The Ultimate List of Interview Questions to Ask Remote Workers

It also shows the different ways in which they prefer to communicate. Some prefer Slack and instant-messaging tools over video conferencing. Others would rather hop on frequent Zoom calls for face-to-face communication.

• Answering this question is much easier if you’ve done your research on the company and the role, so be sure to thoroughly read the job description and company website.
• It’s up to you to decide if you’d want someone with experience or brand new to the opportunity.
• If Sally can’t operate without all of the facts, but Shana gets majorly overwhelmed when you give her more than she needs to know to complete a task, it can quickly send the whole team into shambles.
• Working remotely means working, which means getting the job done and being productive all day, every workday.
• Working remotely means that sometimes you’re going to feel a bit…remote.
• Asking candidates about previous behaviours can show you how they might react in similar, future situations on a remote team.

Learn about the key differences between remote-first and remotely-friendly companies. As good as no commute and no open office is, remote work can also be distracting. Roommates watching Netflix, laundry to be done, kids wanting to play.

Remote Work Interview Questions

Prior to your interview, revisit the job posting or ask the recruiter which tools your prospective team uses so that you can frame your response with those technologies in mind. And know that you probably won’t have experience with every single platform any given employer uses.

“If this happens, communicate what you would do if you encountered XYZ situation in a remote role; sometimes the thought process is more valuable than the actual answer.” You probably noticed that these are all soft skills, which means they aren’t as easy to quantify as, say, whether you know JavaScript or can manage a Twitter account.

Questions to determine remote working experience

Anyway… Do you know what remote team managers dread more than inefficiency? The only thing worse than a worker dragging her heels is a worker who’s rocking in the corner in fear of opening her laptop. In Kelli’s answer, she’s showing the potential boss that she knows how to prioritize tasks, realizes her limits, and can decide when it’s actually MORE efficient to take a break than slog on.

One often overlooked but important aspect of remote work is that some people need the office atmosphere and the presence of colleagues to do their best work. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks about this before transitioning to remote work. Founded in 2007, FlexJobs is the most experienced remote & hybrid hiring platform.

Remote Job Interview Questions You’ve Got to Be Ready to Answer

Interviewers will want to know you can stay organized and regularly loop your team in on your work to help avoid unnecessary holdups. But sometimes, applicants apply for roles because they are remote, not because it’s the right job for them. Even with the right skills and experiences, not every candidate is cut out for remote work life. So, here are interview questions to ask candidates to help you (and them!) figure out if remote work is the right fit.

They’re looking for you to clearly describe how you approach your tasks, and they’re looking to see whether your style matches with the existing remote team. When looking for the right remote employee, companies like to hear about challenges you’ve overcome and past examples of problem solving.

Tell Me About a Time When You Weren’t Sure How To Do Something. How Did You Go About Seeking Out Information?

If you have experience working remotely, outline when, what company, and how you were successful in the role. If you haven’t worked remotely before, share comparable experiences like when you worked from home a few days per week or any freelancing experience you have. It’s helpful to understand if asynchronous work is something your candidate is used to and experienced in.

• Working in your home can be distracting (think your roommate’s loud sales calls or your cat constantly walking across the keyboard).
• That ability to prioritize can make or break your success in a remote job, and employers need to know that you have an absolute handle on it.
• If you have experience working remotely in the past, be prepared to detail when, where, and how you were able to succeed in that role.
• Those who have this balance figured out are less likely to get burnt out with their work and be able to work effectively when they need to.
• Leech advises including a detailed example of how you’ve resolved a conflict in the past.
• So be prepared to answer questions about your home office setup and where you’d do your work.
• Ideally, you’ll weave in a few accomplishments and relevant past experience to highlight why you’re a perfect fit for the particular position.

You’ll also see what they like to do that keeps them focused on work and their personal lives. This might throw them off, so taking some time to come up with an answer is ok. Creative answers are common, so asking follow up questions can give more insight into their title choice.

How would you handle lack of face-to-face contact when you work remotely?

It’s easy to see if your employee is uncomfortable or ill if you can watch them hobble from their chair to the copier, but, if you’re communicating digitally, it’s not so simple. Sara shows she is covered when it comes to taking care of both her physical and mental health. And employers want to know because those are the questions that really determine how well you’ll do your job and fit into the team. Alright, so I’m guessing I’ve sold you on the life of the remote worker. But if you’ve been working in a more traditional job or you’ve been out of the workforce for several years, the prospect of landing a remote job might seem overwhelming. And with remote workers adopting titles like “digital nomad,” it’s clear that remote work doesn’t just mean clocking in from your home office.