An interview thank you letter is a must, especially for remote job seekers.

A quick follow-up to say, “thanks for the interview” lets interviewers know you are genuinely grateful to discuss work from home jobs with them.

Plus, it shows appreciation for their time – a hot commodity these days.

However, many job seekers fail to follow up after an interview. This isn’t just bad manners. It can actually prevent you from receiving job offers.

Remember, remote job searches are difficult enough as is. Do everything you can to make it easier for you. And one of the simplest steps you can take is to write a follow up letter after your interview.

Your interview thank you letter also keeps your name “fresh” and memorable.

After all, deciding to hire between two strong candidates with similar skills and work history often boils down to the smallest details.

An interview thank you letter is a nice touch to put you ahead of the competition.

Lastly, this simple follow up is supplements

How An Interview Thank You Letter Can Get You The Job

We already know it’s just plain good manners to send a thank you letter after an interview. But there’s more to it than that. This quick, one-page follow-up can boost your chances of getting a job offer. Here are three instances when your thank you letter can stack the job offer odds in your favor.

1. You Totally Blew A Question or Your Answer Wasn’t As Strong As It Could Have Been 

Interviews are nerve-racking. You can use tried and true phone interview tips or research how to ace the remote job interview. But, even still, our nerves get the best of us. And, in these cases, we have a tiny misstep.

Awkward, right? 

It can be, yes. But it doesn’t have to kill your job offer chances either. After all, you are human and your interviewer realizes this. So, even though you practiced answers to common remote interview questions, you might slip up and respond with something you regret as soon as it’s said. 

When this happens, don’t panic. Although you can’t reverse it and put the words back in your mouth you can do damage control. An interview thank you email is the perfect place to reshape your answer into a more favorable response.

Interview Thank You Letter Example: Reshaping Your Response

Let’s say the interviewer asked, “How would previous coworkers describe you?” 

Instead of confidently replying, “My coworkers would describe me as an enthusiastic team leader — someone who is equally willing to offer guidance as well as lend support.” You drew a blank and replied, “My coworkers might describe me as outgoing, talkative, and full of life.” Not a terrible answer, no, but definitely not a strong one. 

You go to work to, well, work. An interviewer doesn’t need to hear that you’re outgoing and gregarious. They want to know how you’re perceived as an employee and whether you might be a good fit within the organization. 

When you sit down to write your interview thank you letter, briefly go over the question and resulting answer you flubbed on. Mention that, while your coworkers may perceive you as outgoing and full of life, it’s because of how enthusiastic you are about working on teams and that you are always willing to lend a helping hand. Now the interviewer realizes that, yes, you are outgoing and it helps you appear readily accessible to your coworkers — much better than your original answer! 

Of course this is just one example. The bottom line is this: Reshape a bad answer into a better one using your interview thank you email. It can help the interviewer or hiring manager see you in a different (more favorable) light. 

2. You’re Neck And Neck With Another Candidate

The job market is competitive. It can be even more so for remote job seekers. Often, your interviewer is considering multiple candidates for a single position. Remember, when you make it to the interview phase you’re likely one of just four candidates remaining. 

In this case, an interview thank you letter edges out the competition – especially when you’re neck and neck with another candidate. Keep in mind, just 25% of job seekers follow up with a thank you letter. However, more than 80% of hiring managers use them to further evaluate candidates!  

Remember, it’s good manners to send a sincere thanks for being considered as a candidate. Plus, your politeness and willingness to go the extra mile can leave a lasting good impression. And this positivity can lead to a job offer, especially if your competition failed to send a follow up.

3. It Keeps Your Name At The Top Of Their List

Hiring personnel are busy people. They conduct interviews, field phone calls, and sort through countless resumes as they work to fill multiple positions. Sometimes, in all the chaos, it’s all too easy to forget about the dozens of candidates they’ve met with. This could very well be you! Recent research shows remote roles receive 7 times more applicants than in-person corporate positions!

Needless to say, you don’t want to be swallowed up in a sea of remote applicants. An easy way to stand out is – you guessed it – a remote interview thank you letter!

When your letter arrives in the hiring manager’s inbox, it jogs their memory. Now your name is “fresh” on their minds and more memorable than candidates who don’t follow up.

This positive recall is incredibly valuable when it comes time to for them to make a hiring decision. Plus, a personal letter provides another chance to interact with the interviewer. This added exposure makes you feel more familiar, and psychology tells us that people love familiarity!

Always, Always Write A Thank You Email After An Interview 

Besides being ultra polite, your thank you email can actually help you get the job offer. Use this short but powerful email to give your job offer chances a boost. Your email can help you fix any bad answers or strengthen weak ones, it helps you beat out the often stiff competition, and keeps your name on your interviewer’s mind. When done correctly, not only does your email make you look like someone the recruiter wants to work with, it can bolster your chances of getting hired. 

So, don’t neglect this simple yet effective interviewing tool. A strong thank you email can make or break your chances of finding a remote job. 

Happily, 

Ashlee 

The post 3 Scenarios An Interview Thank You Letter Can Land You The Job appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

As a Certified Professional Career Coach, my standard advice I give to clients is to prepare and practice for a remote job interview. Doing so helps calm nerves and increases confidence. How’s that for a win win?

Plus, it makes for a more successful interview. On average, you’ll be up against four to six other professionals once you make it to the interview round of hiring.

The best way to get a job offer is to interview better than your competitors. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, it can be if you plan ahead and prep answers to common remote job interview questions in advance.

Preparation is Key

As a job seeker in general you’ll face common interview questions. These are the same ones we all come across regardless of job type, industry or position. But, as a remote job seeker, you’ll likely have to answer remote-specific questions that will help a hiring manager determine whether or not you’d be a successful remote worker.

This is how you can help yourself stand out against the competition. Remember, the four to six candidates being interviewed all have similar skills and abilities — that’s how they got the interview. But as a savvy job seeker, you’ll get the job based on how well you present yourself as a remote job seeker.

Make yourself seem like the perfect hire that you obviously are by coming up with smart answers to common remote job interview questions.

7 Common Remote Job Interview Questions

1. Do you have experience working remotely?

If you do, great! This is the perfect chance to highlight previous remote work experience. Someone who has already successfully tackled remote work is a ‘safer’ hire than someone without any remote experience.

However, if you’ve never worked remotely a day in your life — don’t panic. You can still answer this question in a positive way.

Explain that while you don’t have direct experience as a remote worker, you do have skills needed to be a successful remote worker. Then highlight common skills needed to work remotely related to communication, technology, organization and time management.

From there, you can mention specific programs you’ve used that remote teams commonly use like Slack, Google Drive, and Trello.

The more you can demonstrate you’ve got what it takes to work remotely, the better.

2. Why do you want to telecommute?

If you’ve never worked remotely before, the hiring manager will want to know why you’re drawn to remote work now. Someone who has had a successful office-based career for years that suddenly pivots to remote work will need a solid answer to this question.

Maybe you’re more productive when working from your home office. Perhaps you live in a rural area where job opportunities are limited. It may even be as simple as the company/job you’re applying for just happens to be remote-friendly and you are excited about the opportunity.

Don’t overthink your answer to this one. Simply state what it is about remote work that appeals to you. Remember, there are tons of remote work benefits to choose from!

But never ever mention what you hate about office work — annoying coworkers, office politics, cubicle dwelling, daily commutes, fluorescent lighting, etc. This just makes it seem like you’re looking for an escape rather than a new opportunity.

3. What is your home office setup like? Can you describe it?

Whether or not you have worked from home previously, your interviewer wants to know you are serious about remote work. A candidate that has an existing home office or has considered how they will create a home office is already a step ahead of most.

Be sure to note anything that will contribute to your overall productivity and efficiency like a quiet and private workspace and high-speed reliable Internet.

4. How will you communicate and collaborate effectively with your coworkers?

One of the most important traits companies want in their remote workers is the ability to communicate effectively. That’s because you won’t be able to collaborate in the same space with your coworkers or have in-person sessions.

Instead, remote workers rely on collaboration tools and written communication to manage workflow and work together to get things done. Needless to say, you have to be an effective communicator in order to work well as a remote employee.

As an aspiring remote worker, you should be aware of common ways to keep in touch with coworkers. These include Trello, Slack, Zoom and Google Drive. It’s also a good idea to mention traditional communication channels like chat, phone, email and video.

5. What do you think your biggest challenge will be as a remote worker? How will you deal with this challenge?

You probably already know the dreaded interview question, “What’s your greatest weakness?” Well, this is the remote interviewer’s equivalent of that.

Let’s be honest, remote work comes with unique challenges. The person interviewing you wants to know that you’re aware of this and ready to overcome them if and when they happen.

Distractions, technical problems, engagement, motivation and productivity are some common pitfalls of remote work. Think of ways you will combat these as a remote worker.

When you have answers prepared you come across as an honest and realistic aspiring remote worker. If you fail to answer this question or try to spin this into a positive, i.e., “My biggest challenge as a remote worker is that I will get lost in work since I’m more productive at home” you come across as disillusioned about remote work or dishonest.

6. How do you handle distractions?

Distractions happen as a remote worker. Your doorbell rings. Dogs start barking. Neighbors come and go. Spouses, significant others and kids may be in and around your workspace.

How you handle these common distractions tells a lot about your work ethic as a remote worker. Your interviewer wants to know that you are aware that distractions are going to happen and are already prepared to tackle them head on.

7. What are some ways you prioritize tasks and stay motivated?

Before you’re hired, the company wants to know you’ll put in a full day’s work even when no one is looking. To build that level of trust during the interview, you will likely be asked how you manage your time and stay motivated.

Now is the time to illustrate just how you manage yourself and stay on top of task

Think about your own preferences when it comes to staying organized, focused, and productive. Be sure to note how you prioritize tasks and manage to get things done daily.

Practice Makes Perfect

Remember, these are just some of the most common interview questions remote job seekers face. Of course, every company will have their own set of questions they’ll ask potential hires.

But you can expect to encounter some of the above questions or similar variations. That’s because remote work is unique and it is not for everyone. Companies want to make sure they hire someone who will thrive as a remote worker and fit in with the current remote-friendly culture.

To position yourself as this perfect hire, prepare answers to the questions you’re more likely to come across as a remote job seeker. And while it’s good to be prepared don’t be overly robotic or rehearsed. Interviews are also a time to let your personality shine. Your answers should perfectly showcase your professional abilities and demonstrate you’re a great fit for the position.

Remote Interview Help

Need interview help? I’ve got you covered. As a Certified Professional Career Coach I routinely work with remote job seekers to help them fine-tune their remote interview skills.

Learn more about my services and how I can help you ace the interview and get the job.

Happily,

Ashlee Anderson, CPCC

The post Common Remote Job Interview Questions (And How To Answer Them Like A Pro) appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

An all virtual hiring process is a great way for the hiring manager to gauge whether or not you present well remotely. That’s where phone interviews come into play. No pressure, right?

Don’t worry. Even though you won’t get a chance to meet your interviewer in person, shake hands and make a great first impression, you can still stand out with these phone interview tips for remote job seekers.

1. Do Your Company Homework

Congrats! Your resume and LinkedIn profile were optimized and you actually got a call back. Now, a remote friendly wants to interview you. It’s exciting and nerve-racking all at once.

One of the best ways to nail your phone interview is to do a little homework beforehand. First up, research the company you’re interviewing with.

You should understand what the company does, the customers it serves, and its overall mission, values, and goals. Typically, you can find all of this information on a company’s website.

Let’s look at remote-friendly company Buffer, for example.

If you scroll to the bottom of their homepage, there’s an entire “Company” section in the footer:

When you explore the “About Us” page, you will notice Buffer is quick to share its company values:

This is valuable information you need to read up on BEFORE you interview. As you read up on the company and learn more about its mission, take notes. You can use these during your phone interview.

If you can’t find much information about the company on its website. Don’t panic. Head on over to LinkedIn. Chances are they have a company profile there where you can find tons of valuable information.

Remember, an interviewer’s job is to eliminate you as a candidate. Get ahead of the game and present yourself as an ideal fit for the company’s values and cultures.

2. Set The Scene

One of the surprising phone interview tips you might not think of is preparing your space before you interview.

Even though the person interviewing you won’t see where you’re interviewing from, that doesn’t mean you should conduct a phone interview from just anywhere.

Instead, pick a quiet area that is free of distractions. Your home office is a good place. Public spaces or anywhere with lots of background noise is a definite no.

Additionally, make sure the place you pick has amazing cell phone reception. If you’re like most people, you don’t have a landline. That means you’ll rely on your cell phone to help you get a job.

There’s nothing worse than having a call cut out or be interrupted with static. This will frustrate you and your interviewer and can quickly turn a great interview into a disaster.

3. Know Who’s Calling You

There’s nothing more awkward than having a phone call with a complete stranger. That’s why you need to know who is interviewing you before you hop on a call with them.

When you schedule the interview, you’ll be given a name. Head on over to LinkedIn to scope this person out. Your objective is to find out what their role is within the company. Chances are, this person will be a recruiter or HR person. They will not be your supervisor, manager or boss.

If this is the case, you can expect a pretty basic interview. That is, they will gather general information about you to determine whether or not you have the skills and experience to fill the position.

4. Re-Read The Job Description

If you’ve launched a full on career campaign as a remote job seeker, you’ve probably applied to quite a few jobs over the weeks. You may only vaguely remember the position you’re interviewing for. And that’s okay. But don’t just leave it at that. Instead, head back to the job listing and re-read it.

Now you’ll have a refreshed idea of the job and its responsibilities. That way you can better position yourself as a good fit for the role during the phone interview. It’s also a good idea to have your remote resume available during the call. You can reference it throughout the conversation or when answering questions.

This is why it’s important to organize your job search! When you’re organized, you can quickly find jobs you’ve applied to at specific companies. All that information comes in handy when it comes time to interview.

5. Prepare Answers In Advance

Now, you won’t know which questions the interviewer is going to ask you. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare some answers ahead of time.

This is important because it can help quell any nerves you have about the phone interview and helps you avoid any long pauses or dreaded uhs and ums.

Some common phone interview questions you might get include:

• Tell me about yourself.
• What are you looking for in your next role?
• How did you find this position?
• Why are you interested in this role?
• Why did you leave your last position?
• What is your greatest strength? Weakness?

As a Certified Professional Career Coach, my best advice for answering these questions (or any questions during interviews) is be genuine.

Recruiters and hiring managers are smart. They’ve interviewed hundreds of candidates before you. They know the “common answers to interview questions” that are readily available on Google. And they simply don’t want to hear them.

So, stand out and provide a fresh answer that is anything but cookie cutter.

6. Slow Down & Stand Up

It’s human nature to speak quickly when we’re nervous. But this can spell disaster during a phone interview. Remember, your interviewer cannot look you in the eyes or read any other visual cues while you’re speaking. What you say and how you say it are the only impressions they’ll get.

So, slow down. Think about what you’re going to say and keep a steady pace. Doing so will project confidence and make the conversation flow much easier than if you sound anxious or hurried.

And one of my favorite phone interview tips that I always tell my clients: Stand up!

There’s a reason opera singers and performers stand up on stage. Voices carry and project much clearer when we stand. Give your voice (and self) a confidence boost just by standing up.

7. Follow Up During & After The Interview

Before the phone interview wraps up, be sure to ask some questions of your own. Remember, you’re interviewing them too. You want to find a remote job that fits your ideals, not just any ol’ job. Your questions don’t have to be super in-depth. Again, your first phone interview is likely a preliminary one. Now’s your chance to ask the recruiter what to expect moving forward and what the hiring process looks like.

Also, ask your interviewer if they have any more questions for you. The last thing you may want is to answer any more questions than you have to. But, asking this simple question makes you stand out as very few interviewees ask. Plus, it makes you seem engaged in the process and genuinely interested in the position.

And, don’t forget to follow up after the interview is over. You absolutely should write a thank you email to your interviewer. It doesn’t have to be long or over the top. A simple thank you for taking the time to speak to you goes a long way. It demonstrates good manners and your written communication skills — which is super important as a remote job seeker.

Phone Interview Tips For Remote Job Seekers

Phone interview tips are absolutely necessary for the remote job seeker. Remember, you won’t get a chance to meet in person for a remote position. That means you’ll be doing a TON of phone interviews as you work to kick your cubicle to the curb.

A little planning and preparation before the phone call can help you stand out as a candidate and eliminate any nerves you may have. Plus, it helps the interviewer see that you’ve come to the phone prepared.

If you need help practicing phone interview tips, send me an SOS. As a Certified Professional Career Coach I can help you ace your phone interviews so you move onto the next round.

You’ve got this!

Happily,

Ashlee Anderson, CPCC

The post 7 Phone Interview Tips For Remote Job Seekers appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

Ready to get more interviews for all the hard work you put into applying? I get it. It’s exhausting.

After all, they say it’s a full-time job looking for a job. And looking for a remote job is even more work.

First, you have to know where to look for real job leads. Then you have to sort through the scam ads to find the real jobs. And once you find something that looks good, now you’ve got to beat out the competition, which often numbers in the hundreds for a single remote job.

It’s no wonder, then, one of the biggest complaints I receive from remote job seekers is:

I keep applying and applying to remote jobs but never actually hear back from them. What gives? How can I actually get more interviews?

It’s frustrating. I know. You want to work from home. And who could blame you? Not only do you get to save time and money when you ditch the daily commute, there’s the oh-so important ‘happiness factor’ that comes with remote work.

But when you feel like you’re exhausting yourself looking for a remote job but don’t actually get anywhere, it can be tempting to throw in the towel.

Don’t!

Instead, it’s time to rework your remote job search strategy. What you’re doing now isn’t working. Now it’s time to figure out why (and fix it fast!) so you can actually get more interviews. Chances are, it has something to do with one of these two factors. 

Revamp Your Digital Presence

Fun fact: Nearly 80% of recruiters will google a potential hire before they invite them to interview. What Google says (or doesn’t say) about you can be killing your interview chances — fast.

Your digital presence, aka your personal brand, is built upon your online persona. This includes your social media accounts and any other mentions of Y-O-U online (via news outlets, blogs, etc.).

By the time a recruiter turns their focus to search engines, they’re looking for reasons NOT to invite you to interview. Keep in mind, if a hiring manager is snooping online, they already like your resume or application enough to consider bringing you in for an interview. Now they’re looking for a reason to toss you in the ‘no’ pile. Don’t give them one. If you want to get more interviews, you need to start taking your online presence seriously. 

Be Professionally Social

Give your social media accounts a look and refresh them, if need be. Simple things you can do to make a better first impression online include using the same name on social media as you do on your resume and making your profiles viewable by the public. After all, you can’t get found if you’re using a different name or set to private so no one can find you.

Pick The Right Pic

Don’t forget a professional profile pic! Now, this doesn’t mean you need a stuffy headshot in a button up. After all, social media is a place where you’re supposed to be yourself and have fun. But when you’re a job seeker, you need to keep in mind that prospective employers will make a snap judgement about you based on your profile pictures.

Give them the right impression. A professional yet casual profile pic across all your social accounts makes a consistent great first encounter, whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn and can help you get more interviews.

Share Carefully

Don’t forget to be careful what you share. Recruiters aren’t going to fault you if you post 10 pictures of your cat on the daily. But, they will think twice about bringing you in to interview if you post content that is negatively charged in any way. A good rule of thumb is to avoid sharing snaps of yourself where you’re under the influence or underdressed. Also refrain from posting or sharing anything that is political, contains foul language, or would be NSFW (not suitable for work).

Don’t Hide Online Either

But, what if you have zero digital presence to speak of? No Facebook or Twitter. You don’t have a blog. And your name is common enough that when someone googles it, other people come up that aren’t you.

Instinctively, you might think you’re in the clear. A lack of impression is better than a bad one, right?

Wrong.

When a recruiter can’t find anything about you online, it can be a turn off. They want to learn more about you (that’s why they’re on Google after all). When they come up empty handed, it can make them wonder what it is you’re hiding.

If you’re not into Facebook or Twitter, I get it. You don’t have to be. Instead, create a personal website that sets you apart from the competition. Even a simple one-page site all about you and your professional accomplishments can knock the socks off of even the most discerning recruiter. And it couldn’t be simpler or more affordable to get one done. Check out my no-fail guide to creating a personal brand website that helps you get more interviews. You can get yours up and running in less than a weekend! 

Now, when a recruiter googles you, the very first thing they’ll see is your own website and not a whole lot of nothing. Your own website allows you to control your professional narrative better than Facebook or Twitter. After all, it’s created by you and contains only those things you want others to see.

Keyword Optimize Your Resume

Before you’re invited to interview, you need to send in a resume. Your resume is the single page of information that will determine whether or not you even make it onto a recruiter’s radar let alone get an interview invite.

No pressure, right?

Right! Chances are, you’re overthinking your resume. You’re likely taking up too much considering its format and not its actual content. But, as with most things online, content is king. 

Choose Your Resume Words Wisely

Today’s recruiters and hiring managers largely use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to help them sort through a sea of applicants. This is especially true for remote roles where there are often hundreds of resumes submitted for one job. Manually going through so many resumes is time consuming and ineffective.

ATS, on the other hand, streamline the resume sorting process by using keywords. You, as the job seeker, submit your resume to the ATS. The recruiter then logs into the ATS and filters through resumes (like yours) by searching for specific keywords.

For example, let’s say Recruiter Rita is looking for a graphic designer to work remotely for a mid-size online publication. In the job ad, it states qualifications included knowledge of Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator as must haves. So, Recruiter Rita tells the ATS to find all the resumes that mention Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Now the pile of 300 is widled down to a more manageable 50. Rita can now manually view the resumes or filter them even further with additional keywords.

If you can get past the ATS, you can get more interviews — guaranteed.

Where To Find The Right Keywords That Get You Found

Now, this is probably where you’re wondering how the heck do you know which keywords to place in your resume so you get past ATS? Good question. Look no further than the job ad you’re applying to. When an employer places a job ad, they’re essentially describing their ideal employee and the traits, skills, and qualifications they need to get the job done.

As a remote job seeker, it’s your job to pull these keywords from the ad and place them in your resume. This helps you gain greater visibility with the ATS and increases your chances of getting seen by recruiters.

So, quit sending out cookie cutter resumes to all the remote jobs you discover. Instead, carefully craft a keyword-rich resume for every individual job you apply to. Yes, it takes more time but you’ll actually save time in the long run when you finally get callbacks and interest from the resumes you do send.

Need a little more help? No problem! I’ve created a post that explains all about crafting a keyword-driven resume that helps you land more interviews here.

Get More Interviews — Fast

Don’t get discouraged when you keep applying to remote jobs but never hear anything back. Instead, try a different approach. Chances are, a change to your digital presence or a keyword-dense resume will do the trick.

Your turn. Are you applying to remote job but not getting callbacks? Let me know in the comments below!

Happily,

Ashlee

P.S. This post contains affiliate links. Learn more about them in my disclosure statement.

The post Get More Interviews: What To Do When You Keep Applying To Remote Jobs But Never Hear Anything Back appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

Your answers to these questions can make or break your chances of advancing to the next round of hiring. Needless to say, you want to have just the right answers.

The good news is, you can prepare for your interview in advance. That way, when the hiring manger asks you one (or several) common interview questions, you’ll have a good answer ready to go. This will help ease a little of the interview anxiety we all get and makes a better impression with the interviewer. How’s that for a win-win?

1. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself? 

This seems innocent enough, and is usually the opener interviewers will lead with. Your answer to this question can set the tone for the entire interview. No pressure, right? 

A good rule of thumb is not to get too personal. The interviewer does not want to hear about what you did over the weekend or that your Aunt Gertie just got a new Maltese. You don’t want to go into too much detail about your professional history either. 

Instead, prepare a short pitch about yourself that relates to the job you’re interviewing for. Highlight two or three professional accomplishments that would come in handy for the position you’re hoping to land. Be sure to point out to the interviewer how these past accomplishments position you for success in this role.

2. How did you hear about this position? 

Recruiters and hiring managers are genuinely curious how job applicants learn about open roles at their companies. But, how you found out about an opening can also tell the recruiter how interested you really are in working there. 

For example, if you follow said company on social media and happened to catch a tweet advertising the role, let them know. You’ll score brownie points for actively engaging with the brand on social media and makes it seem like you’d actually enjoy working there. (You don’t follow things on social media you don’t like, right?)

Don’t be shy about name dropping either. If a friend or professional contact gave you a head’s up about the position, say so.

Even if you found the job via traditional means — job boards — that’s okay. Tell the recruiter that, but follow it up with what exactly about that particular job caught your eye in the sea of hundreds of ads. 

3. Why should we hire you?

I’ve always found this to be the most intimidating of the common interview questions. But, if you’re prepared for it in advance, you can toot your own horn and sell yourself to the hiring manager. 

Typically, recruiters and hiring managers are looking for an answer that demonstrates three things: 

1. You have the know-how to do the job (and do it really well) 
2. You’d fit right in with the company culture and would make a great coworker 
3. You’re a better hire than anyone else. Period. 

Go into the job interview with good knowledge of the role you’re interviewing for. The job ad you initially applied for is your friend. Read and re-read the ad and remember specific keywords. (You can learn more about identifying keywords in job ads here.)

To position yourself as the best of the best, remember to highlight specific professional achievements, if you can use keywords from the job ad, even better. 

Think of it like this, job ads are the employer’s way of describing their ideal hire. The more you can mirror the ‘person’ described in the ad, the better your chances of getting hired. Using keywords from the ad in your answers is a surefire way to come across as a perfect fit. 

4. What are your professional strengths? 

A lot of interviewees get this one wrong. Often, they answer with what they think the interviewer wants to hear and not their actual strengths. 

The bottomline: be truthful! Talk about your actual strengths you feel confident in as a professional. 

When possible, highlight those which line up with the job you’re interviewing for. And, get specific. Again, do your homework ahead of time and remember the job ad. What kind of strengths were they looking for in a would-be hire? When applicable, mention those to the interviewer, give specific examples of how you used those strengths professionally before. 

5. Can you tell me what your greatest weaknesses are? 

This is perhaps the most dreaded of the common interview questions. It seems like a trick — Why on earth would you tell the person you’re trying to convince to hire you what you suck at the most?

While it may be tempting to sugar coat your answer, i.e., “my greatest weakness is I’m a perfectionist who can’t walk away from a project until it’s done to my satisfaction,” don’t. 

The interviewer asks you this question to gauge your self awareness and honesty — so bring both to the interview table. 

Give an actual weakness you struggle with. Bonus points if you can follow it up with how you’ve been trying to improve said weakness. For example, let them know you try to do too much at once and it derails your productivity, but that you’ve recently started using the Pomodoro Technique to help you get more done in a day. 

As Zig Zigler once said, “Try to look at your weakness and convert it into strength. That’s success.” It’s true.

So, take a second and think of a legit weakness you have. Then figure out what you can do to turn it into a success, whether it’s trying a new technique or learning a new skill. The interviewer will appreciate both your candor and willingness to self improve. 

Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them

There you have it — 5 of the most common interview questions you’ll probably get asked on your next interview. These seemingly innocent questions can easily trip you up, if you’re not ready for them.

Remember, the best offense is a great defense. Go into any interview armed with strong answers that set you apart from the compeition. A little homework can go a long way in successful interviewing. You’ve got this! 

Happily,

Ashlee

P.S. This post contains affiliate links. Check out my disclosure statement for more information.

The post 5 Common Interview Questions That Can Easily Trip You Up (And How To Answer Them Like A Pro) appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

That doesn’t exactly make it possible (or convenient) to come in for an in-person interview. Instead, you’ll go through a number of phone interviews as you work to ditch your daily commute. 

Needless to say, the more phone interview tips you know, the better your chances of getting to the next round of the hiring process. 

5 Phone Interview Tips To Help You Get To The Next Round 

1. Re-Read The Job Description 
2. Prep Strong Answers To Common Interview Questions
3. Do Your Homework 
4. Make A List of Questions To Ask 
5. Prepare Your Interview Area 

1. Re-Read The Job Description 

Before you hop on the phone with a recruiter or hiring manager, make sure you know which position you’re actually applying for. When I worked as a recruiter for virtual companies, I can’t tell you how many people I phone interviewed who simply had no idea what the job was even about. They’d ask me to “remind them” about the position — big mistake. It made them seem disinterested at best and lazy at worst. Not exactly the first impression you want to make.

Instead, review the ad. And then review it again. Jot down keywords, including hard and soft skills that are required for the job. (You’ll use these keywords for phone interview tip number 2) 

Remember, the job ad is essentially the employer’s description of their perfect hire. The more you know about the job description, the better you prove you’re the ‘perfect’ match. 

2. Prep Strong Answers To Common Interview Questions 

I’m sure you were expecting this to be one of the phone interview tips you should follow. And for good reasons — if you prepare interview answers in advance, you’re likely to feel more confident during the interview. Your confidence will show, even over the phone, and make it easier to get through.

But, there’s a difference between bland interview answers and strong ones. Make sure you always strive for the latter. 

As a recruiter, I’d often ask similar questions to candidates across different industries. I can’t tell you how many times I’d hear, when asking a candidate what their greatest weakness is, cliche responses like: 

• I care too much. 
• I’m a workaholic who puts too much of myself into my work. 
• I often take on too many responsibilities because I’m an overachiever. 

Meh. Meh. And meh. 

Recruiters are smart. They can google ‘answers to common interview questions’ too. They want to see that you’re being authentic during the interview, and not just telling them what you think they want to hear. 

Be true to yourself. Skip the cliches. Flaunt your flaws, if need be. But don’t overdo it either. 

Sample Interview Answer

And, remember the keywords that you pulled from the job description in phone interview tip 1? Whenever possible (and natural) use them in your prepared responses. 

For example, this ad says (highlighted below) under qualifications, the perfect candidate will be a goal oriented and able to work both independently and as an active member of a team. Great. “Goal oriented” and “member of a team” are two (of many) keywords you should take note of. 

And, should the recruiter ask you a common interview question like, “What can you bring to the sales team?” You could have a prepared, keyword-filled answer like: 

“Great question. While I’m very independent and goal-oriented (keywords), I still look at sales as a collaborative department. It’s important to be a team player (keyword) in order to work for the greater good of the customer.”

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again — The job ad is basically the employer’s description of their perfect employee. You want to mirror the job ad as much as possible to show you’re the person for the job. You can do that by using keywords from the ad in your prepared responses. 

3. Do Your Homework 

Recruiters hope you’re interviewing for a position because you’re genuinely interested in the job and want to be a part of the company. They strive to find a candidate who would be a good fit for both the job and the company’s culture. You can show your enthusiasm for the job and company by doing some homework. 

A great place to start is the company website. Scroll to the bottom of the homepage. In the footer, look for links that say About Us or Corporate or News. Often, these links will lead you to current events going on in the company (like press releases) and give you general information about the way they work. Even better if you can find the company’s mission statement, values, and beliefs.

Take a look at one of my favorite distributed workforces, Buffer, and how their website can help you with a phone interview.

Jot down any noteworthy information onto your interview cheat sheet. That way, during your phone interview, you can easily bring up this information to show you are, one, interested and, two, motivated enough to learn about the company without anyone telling you to do it. 

After you get good information from the website, head over to some popular social channels. Facebook and Twitter are great options for just about any company. Follow them on social media and check out their recent tweets and posts. 

Again, when you’re speaking to the recruiter, you can casually mention how you saw that the company was doing a new product launch via Twitter or ‘liked’ a recent post on Facebook about a sale or promotion. 

This instantly shows the recruiter you’re interested, enthusiastic, and likely a good fit for the company if you’re already following them on social media. 

4. Know What To Ask 

Another obvious entry to the phone interview tips is to prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer. 

If you’ve ever been on an interview before, you know there’s that moment (often toward the end of the interview) where the tables are turned. The person who’s been asking you all the questions suddenly stops and asks you what questions you have for them. 

Yikes. 

If you’re unprepared, you’ll likely stammer, think for a second, and then draw a blank. 

This makes the interviewer think you’re less than interested in the job. Why? Think about it. When you like something or are genuinely interested, you want to know more about it. And to learn more, you’ll often be bursting with questions to find out everything you can. 

So, instead of drawing a blank when the time comes, take a few minutes in advance to think of some thoughtful questions to ask. Generally speaking, anything about the job description and company are great. Try to stay away from nitty gritty questions like salary and benefits, vacation policies, etc. 

If you’re not sure of what the heck you should ask. That’s okay. Here’s a list of questions you can ask at the end of an interview that won’t rub the recruiter the wrong way. 

5. Stage Your Interview Area 

No list of phone interview tips would be complete without discussing ways to set yourself up for success. Your phone interview will likely happen in your own home. This familiar environment can make it feel more casual, like chatting up a friend, instead of an actual interview for a remote job. To give your phone interview a greater feeling of importance it deserves, make sure to set up the interview space in advance. 

Things to consider before the phone interview: 

Make sure your phone is fully charged 

There’s nothing worse than hearing your phone beep that it’s dying in the middle of an interview

Find a quiet space in your house with great reception and zero distractions 

Losing service isn’t your fault, but it still leaves a sore spot on your interview. Find a no-dead-zone that leaves you plenty of reception and no distractions

Let others in the house know you’ll be on a phone interview and to keep it down 

Being interrupted during a phone interview by a kid, neighbor, or roommate can derail even the best conversation

Bring your notes, including the homework you did and prepped interview answers and questions to ask 

You did all the work ahead of time, don’t forget to have your notes handy! You can refer to them when you need an answer or when the time comes to ask questions.

Stand up! 

There’s a reason opera singers, comedians, and public speakers stand on stage — their voice sounds better, clearer, and more confident. The same holds true for you during your phone interview. Don’t sit down. Get on your feet and deliver all the confidence you can. 

Phone Interview Tips You Gotta Know

There you have it — 5 indispensable phone interview tips to help you get to the next round of hiring. Remember, the phone interview is an often used technique in the world of remote hiring to help identify promising candidates. Those who make the cut are often invited for a more formal video interview via Skype, GoTo Meeting or the like. But to get to that point, first you’ve got to ace your phone interview.

Follow these phone interview tips to give you the best chance of outshining the competition so you can finally kick that cubicle of yours to the curb. 

Happily, 

Ashlee 

P.S. This post contains affiliate links. To learn more about them, check out my disclosure statement. 

The post Phone Interview Tips: Must-Follow Advice For Making A Great Impression appeared first on Work from Home Happiness.

How To Survive Your First Remote Interview

So you got the call! (or more realistically, the email)…you have an interview! This is the moment you have been waiting for.

You get to show off your stuff, your experience, your knowledge. You are the right person for the job, and dang it people like you!

You have interviewed for other jobs in the past, so you have a good idea of what to expect. But the hiring manager tells you your first interview will be a 30 minute remote interview.

It could be video or phone, and we’ll cover both, but there are few important considerations to make sure you have the best possible chance of success.

Why do companies interview remotely?

Companies interview remotely for two main reasons.

A remote interview could be a way to take a first pass at the candidate pool to narrow the funnel. In this case, you should expect that the remote interview will be followed by an in-person interview.

There is also a growing number of companies that operate in a distributed manner, that is, there is not physical office, and everyone is fully remote. In this case, it is often the case that every interview could be remote, and you may not get to meet your team in person until a later date (if ever).

Preparation

This cannot be overemphasized.

If you want to get the job, you have to prepare.

Unfortunately, many people reading this article will not follow this advice, and will try to “wing it.”

The problem with this approach is that even if you are skilled and “know your stuff,” the employer is trying to assess both skills AND fit. If you don’t understand the potential employer and have not done the legwork, your chances of success are slim.

You have to treat every interview like it’s your golden ticket. Even if you are not sure if the company is the right fit, just taking the call and doing the interview to “see what happens” without being prepared almost guarantees you will not have the option to move on to the next phase. You want options.

Research your interviewer and the company

You want to know as much as possible about your interviewer. Google them, look at their LinkedIn profile, read what they have written.

Did they go to the University of Delaware? Ask them how the Blue Hens are doing this year! Did they go to high school in your hometown? Go Mustangs! Are they avid gardeners? Ask them about what it’s like to grow tomatoes in Texas!

Don’t go too far (Facebook posts may be off-limits), but show you care and looked them up, if you are polite and engaging about it, you will already be ahead of the competition.

Also, make sure you research the company. Look at their website, understand what they do, read press about them. Dedicate 30 minutes to this at the very least. If you do it for 5 minutes before the interview, it will show, I promise.

Preparing for a video call

1) Good connection

Make sure you have a bulletproof Internet connection. If yours is spotty, find a coffee shop, a library, a neighbor, anything.

Even though bad Internet connections are not your fault, it’s human nature to subconsciously attach the frustration of a technical glitch to the candidate. No, it’s not fair. Yes, it happens. Stack the deck in your favor, find a solid connection.

2) Dress up

You want to make a solid visual impression. Dress up as if the interview were in person. Groom yourself accordingly. Remember that your employer will be assessing your presentation and delivery as much as they will be testing your skills.

3) Clean background

Make sure your background is clutter-free, and clean. You could look like a million bucks, but if your background is a dirty kitchen, your odds are not as good.

Special phone tips

1) Good connections are also key

Find a place where you have full cell phone service, where there is no wind or background noise.

2) Stand up!

Singers know that your voice sounds better when standing. Project and enunciate.

3) Dress up, too.

We all sound better when we feel good. Dressing up makes us subconsciously feel stronger and more confident.

The bottom line is prepare, prepare, prepare. Dress the part, and you’ll be on your way to success.

Remember that interviewing is a numbers game, you want to make good impressions everywhere, and you want options.

Have any good tips that have worked for you in remote interviews?

Let us know in the comments.

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