I’ll be sharing my best interview tips to help you land your dream remote job! These tips helped me get 6 second-round interviews and 2 job offers last summer. The interview is your first contact with a company, and where you can bring your resume to life.

This post assumes you’ve made it past the resume stage, so now you’ll want to put your energy towards leaving a lasting (positive) impression. Having now seen a ton of resumes myself, they really do start to all look the same after a while. Therefore, your interview will be where you decide if the company is a good fit for you, and if you’re a good fit for the company!

I also want to start by giving my dad a huge shoutout; he’s worked in the corporate world his whole career and is the source behind a lot of these tips. I am really lucky to have him as a resource as I navigate it myself, and wanted to share the knowledge with you!

This post may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission for purchases made at no additional cost to you. I make sure to only link products and retailers that I use myself and recommend. Thank you for your support! Learn more.

1. Prepare 3-4 real-life examples that highlight your strengths

These examples could include experiences managing people, leading an important project, implementing a solution at your current job that saved time or money, etc. Think of it like story-telling: you’ll want to provide background details, your actions in the situation, and the lasting impact of your actions.

By having these examples ready to go, you can use them to respond to almost any interview question. This will help you look more professional. Practice your examples ahead of time so that you can give clear, concise responses during your interview.

I know some people are better at winging it than others, and I am totally not one of those people. However, preparing for your interview shows that you care and you want to make a good impression! It’s cool to care; I promise your interviewer will notice the difference.

2. Test the interview link and your internet connection

I swear, technology will be your worst enemy the second you really need it most. One time during busy season, my cat chewed through my ethernet cable while I was on a video call and I had to stop working to go get a new one!

Test the interview link an hour or two ahead of time to make sure you can get in. Make sure your camera is connected and turned on. I also suggest making sure you are in good lighting with a neutral background behind you, preferably a blank wall.

Have your interviewer’s phone number before your interview begins, in case the video call gets disconnected. If you don’t see it in the email or calendar invite, reach out before the interview to obtain it.

3. Have your interviewer talk for the majority of the interview

This may sound counterintuitive, but is some of the best advice my dad’s ever given me. Long story short: people love to talk about themselves. 

Also, this interview is YOUR opportunity too to find out as much as you can about the company culture and position.  In my interviews, I would constantly seek out small opportunities to flip the question back onto my interviewer. 

For example, let’s say they ask you a question about your biggest strength and what you bring to a company. Once you give your answer, wrap it up by asking them, “What qualities do you see in your most successful employees?” Now you get a chance to see what they prioritize in their company culture and know what it would take to be successful in the role.

4. Ask high-quality follow up questions

At the end of every interview, you’ll get the opportunity to ask your interviewer questions. High quality follow up questions give you more insight into what it will be like to work at that company. Therefore, make sure you prepare a list ahead of time that is tailored to that specific role and company.

It shows that you’ve done your homework, and are eager to learn more. What are the biggest things that I look for when interviewing a candidate? Firstly, their desire to learn. Secondly, their desire to work for our company (as opposed to just any company that will hire them). Make sure these are reflected in your questions!

Last but not least, make sure to ask what the next steps are in the process. This communicates to the interviewer you are serious about the opportunity. It also sets clear expectations for yourself, and now you’ll know when 

5. Send a "thank you" email right away

Ask for your interviewer’s email if you do not already have it, ideally beforehand. I would even recommend having a template ready to be personalized and sent off within the first few hours post-interview. The discussion will still be fresh on your mind, so you will be able to easily personalize your note and include things from the interview.

Now being on the other side, I know how quickly the decisions can be made. I don’t say this to scare you, but to motivate you to send that thank you email right away! 

What’s your best interview tip? P.S. if you enjoyed this content, sign up to stay in the loop! I’ll be posting my best resume tips to help you land your dream remote job soon, and you’ll be the first to get notified.

💙mariss