7 Tips to improve your next remote interview for success
I have been a software engineer for over 8 years and wore many hats. Some of those hats include Senior Software Engineer and Software Solutions Architect. I have also been a Lead Software Engineer, Head of Engineering, and now I am a Chief Technology Officer.
In that time, one of my core responsibilities is to identify and recruit top-notch tech talent. I have built engineering teams across career advisory, finance, and IoT industries.
An ideal recruitment process will need a recruiter to speak with a candidate. I have moved from face-2-face to remote interviews. If you live in Nigeria, you know that most remote interviews can be challenging for both the candidate and the interviewer due to a couple of factors. I will be highlighting 7 tips to improve your next remote interview for success.
Location
It is safe to assume that most remote interviews are usually conducted from your home. Location here means the exact spot in your house or office you have chosen to do the interview. There are two main things to consider here:
1. Lighting
If you are a young professional like me, you have either rented or purchased an apartment. You won’t have had the opportunity to decide the location of windows, sunroofs, etc for efficient lighting. We can agree that most apartment managers will not allow any modifications of the original fixtures or structure for more lighting points as part of the lease contract. This leaves you with temporary lighting solutions. You want to make sure the light source is not over your head as it will cast shadows around you and not illuminate your face. You also don’t want it in front of you because it may get into your eyes unless it is well above your eye level. Natural light sources from windows or sunroofs are good but rain or bad weather can change that.
2. Background
You have very good control over your background. You have two options here: you may decide to go digital by using a virtual background or use a simple colored wall behind you. You don’t want to use anything too distracting.
I once had an interview with a candidate who had the same wallpaper design as mine. In as much as it served as a good topic for conversation, and also gave us a good laugh, you want to use something simple. Avoid wallpapers that represent illustrations of things you like such as movies etc.
Equipment
I dare to say that for some interviewers, your success in the interview is a percentage of your readiness. Equipment here means any electronic gadget you will be using for your interview. I have listed some important ones below:
3. Computer/Laptop/Desktop
The first thing you want to do here is to make sure your Operating System is up to date. You don’t want your computer to forcibly restart because of new updates during an interview. Most interviewers have timed their interview sessions. You will lose a considerable amount of time if you have to wait for your computer to install, update and then restart. Another great preparation tip is power. If you have a good long-lasting battery, ensure that your laptop is fully charged. If you are using a desktop computer and don’t have an inverter, run on generator power.
4. Microphone/Camera
These are accessories that come with a laptop or a good desktop machine. It is important to test these accessories before your interview. You cannot recover time lost due to interruptions. Interviews are generally not open-ended undertakings. Losing time because of poor planning is bad.
5. Internet
This is one of the most important things you have to take care of before the interview. It can be frustrating for both candidates and the interviewers if there is no good internet connection. It is nice to have a backup plan and be sure to communicate this if for any reason you have to switch to the backup plan. Most interviewers use platforms that allow chat messages, be sure to send a message if you notice you are losing audio or if there is a lag in the transmission of your speech. You can also send an SMS. As a candidate, you were probably called before an invitation was sent. Save that number and use it if need be.
If you use mobile data like me, make sure you put your phone on call barring or use your sim card in a modem because phone calls will interrupt your internet connection.
Distractions
6. Sound
Avoid background sounds during your interview. It is very difficult for anyone to hear you over background noise. It also distracts the listener and sometimes disrupts the speaker’s train of thought. Another point to note is to know when to mute and unmute your microphone. By doing so, you can squeeze in an occasional cough or sneeze. This may also include sounds from swallowing your saliva or anything you usually do with your nose or mouth in your alone time. Sounds like this will make anyone uncomfortable. You don’t have to always leave your microphone on.
Also, turn off all messaging applications such as WhatsApp, hangout, etc, and put your phone on silent. Most people will have WhatsApp web opened during interviews. The sound of persistent notifications can interrupt anyone speaking.
7. Focus
On the topic of focus, you don’t want to have any distractions that will prevent your eyes from leaving the screen. Whether you are in an interview or conducting one, you don’t want the other person to watch your eyes moving in different directions. Such eye movements send a different message. It shows that you’re looking at something different. It shows your attention is not with the interviewer or the candidate. Furthermore, never have your TV on in front of you during an interview session. The only thing you should look at is your computer/laptop during the interview session.
The last and very obvious point is DO NOT BE LATE. Never keep anyone waiting.
Which points are you most guilty of and which points do you find most valuable. Kindly let me know in the comments section below.
Good luck with your next remote interview.
