100% remote recruitment: How to handle it with success?

Remote recruitment has become a common practice for companies since the first lockdown. This was already partly implemented at BlaBlaCar before the crisis starting with the IT teams, and today we recruit entirely without having to physically meet with candidates.

However, this only works if we are aware of and can overcome the different points of attention and challenges that come with this new way of recruiting. After conducting many interviews online, I have identified some areas where candidates often have questions and doubts that I’d like to share with you and answer from a recruiter’s point of view. Let’s discuss how you, as a candidate, can be as prepared as possible for your remote interview.

Engagement & set-up

When your application has been considered for an interview, a good start is to be ready and reactive when the recruiter reaches out to book an appointment. You can block some slots in your agenda to make yourself available for upcoming interviews (even more important when you are still under contract). As your process will be done through video calls, make sure you have a stable internet connection and a functioning webcam that is well positioned. For your background, it is recommended to blur, choose a virtual one, or if you decide to make your background fully visible, it should be cleaned up.

Make sure to test your equipment beforehand to avoid any technical issues during the interview. You should feel comfortable with the tool that is used for the meeting, so that you know for example how to share your screen for a presentation, in case it would be relevant for the interview. Obviously, be on time and even five minutes before the interview begins to have time to set everything up, or take a glass of water…

Finally, be sure to be in a calm room at home or book a meeting room if you are comfortable being at work during the call.

Research the company and the team

This goes for all interviews; before the interview, research the company to learn more about its history, culture, products and news. Also, you may be based in another timezone, so understanding how they manage asynchronous work could be decisive for you. In which time zone is the company’s headquarters located? Do they expect you to be available during their business hours, or are they flexible? Try to learn and research as much as possible before having the interview, it will show that you are motivated.

Review the job description

Read it carefully and make notes about the specific skills, experience and qualifications the employer is seeking. This will help you prepare specific examples that illustrate how you meet the requirements of the job. It also allows you to ask for more information if you don’t understand a specific aspect. As you will be behind your screen and not at the office, it will be more difficult to get a grasp of the soft skills expected (often linked to the job requirements). You can focus your attention on the company’s values/principles to deep dive on them during and after the interview to confirm if they match with your personal values.

If not mentioned, you can ask which tools are used to work, specifically hardware and software provided by the company and rituals for remote work.

Practise common interview questions

Prepare responses to common interview questions such as “Tell me about your background”, “What are your motivational drivers?”, “How will this role challenge you?”, “Why do you want to work in our company?” “What would your previous manager tell us about working with you?”. Also, prepare information about the company history, culture, figures, and latest news. This will help you to answer the questions such as “What are the company’s values that you identify with the most?”, “Which is the latest public event/ announcement you heard about?”

By preparing in advance, you will feel more confident and be able to provide thoughtful and concise answers during the interview that show your motivation and skills.

Prepare questions to ask to the interviewer

Prepare a list of relevant questions to ask about the company, the position, and the culture. This can help you gather more information to determine if the job is a good fit for you and opens up for discussion during the interview. You can ask about long-term career prospects for remote employees, evaluation process, meetings, etc.

Build some questions related to remote work: “How does the company handle training and professional development opportunities remotely?”, “Is the role flexible in terms of working hours or is it a fixed-hours role?”, “Is there a possibility to come to the headquarters on a regular basis?”, “How do you make sure to build team spirit when managing the team remotely?”, “Are there remote rituals in place?”, “Is there a possibility to work from a co-working space?”.

Prepare some notes

Finally, you will be behind your computer so make sure to keep a short list of info you want to share during the interview. You might also think of specific examples based on your experience and the job description which showcase your fit for the position. It is also useful to prepare key points such as the interviewer’s name, specific details about the job and company, and any follow-up actions you need to take (the interview process, advice from the recruiter, for example). This will help you remember important details and follow up with the interviewer afterwards.

Remote-specific logistics

Since the hiring process is conducted remotely, it’s essential to ask about any specific logistics or steps that may be unique to the remote setting. For example, you could ask, “In this remote recruitment process, are there any additional stages or assessments that I should be aware of? And how does that affect the overall timeline?”

Ways of communicating and response time

Ask about the preferred communication methods during the remote recruitment process. Will they primarily use email, video calls, or a combination of both? Additionally, it’s reasonable to ask about the expected response time for communication.

Follow up after the interview

After the interview, send an email to the interviewer and express your continued interest in the position (if you still are, of course). This is also an opportunity to ask any additional questions you may have come up with after the interview. This is also the occasion to personalise your message. This gesture shows professionalism and keeps you on the interviewer’s radar. Moreover, I think standing out is the key when you are not the only candidate in the pipeline. Of course, you have all the right to ask for feedback if the timeline shared with you is not met.

To finish

One of the most important reasons why you should prepare for your interview is to better be able to manage your stress, and of course be informed about all aspects of the job. However, the most important point is: Be yourself.