If you are in a job search, or know someone who is, be sure to check out this important information from the great folks at Hubstaff. With special thanks to Rachel Go!
The future of work is evolving quickly, as one in five Americans work from home, and that number is expected to exceed 60 percent in the next five years. With the cost efficiency, eliminated commutes, and increased productivity, it’s no surprise that the remote work trend is fast on the rise.
With this new opportunity for companies and employees comes a fundamental shift in how businesses operate. The familiar model of a shared office space and colleagues who live in the same city will no longer apply. Instead, the people we work with could live across the world and follow a completely different timezone. It also brings a new dimension to job interviews, which may no longer be done in person.
For those of you who want to venture into remote work, but aren’t sure how to begin, here are a few tips on acing a remote interview.
Your potential employers are looking for 5 key characteristics
Companies that employ distributed teams understand what it takes to be a successful remote worker. When they interview you, whether in person or online, they are looking for a few things.
First, demonstrate your technical skills, which enable you to do the job that they want. If you’re applying for a job as a programmer, talk about what you’ve built or fixed in the past.
Employers look at accountability and how responsible you are for your work. Remote work is largely independent, and when you work from home you need to show initiative and ownership of your projects.
Remote workers need great communication skills. Quick, well-written responses are valuable in a working environment where text replaces in-person interaction.
Proactive reporting is also vital for remote workers. If there is a problem, you shouldn’t wait to bring it up and get it fixed. Your colleagues and managers need to know what is happening in a project before it goes over budget or spirals out of control.
The final key thing to demonstrate is concern. These companies will be looking for remote workers who care about their business, and will be motivated to do well even from a distance.
Common questions in remote interviews
- What hours do you work?
- What experience do you have with remote work?
- What is your availability each week?
- What tools do you use to work?
- Are you willing to do a test task?
Overall, be prepared to answer their questions with your experience and demonstrate your skill as a remote worker. Don’t forget, being able to work efficiently from home is a skill in itself.
Below is an infographic on remote interviews with valuable tips from Hubstaff, which is a time tracking software company whose team is 100% remote.
How to Ace a Remote Interview – An infographic by Hubstaff.com
