Due to COVID, remote jobs or working from home became the norm. If you are new to remote work, you might wonder about the common questions asked in an interview.
Therefore, in this article, we are providing the 11 remote job interview questions you must prepare before the assessment starts.
Remote Job Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
The hiring managers are aware of the challenges faced in work-from-home jobs, so along with questions that are specific to your profession, they also ask queries that can relay your remote working skills.
So, here are the frequently asked interview questions along with the ways to prepare for them.
1) Do you have any previous experience working from home?
Someone who already proved that they can handle the challenges of remote work is the best bet for any HR. So, outline the details of your previous experience of working at home.
For example, talk about
- What you did,
- The hours you worked for,
- If you and your colleague are in different time zones, then how did you manage it,
- What tools do you use to keep track of everything?
In case you do not have any remote work experience, then tell them about your experience that highlights key skills required for home jobs.
2) Why do you want to work remotely?
If you have spent the majority of your career in an office environment, then the recruiter might ask why you are applying for the remote job now.
It can be that –
- Maybe you are more productive when you work from home,
- Their office could be a long distance to commute,
- You want to spend more time with your family,
- Maybe you live in a rural area and there are not many opportunities,
- It is not remote work that appeals to you, it could be the opportunity to join that company.
3) How do you minimize distractions when you work from home?
Remote work interviewers are aware that sometimes it is challenging to stay focused on work when you are at home.
Tell them about the cases where you had distractions such as getting a call that you cannot ignore, kids, a sink full of dishes, etc., and how you overcame them like the strategies you used and ultimately return with your focus on work.
4) What does your ideal day look like?
When an employer asks this question, they just want to know about the routine and structure of your day. Do not start telling them about every single detail like brushing, making breakfast, and so on.
For example, tell them that you set goals, and to-do lists in the morning, then check emails, etc.
Even if you have never worked remotely, inform them about your activities in an office.
5) Why are you the best person for this job?
Some candidates require guidance to work, but remote employees need to work independently. That does not mean, you have to lie when you prefer a lot of direction while working.
Not being honest can create problems after starting work. So, always be honest.
Tell them about your skills not in like a resume, but by using scenarios, and examples. Relay to them that even when you work independently, you complete the tasks efficiently and effectively.
Also, read the 12 proven tips on how to get better at job interviews from here!
6) How do you communicate and coordinate with your colleagues throughout the work?
As we all know communication is really important in a team, especially when you are working remotely. While working from home you cannot go to the individual and talk about the work or any issue you face.
Therefore, you need to give a detailed response with example scenarios of your experience. Talk about tools like Google teams, Slack, etc. that will help you in communicating with your colleagues and also helps in coordinating your work.
After answering, you can follow up with a question about how their team handles communication.
7) What do you like best/ least aspects of a Job?
It is one of the most common remote work interview questions. Frame your reply in such a way that it makes you look like a good fit for the work-from-home job.
If you say that interacting with people and hosting events is your favorite part, then the interviewer might consider you a bad fit for the job.
Instead, talk about the drawbacks of office jobs and the benefits of remote jobs.
8) Why do you want this job?
Employers always look for commitment and drive. Since remote candidates work independently, they want to know that you will complete the job efficiently. They need to know that they can depend on you to finish the project.
So, tell them what drives you to apply for this job. For example, say that this job will help you in gaining experience in certain fields.
9) How do you schedule/ prioritize and stay motivated?
Since there won’t be any superior to look over the work, the recruiter wants to know how you will stay motivated to do the tasks.
For instance, talk about how you will schedule your work and tell them that the goals you set inspire you to complete your work. And, inform them about any scheduling tools that you use.
10) What are the major concerns of remote work and how do you handle them?
This question is basically asked to understand your knowledge and awareness of work-from-home jobs.
Thus, tell them about concerns you think you might face while doing remote work and methods you believe can handle basic issues like communication, tracking of work, and strategies to maintain work-life balance.
Example – For such remote customer service rep interview questions, say that you use Google Meet to communicate with fellow team members, and you keep tabs on tasks using tracking tools or simply excel.
11) What does your home office look like?
Here, the recruiter wants to know about the environment you set to start your remote job. Communicate that it is comfortable and free from distractions. Give a clear picture that your workspace is quiet and allows you to be productive.
For instances where the interview is through video call, make sure that the background is free of clutter, has enough lighting, and has no or less noise.
Also, read – Best Career Advice and Tips to Advance Your Job
Important Stats
The Headway Capital blog reveals that Indeed, a job-posting website has experienced a 385% increase in candidates looking for work-from-home jobs in 2017.
Green Market Report website says that in 2017 Indeed found that the number of people searching for cannabis jobs grew by 401% in the United States.
McKinsey’s “A Future That Works: Automation, Employment, And Productivity’ study state that by adapting current technology –
- Less than 5% of occupations are entirely automatable.
- Roughly 50% of global work activities are automatable.
- At least 30% of activities in 60% of occupations can be automated.
- The automation potential of the United States is 46%.
- As per the analysis of more than 2,000 work activities across 800 occupations, almost half of the tasks for which people are paid almost $16 trillion in wages have the potential to be automated.
According to the “Four Fundamentals of Workplace Automation” research done by McKinsey, with current technologies, we can automate 45% of activities performed by individuals worldwide.
Wrapping Up!
This article answers your thought about what questions do they ask in an interview for a remote job. After reading it prepare and practice thoroughly, just like you do for a regular in-office job interview.
You can also apply for more remote jobs via HomeJobsHub. They have many entry-level jobs that enable you to earn a living with reliable and efficient partners.
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