How to Ace Your Remote Interview: Advice from HR Experts and Career Strategists

Aren't remote interviews just like regular interviews, but only on a screen?

Well, yes and no.

Yes, many interviewing best practices you've learned still apply to remote interviews. But here's what's different: You're now juggling technical glitches, reading body language through a tiny camera window, and trying to build rapport with someone who might be looking at their second monitor instead of making eye contact with you.

These unique challenges mean remote interviews require their own preparation strategy. You need to master not just what you'll say, but how you'll show up on screen, troubleshoot tech issues on the fly, and create genuine connection through a digital barrier.

That's exactly what this post will help you do. Drawing from insights by career strategists, interview experts, and HR professionals like Brittany Hayles, Anna Belyaeva, Nneka Craigwell, Jenny Foss, and others, we've created a comprehensive game plan that covers everything from technical setup to psychological preparation.

You'll learn how to set your stage for success, make a virtual connection, structure your answers for maximum impact, and ask questions that position you as the standout candidate. Most importantly, you'll discover how to shift your mindset from hoping to be chosen to confidently evaluating whether this opportunity deserves you.

Ready to ace your next remote interview? Let's dive in.

Before the call: Prepare like a pro

In-person interview rules still apply for the most part. The major difference with remote interviews is that half of the interview scene is set by you. Instead of transportation logistics, you’ve got to make sure factors like lighting, background, and sound are all set for a smooth interview. 

“Being overconfident in your comprehension of the interview details could end up resulting in you being late, unprepared, or simply embarrassed,” says Brittany Hayles in her course, Ace Your Remote Interview: Tips for Virtual Candidates. She also speaks from experience: “I once logged on to my computer the day of the interview with full confidence, only to discover I was on the wrong video platform.”

The video app downloaded at a snail’s pace, of course, leaving Brittany feeling embarrassed and unprepared, undercutting the hard work she had put in to get ready for the interview. But if she had used the following remote interview prep checklist, she would have taken the time to test the interview platform ahead of time. 

Set your stage

Choose a clean, quiet, well-lit space with a neutral background. Position yourself not too close to your camera, but not too far away, either. A study on Zoom fatigue and virtual interviewing found that breaches of interpersonal distance can cause lower ratings, so try to give your interviewer a “life-sized” face. 

Also be ready to go — not just logging in — at least 5-10 minutes before your interview starts. Give yourself even more time if you’ve still got to set your stage and test your technology. 

Tech check

Test your internet connection, webcam, microphone, and video platform. Give yourself ample time to calmly update software and defuse any technical issues that may arise. 

Dress for success

Wear what you’d wear in an in-person interview. Yes, the full outfit. Your interviewer may not see your sweatpants, but you’ll know they’re there. There are only so many factors you can control in an interview — why choose to wear something that could potentially make you feel awkward or apprehensive?

Know the role

Research the company, the job, and the interviewer’s background. This is the information you’ll use to pose thoughtful questions and effectively position your answers.

Make a memorable first impression

Fashionably late isn’t a thing in the business world, so be ready to go before your interviewer arrives. When the camera flips on, greet your interviewer with a warm, confident smile. 

Prepare a short, tailored pitch that highlights your value in 30-60 seconds. You probably won’t repeat this pitch verbatim in your interview, however having it down can help you highlight your strengths in a structured, non-rambling manner. And if you do get a question like, “Why should we hire you?” your eyes will light up with excitement. 

Also remember to try flipping the script to make a memorable first impression. Too often interviewees put all the pressure on themselves and none on the prospective employer. This can lead to a detectable sense of desperation, but it doesn’t have to. You can flip it around: What if the employer needs you more than you need them?

“A star candidate has options and goes into interviews with confidence, knowing that the conversation is a two-way street,” says Anna Belyeaeva in her course, The Step-by-Step Guide to Rock Your Job Interview. “A star candidate does not go into an interview hoping and praying that they will be picked because a star candidate does not settle for just any job. And most importantly, a star candidate has a plan.”

Having all the answers: Build connection with substance

Do you ever talk faster when you get nervous? Do you ever feel compelled to keep talking when the other person doesn’t respond right away? These are perfectly normal reactions, and you can counter them if you understand that they happen to the best of us and plan for them to happen.

Slow yourself down. Allow yourself to breathe and think like you normally would if you were having a conversation with a colleague you like and trust. Aim for punchy, well-structured answers. One such way to structure your answers is to use the STAR Method, which can be especially effective for answering behavioral questions, like “Tell me about a time when…” and “Can you share an example of how you…”

• Situation: Provide your interviewer with context, including when the situation happened and where. Describe any challenges and opportunities, not just for you, but for everyone involved. 
  
• Task: Be clear about the task or objective that you were trying to achieve during the situation. Show that your thought-process aligned with the expectations of your role. 
  
• Action: This is the most valuable section of the STAR Method for your interviewer, and it’s also your opportunity to bring your skills to life. Try to be as specific as possible when describing the situation. Give your interviewer a complete visual of the pressures, the moving parts, the other stakeholders, etc. Showing your interviewer how considerate and thoughtful you can be under pressure allows them to envision you doing the same at their organization. 
  
• Result: Lastly, your interviewer will want to ensure you are results-oriented, so don’t forget to mention the impact your actions achieved. Ideally you’ll want to show how the results aligned with both your own and your organization’s goals at the time. 
  

Don’t forget, too, to prepare for those interview questions that have almost become cliche. Some of them are directives disguised as questions, like “Tell me about yourself.” 

Regardless of what you think of these questions, you are expected to be ready for them. So, the next time an interviewer grants you an opportunity to expound on all that is you, remember what’s commonly known as the SHE formula.

SHE stands for Succinct, Honest, and Engaging. “Tell me about yourself…” is no time to bust out some detailed account of the last two decades of your career,” says Jenny Foss in her course, Expert Tips for Answering Common Interview Questions. “Resist the urge to start going line by line through your resume. The interviewer is looking for an answer that provides direct evidence that you’re qualified for this role, and they also want to see how well you do with an unstructured question.”

If you feel like you could use a refresher course on interview questions, you’ll absolutely want to check out Jenny Foss and Linda Raynier’s expert tips on answering 20 of the most common interview questions. 

Ask thoughtful questions to stand out

Again, it’s easy to forget that job interviews are supposed to work both ways. The interview is your opportunity to make sure that:

• You fully understand the job
• The organization can support your growth and career goals
• Your vision and values align with those of the organization 
  

Posing questions to your interviewer serves multiple purposes. The first and most obvious purpose is to make sure that you’re putting yourself in a good position in terms of cultural fit and the situation you’d be walking into. The second, and lesser capitalized-upon purpose, is to use questions to separate yourself as a serious candidate. 

Think about what your questions imply. In her course, Impress Interviewers with These Five Questions, instructor Nneka Craigwell shares that she likes, “What’s the impact of this role?” Not only does it signal an interest in collaborative development, it also demonstrates a proactive attitude toward growth. 

In addition to asking questions about growth opportunities, company culture, and team goals, Craigwell says, you’ll definitely want to make sure that you and your future employer share the same definition of success. “You have to make a decision about how you define success, how it works for you, how it looks on you, and how success feels for you.”

Another benefit of asking about success is that you get some backstory, Craigwell notes. “Asking about success lets you peek into a company’s past and find alignment with your future,” she says.

Follow-up with a thank-you note

It may seem old-fashioned, but many interview experts still recommend sending a thank-you note. Handwritten notes are often seen as a nice personal touch, but really it comes down to the message and the thought behind it. Remember to personalize your message with something you discussed in the interview. Use your best judgment as to whether you should reiterate your value or keep things simple and lighthearted, but you can also do both. 

Whatever you do, don’t neglect the follow up, even if it’s just two words: Thank. You. Post-interview impressions can influence decisions, and not sending a follow-up note is like stopping your remote interview preparation just short of the end. Use your follow-up to lean forward at the finish line and finish strong. 

Ready to continue your journey in mastering the remote interview? Start with Ace Your Remote Interviews: Tips for Virtual Candidates for the complete deep-dive, then explore our full library of expert-led courses to master every aspect of your job search. Good luck!