Remote Interviewing

Interviewing for a work at home job is not much different than interviewing in-person. This all comes down to being prepared and professional. Some of the technicalities may be different, but the principles remain unchanged.

First and foremost, you should prepare to be on video. You are welcome to check with your recruiter or interviewer, but just assume you will need to be. As such, you need to ensure you have access to the proper equipment. A computer with a webcam is preferably (laptop or PC), but a phone can do in a pinch. If using a phone, be sure you can place it at a proper distance and keep it steady – this isn’t a Facetime call with your crew.

Try to log into the session days or hours ahead and become familiar with the controls. You need to ensure your video stream comes through, and know other controls for voice integration, muting, sharing your screen, and similar features that will allow you to operate within the meeting comfortably. Some meeting invites will not let you do so, but if you can, it’s well worth it. If not, try to do some research on the platform. If there’s a free trial, set up a test call with a friend to run through your setup.

This is no different than looking at Google Maps and planning your best route to your interview, understanding where to park, learning a little about the building entrance, etc. Before I interviewed at my current employer, I took a practice drive downtown the weekend before to ensure I knew where I was going and could make any adjustments.

Once you know your equipment works and you are comfortable with the logistics, prepare your location. You need to ensure you have good lighting for your video. You need to ensure you have privacy for your call. If you have distractions, such as my two furbabies, you need to find alternative solutions during that time. My girls are good almost all day, but I can bet that the mailman rings my doorbell during an important time and they start barking their heads off. You certainly don’t want that, crying children, TV noises, or other random distractions during the interview that take away from your message or make you appear unprofessional.

You need to clear your desk and check your backdrop. What is visible when you turn the camera on? Can people see the wall behind you? Your desk? Make sure these things are clear of clutter, don’t display any HR hot buttons, and don’t show anything that you wouldn’t want the world to see. A plain wall is typically best to avoid distractions and pitfalls, but tasteful art, your degree, or something you are proud to show off is welcome. There’s a fine line between professional and boring.

You should plan to present yourself as you would in-person. Be professionally dressed with hair, makeup, and accessories in check. You are welcome to display your own style, but keep interviewing best practices in mind. Try not to wear anything distracting, revealing, or controversial. Check the angle on your camera as well – what may look ok in generally may not if the camera is pointing down and staring down your shirt!

Prepare for the interview like you would any other. Do your homework. Have notes and questions ready. It’s still ok to have notes readily available, just as it’s ok to take notes. Be sure to make eye contact through to the camera and not stare at those notes or your screen.

Being able to properly conduct a remote interview is a big signal to employers on your ability to actually work from home. This is their first impression. If you can’t use the equipment, have a bad office, or don’t interact well on camera, the employer will translate this to how you do your job. Your goal in the interview is actually double what the average interviewer is trying to achieve. Not only are you trying to land a job, you are trying to convince someone that you can do that job from home.

Remember! This is still an interview. It’s not really about you. It’s about the value you can bring to them.  Be prepared to show off your unique selling features and include how working from home has made you more efficient and engaged. When the interview is through, the employers should be excited for the potential you bring and the location you bring it from.

Say Cheese!

One of the foundations to building relationships when you are not co-located is to still feel physically connected to your coworkers through electronic means. Furthermore, the use of video allows you to really connect by seeing the person and their expressions (which so often speak more than words). And yet, so many people are reluctant to turn on their camera - But why?

Have you ever been around a person that refuses to get in any family/friend/group photos because they "hate photos of themselves"? Maybe it's even you!

There's actually some science around this phenomenon. It's called the mere-exposure effect. Basically, it illustrates that people prefer photographs that display their mirror image self and not their true self. It's the same reason you may hate the sound of your own voice - because you are used to what it sounds like reverberating in your own head and not what it really sounds like.

This effect is very interesting when it comes to photos. The image of you that you are most used to is the one in the mirror, where your features are reversed and your have a consistent light (be that bright, yellow, blue, white, etc.) In your photos, your features are not reversed and subject to the lighting that is present and other environmental variables. Thus, the picture looks weird compared to what you see every morning. Not surprising then, many people favor reverse camera selfies because it at least maintains the reversing mirror effect.

Now you know why you don't like your own photo. But here's something more important: While you may prefer the mirror image and not the true image, the opposite is true with your friends. They prefer the you in photos because that is the you that they know! Heck, studies show that even strangers will find your picture more likable than you will!

So back to turning cameras on for meetings...

If you aren't afraid to show up to a meeting in person, then why are you afraid to turn on your camera? Besides the above, there is also the casual nature that comes with working at home. Most people don't get done-up for work with hair, clothes, and makeup like they would when they come to the office. This leaves people feeling self-conscience about themselves.

Let me share some earth-shattering news with you: Your coworkers don't care. First of all, most people understand that when you work from home you're going to be more laid back. Secondly, they aren't judging you that way anyway. No one is talking about that zit on your forehead or your disheveled ponytail. They are far more interested in knowing you are a real person and talking with you than focusing on such petty things.

Remember, having a face works to your advantage. It is far easier to send scathing emails or stew on some aggravating encounter when you aren't a real person. But when someone has to say these things to your face, the tone changes as does the experience. Email and IM depersonalize the message and give perceived permission space to behave in ways you wouldn't face-to-face. So, put the face back into the interaction. Don't be a figment of someone's imagination, because figments will be forgotten!

Bottom-line - Turn on your camera. The fear is all in your head. And the benefits of overcoming that fear are huge.