CAREERS EXPERTS: MASTERING REMOTE JOB INTERVIEWS

One major newspaper recently asked us: How can you come across as more personable during a job interview on the phone during the pandemic? Below, you’ll find the answers to getting hired in an age of remote and online work.

Simple – stay upbeat and positive. Likewise, be empathetic and take a genuine interest in others: Ask how your interviewer is doing, let them know that you hope they are staying safe and busy, and inquire as to what’s new and happening at their firm. Times are challenging for everyone, but it’s important to remember: While change and disruption can be scary for many, they can also prove powerful catalysts for growth and innovation. Noting this, it pays to be an optimist, and relentlessly practical here – after all, interviewers are always on the lookout for clever problem-solvers and go-getters who can find ways to turn lemons into lemonade.

A can-do attitude and honest concern for others will take you far here, as will finding common topics of interest or shared experiences to build kindship around. For example, millions of us have been on an “extended vacation” working from home last March, just as millions of working parents know what it’s like to try to get through a workday while constantly being interrupted by pets and children. The more upbeat you are, the more relatable you are, and the more you that can reinforce that you’ve been using time spent away from the office to learn new skills, engage in professional development, or pursue new projects, the more approachable and resilient that you’ll appear.

Remember: Leadership isn’t always about bold strokes or grand gestures – sometimes, it’s just about finding ways to make the best of a bad situation or put one foot forward in front of the other. And we all go through ups and downs in lives and careers: The world’s most successful individuals continually get ahead by getting back up, dusting themselves off, and continuing to push forward if they ever stumble or get knocked down. You can score major points in a job interview – and quickly establish leadership potential – simply by showing that you’re the sort of person who knows that every cloud comes with a silver lining.