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January 4, 2016 0 Comments

5 Tips for a Successful Home Based Interview

If you work from home or desire to work from home, you will likely go through another an interview for a home based position.  Interviews are nerve wracking enough at an office location, but those from home can be a little bit more challenging.  Between kids and dogs, lack of an in person connection, and various other distractions, finding your calm and professional demeanor may take a few more steps.

Read along for some best practices for home based interviews.

Be Knowledgeable

The number one step in interview prep is to learn all you can about the company. It’s more than useful to have a baseline of knowledge going into your interview. To avoid any surprises, know some basic information about the company and the job position being offered.

This process will be an asset to you that shows that you’ve done your research, showing that you care about obtaining the position and the organization.

Clear Distractions

When you work from home, the biggest barriers to successful calls and meetings are almost always distractions! Between kids, pets, TVs, UPS knocks on the door and so on, it can be tough to find a completely quiet space.  Especially if it’s a Skype call, take great care to ensure that distractions are eliminated during your interview!  In addition, make sure your background is nice and professional in appearance for Skype calls.

Distractions can also come in the form of your calendar obligations.  Make sure that your calendar is cleared so you aren’t rushing or receiving other urgent calls during the interview.  Always set aside more time than you think will be necessary, then you can call the kids back in or proceed with other meetings.

Ask Questions

All interviewers want you to ask questions, and it’s important that you think of 3-5 questions to ask ahead of time. A great question is, “What is the company culture?” Even though you’re working from home, company culture is king.  It will tell you how your boss works, how often you’ll be managed, how they communicate, how formal the meetings are, and so on.  It will also give you a glimpse into the company, and then you’ll be better equipped to decide if it’s a good fit for you.

Other good questions include asking about the direction of the position, what’s expected of you in the position, and what a typical day might consist of.

Take Inventory

Are your social media profiles in good working order?  Take a quick audit of your profiles and be sure they’re as professional as possible. Remove any questionable photos, posts, and so on, and if it’s applicable, be sure that you have some quality posts that are relevant to your industry and show your expertise.

Notice any gaps in employment, negative reviews, or anything similar, since employers may bring them up.  It’s important to be truthful, but knowing these things ahead of time will leave you time to prepare a proper, professional response.

Make sure that your LinkedIn profile looks especially nice, as it’s the more career-based social media profile.  Ask for quality recommendations, thoroughly complete all sections, and work to create meaningful connections to show your professional drive.

Know Your Strengths

Home based work requires a certain type of person with a number of qualities, so be sure to emphasize these in your interview.  Are you extremely self-motivated?  Do you work well independently?  Employers can be a bit nervous to hire workers remotely, and it’s up to you to convince them that you have the necessarily skill set.

Work from home interviews can be just as stressful as traditional interviews! Treat them as a typical interview in an office – dress to impress, eliminate distractions, be prepared and knowledgeable, and ask thoughtful questions.  If you do these things well, you’ll be on your way to a satisfying home based job position!

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October 19, 2015 0 Comments

4 Steps to a Great Interview

There are several keys to a successful interview, and most of them start with being informed. While interviews can evoke feelings of fear and nerves, they don’t have to.

 

By doing the correct preparations and knowing what you have to offer, you’ll stand out among the rest of the interviewees each and every time.  Read along for some best practices for your next interview.

 

Know the Company

 

Rule #1 of any good interview is to research and know a bit about the company. It looks unprofessional and uninformed to arrive without knowing basic facts, but it can also showcase your interest in the position by knowing the important information.

 

You should have a firm grasp on what the company does, if there’s anything newsworthy currently going on, a bit about the other positions that you might be working with, and so on.  You don’t need to know every single detail, but a general grasp and some key facts will make things much easier for you.

 

Ask the Right Questions

 

It goes without saying that you’ll be asked if you have any questions, and the answer should always be “yes.”  Even if the interview was very thorough, you still need to come up with a few questions to ask.

 

Solid questions can range from “What’s a typical day on the job?” to “Can you tell me a bit about this company’s culture?” to “What’s the long term employment track for this position?”  Asking questions gives the employer insights into your thought processes, as well as your ability to think on your feet.

 

Know Yourself

 

Without a doubt, you’re going to be asked to talk a bit about yourself, and this is often the first question.  It’s very general and can be a tough one to answer thoughtfully.  Since you know this question will likely come, you can practice a bit – stay professional with a mix of your background experience, education, why you’re a great fit for the job, how you got to where you are today, and so on.

 

Keep this answer fairly short and sweet, but focus the details on the position and why you’re the best fit.

 

Secondly, know what you bring to the table.  You have special talents, gifts, and experiences that no one else has, and you can use them to your advantage.  Make sure that you’re showcasing what makes you unique, and therefore perfect for the position, versus focusing on general qualities and answers that you think you “should” say.

 

Follow Up

 

Following up can make the difference between silence and a job offer.  Send a thank you note within 24 hours to keep things timely.  An email is great and appropriate in this instance because it can get there quickly. Email your thank you note to every employee that you spoke with during your interview, personalizing for each employee.

 

In general, thank them for their time and consideration of you. Be sure to show that you’re still interested in the position and would appreciated any follow-up. Also be sure to ask if they need any additional information from you.


Simply be grateful and kind and continue to show interest in the position, should you still be interested.

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