic. It's natural to have silences because you can't rely on visual body language cues like you can in an in-person interview. If you're done speaking, pause and let the interviewer pick up the conversation. Rushing to fill the silence may lead you to say something that you might not normally say or fill it up with chatter, which would let the interviewer know you are nervous about the interview. You may want to practice with a friend to learn how to manage awkward silences and find appropriate times for small talk during an online interview."
When it comes to remote interviews the unexpected happens often, even when prepared.
Erik Rivera, CEO of ThriveTalk, explains: "The best advice I can give anyone going into an online interview is to make the interview as candid and relaxed as possible. If you have a child who is likely to interrupt, tell your interviewer this at the beginning of the meeting! Similarly, if you're expecting someone to come by, full disclosure is best."
Reference
Hoenigman Meyer, E. (2020, October 06). 6 Things That Interviewers Want Us To Know About Remote Interviews: Glassdoor. Retrieved October 08, 2020, from https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/6-things-that-interviewers-want-us-to-know-about-remote-interviews/