My worst interview ever happened on a phone call. I took it in my car, parked outside a shop, because I thought it would be quicker than finding a quiet room. Halfway through, a delivery truck pulled up next to me and started beeping while reversing. I couldn’t hear the question. I asked the interviewer to repeat it twice, then gave an answer to something she hadn’t asked.
I didn’t get the job, and honestly I didn’t deserve it. I had treated the call like a quick chat, when it was an interview like any other.
Remote interviews are now a normal first step for most hiring processes. They save time for everyone, but they come with their own traps: bad connections, awkward silences, and the odd feeling of talking to a screen. The good news is that nearly all of it is fixable with a little preparation.
Treat it like a real interview
The biggest mistake is mental. Because you’re at home, in comfortable clothes, with your coffee beside you, it’s easy to relax too much. Don’t. The interviewer is forming the same opinion of you that they would in a meeting room, and in some ways they notice more, since there’s less else to look at.
Prepare the way you would for an in-person interview. Read the job description closely, research the company, and think through your answers to common questions. If you need a refresher, the usual suspects are “Tell me about yourself,” “Why do you want this job?” and “Describe a time you solved a problem.” Preparing content is the same wherever the interview happens. What changes is the setup and the delivery.
Sort out the technology a day early
Technical problems are the most common reason remote interviews go wrong, and they’re almost entirely avoidable.
Find out the platform. Ask or check the invitation: is it Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or something else? Download the app in advance if it needs one, create an account if necessary, and log in. Doing it ten minutes before the call is how people end up late and flustered.
Test everything. Run a test call with a friend, or use the app’s own preview feature. Check your camera, microphone, and speakers. Listen to how you sound. Look at how you appear on screen.
Check your connection. If you can, plug in with a cable instead of relying on Wi-Fi. If you can’t, sit close to the router. Close other apps and ask others at home not to stream or download anything during your call.
Charge your devices. Keep the laptop plugged in. For a phone interview, make sure your battery is full or the charger is nearby.
Have a backup plan. Save the interviewer’s phone number or email, and tell them upfront if there’s a problem: “My connection dropped. May I call you instead?” Having a plan B means a glitch won’t turn into a panic. Keep your mobile hotspot ready, too.
Set up a proper space
Pick a quiet room where no one will walk in. Tell the people you live with when the interview is, and put a note on the door if that helps. Switch your phone to silent, close other tabs, and turn off notifications, because a message popup in the middle of an answer is distracting.
For a video call, the setup matters a lot:
- Lighting: Face a window or put a lamp behind your screen, so light falls on your face. A bright window behind you turns you into a silhouette.
- Camera position: Raise the laptop on a stack of books so the camera is at eye level. Looking up at someone’s chin from a low angle is unflattering and a little strange.
- Background: Keep it tidy and simple. A plain wall or a neat shelf is fine. Avoid a messy bed or a busy hallway. Blurred or virtual backgrounds can work, but sometimes they glitch around your hair and shoulders, so test them first.
- Sound: Headphones with a microphone usually sound better than a laptop’s built-in mic and cut down echo.
For a phone interview, the room matters just as much, even though no one can see it. Avoid cars, cafés, and anywhere with background noise. Use a landline or a phone with good signal, and don’t use speakerphone, since it makes your voice sound distant.
Dress the part
It’s tempting to wear a nice shirt with pajama bottoms. Many people have done it, and a few have regretted it when they had to stand up unexpectedly. Dress fully, the way you would for the office. It improves how you carry yourself, and you won’t be caught off guard if something goes wrong.
Choose solid, simple colors. Very bright patterns can look odd on camera, and white or very pale clothing can wash you out under some lights. For a phone interview, nobody can see you, but many people still find that dressing properly helps them feel more professional and alert.
Have your notes ready, but don’t read them
One real advantage of remote interviews is that you can keep notes within reach. Use that wisely.
Prepare a one-page cheat sheet with:
- Your CV, so you can check dates and details
- The job description, with the main requirements highlighted
- Three or four achievements you want to mention, with numbers
- A few facts about the company
- Your questions for them
- The interviewer’s name and the time of the call
The risk is reading from a script. It makes you sound flat, and on video your eyes give you away. Keep the notes as prompts, bullet points, not full paragraphs. A glance now and then is fine. Treat the sheet as a safety net rather than a script.
Make a connection through the screen
Building rapport is harder remotely, so you have to be a little more deliberate.
On video: Look at the camera, not at the screen, when you’re speaking. It feels odd, but it’s what creates the impression of eye contact. Sit up straight, smile when it’s natural, and nod now and then to show you’re listening. Keep your hand movements modest, since big gestures can look jumpy on a small frame.
On the phone: Your voice does all the work, so use it. Speak a little more slowly and clearly than usual, vary your tone, and put some energy into it. A quick trick is to smile while you talk, because it changes how your voice sounds. Standing up or walking slowly can also make you sound more alert.
In both cases, wait a beat before you answer. Connection delays and audio lag mean people accidentally talk over each other. A short pause after the question ends avoids that, and it makes you look thoughtful too.
Handle the awkward moments
Things will occasionally go wrong, and how you handle it matters more than the glitch.
If you can’t hear a question, say so right away and politely: “Sorry, you cut out for a moment. Could you repeat that?” If the connection freezes, don’t pretend it’s fine. Tell them what you’re seeing, and offer to switch to audio. If a child or a pet wanders in, a quick smile and an apology is enough. Interviewers are human, and most have been through the same thing.
Stay calm, keep your sense of humor, and move on. A candidate who handles a hiccup gracefully often looks better than someone who never had one.
Prepare for the format-specific questions
Because remote interviews often serve as the first screening, they tend to be a bit shorter and more focused. Expect questions about your background, your motivation, and your fit for the role. Some companies also use recorded video interviews, where you answer questions on screen with a timer and no one on the other end. If that’s the case, practice answering within the time limit and check whether you get a retry.
Prepare a couple of strong stories using a simple structure: the situation, what you did, and what happened. Having these ready means you won’t blank on a behavioral question.
If you’re asked about working remotely, whether for the role itself or just in general, have an example ready of how you stay organized, communicate, and deliver without close supervision.
Ask good questions at the end
Nearly every interviewer will ask whether you have any questions. Say yes. Prepare at least three, such as:
- What does a typical week look like in this role?
- How would you describe the team’s culture?
- What are the biggest challenges the person in this role will face?
- What are the next steps in the process, and when can I expect to hear back?
These show genuine interest, and they give you useful information to decide whether you want the job.
Follow up afterward
Within a day, send a short thank-you email. Mention something specific you discussed, restate your interest, and keep it brief. It’s a small step, and plenty of candidates skip it.
If you promised to send anything, like a portfolio or references, do it quickly. Then take a breath, note what went well and what you’d change, and use it for next time.
A quick checklist
Before the interview, confirm that you’ve:
- Tested your camera, microphone, and internet
- Chosen a quiet, tidy space with good lighting
- Charged your devices and saved a backup contact number
- Dressed properly
- Printed or opened your notes, CV, and job description
- Prepared your answers and your own questions
- Switched off notifications and told others at home
Final thoughts
A remote interview is still an interview. The same things count: preparation, honesty, and a clear sense of why you’re right for the role. The difference is that you control more of the environment, so you can set yourself up to do well.
Spend an hour on the details most people ignore, and you’ll walk in feeling steady while others are fighting their webcam. Just remember to check for delivery trucks first.