Deciding if a job is right for you after a remote interview

Attending an in-person job interview has clear benefits. However, not all hope is lost if you’re attending one virtually. Take a look at this remote interview advice to help you decide if the job is the right one for you.

If you’re currently preparing for a remote job interview, you may feel concerned that it could be more difficult to assess whether the opportunity is right for you. You might not have the chance to meet the team in real life or visit the organisation’s premises to get a feel for the place.

Remote job interview processes at a glance

There’s no denying that in-person job interviews offer valuable insight into an organisation. However, it’s still very much possible to gauge whether an opportunity is right for you when interviewing remotely. Useful techniques include reviewing the organisation’s online presence, asking the interviewer the right questions and reading their body language.

Keep reading for more detail on all the steps you can take before deciding if a job is a good fit for you based on a remote interview.

For expert guidance on the next steps of your career, contact your local consultant.

How to determine whether a job is a good fit for you?

Regardless of whether your job interview takes place remotely or in person, there is always a lot to think about before you decide if the job is for you. These factors include:

• Is the role aligned to your skillset and future career goals and aspirations?
• Do the salary and benefits on offer make this a financially viable choice for you?
• Where will the role be based, and will there be opportunities for you to work flexibly should you need to?
• Are there learning and development opportunities available which will allow you to further develop your career?
• Are you genuinely interested in the organisation’s products and services, and does their purpose compel you?
• Does the organisation’s culture appeal to you? Will you feel included, valued and engaged?
• Do you think you’ll have a good, supportive relationship with your new team and boss?

While all of these things are incredibly important, you’ll often get a gut feeling. This intuition will help you decide whether the opportunity is the right one for you. And it’s much easier for that instinct to kick in when you’re interviewing face-to-face.

Six ways to determine whether a job opportunity is right for you in a remote interview

1. Do your research before your remote job interview

Analyse the language used in the organisation’s job adverts.

• What can it tell you about what it might be like to work there?
• Is the language they use inclusive, accessible and relaxed?
• Do they write in the first or second person?
• Do they use diverse imagery and language?
• Are the role responsibilities clear, focused and succinct?

It’s also essential that you review the organisation’s website. It will reveal more about their vision and it’s a chance to see how well they align with your values. Many organisations upload videos to YouTube that give prospective employees an idea of what it might be like to work there.

Glassdoor reviews can also help you to build a picture of the organisation as an employer. Make sure to search Google News as well for any recent news coverage as well. Aside from scrolling through their social media channels, it’s also a great idea to research current employees on LinkedIn. Their activity may give you clues into the company culture.

If your recruiter or the hiring manager sends you any company material ahead of your interview, be sure to read them. Whether that’s blogs, reports, documents or something else, these will give you an insight into the priorities and key focuses.

For example, perhaps they’ve recently published a new commitment to diversity and inclusion? Or published a new report on the state of the industry? These pieces of information can also often be found on their website. Make sure you check there for any significant company updates whilst you’re exploring their vision and purpose.

2. Assess the organisation’s culture during your remote interview

The employer might offer you a virtual office tour or access to short videos that employees have recorded about working at the organisation. You may even have the opportunity during your interview to have virtual introductory meetings with team members.

If virtual tours or introductions aren’t immediately available to you during the interview process, ask your recruiter about them. All of this will help you to get a glimpse into the organisation’s culture. You can then better understand what it would be like to work in that office, with that team, on those projects.

Also, keep a lookout during your remote job interview for any other clues about the company culture. Communication and behaviour expert Mark Bowden notes that our living spaces and objects express our values to others unconsciously.

Is there anything about the interviewer’s background or environment on the video call that indicates what it would be like to work there? Is there anything that gives you a feel for what it would be like to have that person as your manager? If they’re in the office, see if you can spot any branding or design elements. Or perhaps they’re at home where you can see and hear their children – demonstrating their flexible and relaxed approach.

3. Ask the interviewer the right questions

Remember that all interviews, regardless of whether they are conducted face-to-face, or remotely, are a two-way process. It’s not just an opportunity for the interviewer to find out more about your suitability. Interviews also give you the chance to assess the role’s suitability for you. So, the questions you ask the interviewer during your virtual interview can be extremely valuable.

There are a number of questions you can ask about the role, team, interviewer, company and learning and development opportunities. The answers you get will give you a better idea of what it would be like to work there.

4. Use the remote interview to understand whether the hiring manager would be the right boss for you

You need to have confidence in your new boss. Your relationship with them will be at least as important as the job itself. It’s fortunate, then, that even a remote job interview still presents plenty of opportunity to suss them out.

During the interview, analyse your potential manager’s communication skills. As your interview progresses, assess how they communicate their expectations for the role and for the successful candidate. Make sure to also pay attention to whether they seem to be listening to you.

These considerations will give you an idea of what it would be like to work with them. Do you think this communication style would suit you and help you to form a strong relationship? Be mindful, too, of the language used when your questions are answered, and throughout the interview. If they use ‘I’ rather than ‘we’ when speaking, that could suggest a non-collaborative approach.

Also, assess whether the interview feels more like a natural conversation than an interrogation. If the two of you seem to share the same motivations and values about work, you will probably get on well.

5. Read the interviewer’s body language

It’s still possible to analyse the interviewer’s body language remotely. Make sure to note if they’re smiling, what their posture is like, and whether they’ve crossed their arms. The interviewer’s gestures and vocal pitch can also tell you a lot about their investment in you as a candidate.

In fact, communication expert Mark Bowden shared some really valuable advice with me on reading your interviewer’s body language:

“Watch for big CHANGES in body language when you are speaking to the interviewer, rather than individual gestures. Keep an eye out for anything that stands out as very different in the interviewer’s posture, face, movement, or behaviour. If something does change, you can then ask them what they think about what you have been saying.

Asking the interviewer about their thoughts helps you to check in on the significance of what you are saying. It’s a good opportunity to better understand how well your ideas, views, or personality fit the organisation.”

6. Reflect on the experience you’ve had throughout the interview process

Assess how your interview process, from start to finish, has been handled. Consider if the company appears well-organised and if they put you as the candidate at the centre of the process. Has their communication and feedback been prompt and detailed? All of these things are signals as to whether it’s the right opportunity for you.

What you need to remember about remote job interview processes

Just because your interview takes place remotely, it doesn’t mean you can’t gather all the information you need about the role and work environment. The six steps we’ve listed above will help you to decide if the position is right for you.

Check out our career advice page for more helpful tips for candidates.