By Mike Haaren – Rat Race Rebellion Co-Founder – Oct. 6, 2017
Work from Home Jobs – Nailing Your Interview
Depending on the company and your location, your work from home job interview will probably be over the phone and/or via video. Here are 12 tips to help you nail it.
— Do a practice interview with a friend or family member over the phone and over video. Ask them to critique your performance, and take their suggestions to heart.
— Make sure you’ve got a quiet place for the phone interview. If by video, make sure your setting puts you in your best light. Beware barking dogs, crying babies, lawn mowers, and cell phone ring tones and text alerts. For video, make sure you didn’t leave that “hilarious” bachelorette party picture on the wall behind you!
— Be prepared to discuss your strengths and weaknesses, reasons for applying to the company, career goals, and compensation requirements. Pros prep. Amateurs wing it. (And interviewers can tell.)
— Listen carefully before you answer, and don’t rush to fill a silence. When we’re under pressure, we tend to listen superficially and focus on how we’re going to answer. And when silence blooms, our anxiety does too, and we often rush in to fill it. The first leads to poor responses, and the second makes us look insecure and unreliable. Keep taking those slow, deep breaths. And when there’s a brief gap in the dialogue — assuming the ball is in the interviewer’s court — wait for him or her to resume.
— Try to schedule interviews earlier in the day. Most people have more energy before mid-afternoon, and it will be easier to make a good impression. Make sure you don’t get ambushed by the “afternoon blahs”!
— Weave in references to experience when you worked independently. Many employers still worry about the ability of home-based workers to perform far from HQ. This will help reassure them.
— Read Facebook comments about what to expect in the interview. Facebook can be a rich source of inside tips on what to anticipate in your interview. On our own Facebook page, members often share their experiences when we post job leads there. Or you can spark the discussion yourself by posting a simple, “Has anyone worked here?” Other resources like WAHM.com‘s forums can also be a valuable source of insider advice.
— If asked why you’d like to work from home, focus on the benefits to the employer. For example, “I’m a self-motivated worker who is more productive when working in my own space.” Be sure NOT to focus on potential negatives or distractions (“My aging ferret needs round-the-clock care” or “I want to spend more time with my newborn quintuplets during the day”).
— Take time to learn about the company and the job. Do your homework. Informed questions and answers convey professionalism (“pros prep”), your appreciation of the interviewer’s interest in you as a candidate, and your own interest in the job.
— Standing up during a phone interview often makes people feel more confident. Interviewers would much rather hear confidence than uncertainty — especially when the interview is for an offsite job.
— Ask the interviewer when it is expected that a decision will be made. Also ask if you can follow up after a certain time if there’s been no reply. On that note, don’t forget to check your spam folder for a job offer intended for your inbox! When people are looking for jobs, the gremlins have an infinite sense of mischief.
— Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to have interviewed! Small courtesies make a big difference in an interview. After all, the interviewer has just met you, and small details carry more weight than they do with people who know you. Show your polish, and follow up with a brief email thank-you as well.
Find more work from home jobs on our Newest Jobs & Gigs page. May you be working from home soon!
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