8 Tips for Conducting Perfect Remote Interviews in 2022 and Beyond

8 Tips for Conducting Perfect Remote Interviews in 2022 and Beyond

As 2022 marches forward, we’re seeing record numbers of remote positions. The percentage of remote jobs is up 12% from 2020 to 2021, and it’s likely to increase as this year progresses.

Whether your company is fully remote or not, there may be instances where remote interviews are more appropriate. Conducting virtual interviews is entirely different, but getting it right is just as important as ever.

We’ll discuss 8 of the most practical remote interview tips your company can try today.

Tip 1: Constantly Reevaluate Your Remote Interview Technology

Since 2020 forced almost all of us to go remote, you’ve probably figured out what tech stack works best for your company. Conducting remote interviews the right way means using video conferencing software that works for your interview process. Is your current tech setup working, or could it be better? Reevaluate this regularly.

You can always use the basics such as Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or Cisco’s WebEx to hold remote interviews. However, consider a different option if your company wants more dedicated software with functionalities such as embedded evaluation forms, easier interview recording, or tech that better integrates with your ATS.

Tip 2: Test All Your Technology Well in Advance

Once you’ve picked the best tech for your remote interviews, it’s time to make sure it works. 

One common mistake is attempting to test your tools a few minutes before the interview; avoid doing this, as you won’t have time to address problems. Even the best software has issues sometimes, so you want to log on and test all your tools 30 to 60 minutes before the interview.

During your trial run, you should:

  • Check your internet connection
  • Test your microphone
  • Test your camera
  • Open up your software and make sure it’s running

Tip 3: Set Expectations Ahead of Time

You want to set candidates up for success during remote interviews. Doing this means setting clear expectations in advance. This includes:

  • Telling candidates the names and titles of everyone they’ll be interviewing with.
  • Providing an agenda.
  • Telling candidates which software you’ll be using so they can download it and get familiar. You can also provide them with a basic troubleshooting guide based on your experience interviewing other candidates.
  • Giving any take-home assignments well in advance with clear instructions.
  • Sending an email with all these details, including the date & time of the interview. You can even create a calendar event for this and set a reminder. 54% of candidates highly value being able to schedule at a convenient time, so make sure you’re flexible.

Want some additional remote interview tips? Here’s one. 49% of candidates feel it would be valuable to have a video interview with an executive at your company during the interview process. Consider adding that to the schedule.

Tip 4: Know the Proper Etiquette

Hosting remote interviews may be slightly more formal than your traditional video meeting. One of our most crucial remote interview tips is to make sure you know the proper etiquette for conducting this interview style. Here’s all the etiquette you need to know:

  • Maintain eye contact by looking into the camera. It’s tempting to stare at your screen, but you’re less connected that way.
  • Have proper body language: sit up, be alert, maintain eye contact, and avoid spinning around in your chair or fidgeting.
  • Dress professionally to make a great impression. Consider using neutral colors, as bright ones may distract the candidate.
  • Use a professional background. Go for something tidy and not distracting. You can find backgrounds online as needed.
  • Use proper lighting. This can include sitting in front of a window or using a ring light.
  • Speak slower than you would otherwise. It can be harder to hear during remote interviews, or your connection may cut out. Talking slowly gives your interviewee a chance to take it all in.
  • Smile and be positive. Interviews of any kind are scary, and it’s harder to convey your enthusiasm through the screen. Smile often and be as upbeat as you can.

Tip 5: Make Sure Your Remote Interviews are Structured

As with any formal process, your process for conducting remote interviews should be structured. It should also be standardized so that all candidates have the same experience.

Your structure could go something like this:

Phase 1: Introductions

Introduce who you are, what you do, and how the interview will go. Ask the candidate to state a little about themselves. Start with a bit of small talk; ask an engaging question: “what did you do this weekend?” or “what’s the best movie you’ve seen recently?” All of this is to get the candidate as comfortable as possible.

Phase 2: Ask your remote interview questions

Your remote interview questions should be thought of in advance and given to all candidates. These can include questions about work history, most significant successes and failures, behavioral questions, etc.

Phase 3: Wrapping up

Finally, wrap up the interview and give candidates the chance to ask their own remote interview questions. Do they ask insightful questions that can’t be figured out through basic internet research? Thank the candidate for their time and provide a timeline for what’s to happen next. Never ghost a candidate! Even if they won’t get the job, let them know and offer feedback.

Tip 6: Silence All Distractions

Video meetings are exhausting and require more concentration. For remote interviews, you need to prioritize paying close attention. 

During regular meetings at work, it’s tempting to check your phone, go through Slack, or attempt to multitask if you aren’t speaking. Silence all notifications and turn off your phone. 110% of your focus should be on the candidate during remote interviews. 

Roughly 55% of communication is nonverbal, while only around 10% of communication is the words spoken. Being distracted means you’ll miss the most critical communication points that can offer insight into the candidate.

Tip 7: Don’t Do Back-to-Back Interviews

Video calls are exhausting enough. Avoid conducting back-to-back interviews, as these can leave you drained and flustered. 

Leave at least 10 to 15 minutes between interviews to jot down final thoughts, take a quick break, and prepare for the interview to come. You want to be the best version of yourself for each of your remote interviews.

Tip 8: Ask Remote-Work-Oriented Questions

Considering there are many benefits to flexible work, is your company planning on maintaining a remote or hybrid model?

If you are, you’ll want to use these remote interviews to ask questions pertaining to your work model. Ask them questions such as, “what was your biggest video call fail? How did you handle it?” or “while working remotely, what are some distractions that come up? How do you deal with them?”

You can also directly assess how candidates handle distractions that come with remote calls. What happens when the dog starts barking or someone bursts into the room? Does the candidate get flustered, or do they handle it with ease? This gives you direct insight into how they handle working remotely.

Need Help Finding Candidates?

America’s labor shortage hasn’t made hiring easy. If you’re looking to find the perfect senior-level candidate for your company, Jennings Executive can help. We have over two decades of combined experience matching outstanding candidates with outstanding companies. Learn more today!

We hope these tips help you conduct excellent remote interviews and make hiring that much easier.

Daniel Wilkinson

Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & Client Success

DANIEL WILKINSON IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES & CLIENT SUCCESS. HE BRINGS OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN COMMERCIAL AND PRICING STRATEGY, HAVING HELD KEY LEADERSHIP ROLES AT DELTA AIR LINES AND DELTA VACATIONS. HIS CAREER IS MARKED BY A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN DRIVING SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION THROUGH INNOVATIVE DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIES, CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM LEADERSHIP, AND ENHANCED PROFITABILITY. DAN’S EXPERTISE IS IN HIS ABILITY TO INTEGRATE DATA ANALYTICS WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING, ENABLING ORGANIZATIONS TO OPTIMIZE THEIR REVENUE MANAGEMENT AND PRICING STRATEGIES IN DYNAMIC MARKET ENVIRONMENTS.

AT DELTA VACATIONS, DAN SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC BUSINESS/IT PLANNING & REVENUE MANAGEMENT, WHERE HE SUCCESSFULLY LED TEAMS IN DELIVERING SCALABLE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, DEFINING GO-TO-MARKET STRATEGIES AND DRIVING SIGNIFICANT INCREMENTAL REVENUE AND PROFIT.

DAN RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE FROM TAYLOR UNIVERSITY AND AN MBA WITH A FINANCE CONCENTRATION FROM EMORY UNIVERSITY’S GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL.

Brian Banister

EXECUTIVE RECRUITER

BRIAN BANISTER IS AN EXECUTIVE RECRUITER AT JENNINGS EXECUTIVE SEARCH. BRIAN HAS A BROAD RANGE OF EXPERIENCE, HAVING WORKED IN STRATEGY & CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS, AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTING ROLES FOR LEADING COMPANIES AND CLIENTS IN THE HOSPITALITY, REAL ESTATE, MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, AND TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA, AND TELECOM (TMT) SECTORS. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AT DELOITTE & TOUCHE, WORKING AS A LICENSED CPA. AFTER DELOITTE, BRIAN PIVOTED INTO CORPORATE FINANCE, WHERE HE HELD POSITIONS IN STRATEGY & CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT AT INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP (IHG) AND COX COMMUNICATIONS, AS WELL AS AN FP&A ROLE AT BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP (BCG). THESE ROLES ALLOWED BRIAN TO GAIN VALUABLE EXPOSURE IN AREAS LIKE CLIENT SERVICES, STRATEGIC CONSULTING & PLANNING, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, AND M&A AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY.

BRIAN’S EDUCATION INCLUDES BOTH A MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY DEGREE AND A BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN ACCOUNTING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

Lori Shad

EXECUTIVE RECRUITER

DRIVING TRANSFORMATION THROUGH PEOPLE IS OUR MISSION AND LORI’S PASSION AS AN EXECUTIVE RECRUITER WITH JENNINGS EXECUTIVE SEARCH. SHE CONDUCTS THOROUGH RESEARCH ON EACH ROLE AND BUILDS STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH CANDIDATES TO HELP CONNECT PROFESSIONALS WITH THEIR NEXT GREAT OPPORTUNITY. LORI SPENT 22 YEARS AT A FORTUNE 500 INSURANCE COMPANY IN PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, SALES/BUSINESS CONSULTING, AND RECRUITING ROLES. SHE USES THIS EXPERIENCE AS SHE SEARCHES FOR THE BEST TALENT TO HELP DRIVE CLIENT SUCCESS FORWARD. SHE’S FOCUSED ON DELIVERING RESULTS AND GETS THERE THROUGH EFFICIENCY AND TENACITY WITH AN EMPATHETIC, COMPASSIONATE, FUN, GENUINE, AND POSITIVE APPROACH. SHE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING CLIENTS ACHIEVE BUSINESS OBJECTIVES THROUGH UNDERSTANDING NEEDS, CREATING INDIVIDUAL, DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS, AND SOLVING PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND TEAMWORK.

LORI GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

Justin Graves

EXECUTIVE RECRUITER

JUSTIN GRAVES IS AN EXECUTIVE RECRUITER AT JENNINGS EXECUTIVE SEARCH.

JUSTIN HAS A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES WORKING WITHIN PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY ACCOUNTING. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH PATHSTONE FAMILY OFFICE PREPARING TAX RETURNS FOR HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS IN THE ATLANTA AREA. IN JANUARY 2015, HE JOINED COHNREZNICK, LLP, A TOP 10 PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM, IN AUDIT & ASSURANCE WORKING PRIMARILY IN THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AND HOUSING MARKET. PRIOR TO JOINING JENNINGS EXECUTIVE SEARCH, JUSTIN WORKED AT A FAST GROWING TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, SS&C TECHNOLOGIES, WHERE HE WORKED IN THE REAL ASSETS DEPARTMENT DOING FUND ADMINISTRATION.

JUSTIN GRADUATED WITH A BACHELORS OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ACCOUNTANCY FROM OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY.

Justin Jennings

EXECUTIVE RECRUITER

JUSTIN JENNINGS IS AN EXECUTIVE RECRUITER AT JENNINGS EXECUTIVE SEARCH. HE COMES FROM THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY WITH 15 YEARS OF MEDICAL SALES EXPERIENCE. HE ATTRIBUTES HIS SUCCESS IN SALES TO LISTENING AND LEARNING FROM HIS CUSTOMERS AND ENJOYS THE PROCESS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS. HE IS SKILLED AT DEVELOPING THE RIGHT ACTION PLAN FOR EACH OF HIS CLIENT’S UNIQUE NEEDS AND COMMITTED TO HELPING THEM CHOOSE THE BEST SOLUTION. JUSTIN HAS TAKEN HIS SPIRIT AND PASSION FOR SELLING TO THE WORLD OF RECRUITING. HE HAS A GOAL OF SURPASSING HIS CLIENT’S EXPECTATIONS AND ASSISTING THEM WITH TALENT ACQUISITION.

JUSTIN GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT FROM GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. WHEN NOT AT WORK, YOU CAN FIND HIM ON HIS MOUNTAIN BIKE, THE GOLF COURSE, OR SKIING OUT WEST IN THE WINTERS.

Chip Locke

PRACTICE LEAD, TECHNOLOGY RECRUITING

CHIP LOCKE IS THE TECHNOLOGY RECRUITING PRACTICE LEAD FOR JENNINGS EXECUTIVE SEARCH. CHIP BRINGS 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TECHNOLOGY AND RECRUITING INCLUDING HANDS-ON WORK AS A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER AND BIG 4 SYSTEMS CONSULTANT. HE IS A TRUSTED CIO ADVISOR WITH EXPERIENCE ACROSS INDUSTRY VERTICALS AND A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS AND THE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF DELIVERY THAT ENABLE BUSINESS OPERATIONS. HIS EXPERIENCE INCLUDES RECRUITING EXECUTIVES AND COLLABORATING ON STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IT ORGANIZATIONS.

HIS CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES CAN BE FOUND AT COMPANIES RANGING IN SIZE FROM STARTUP TO FORTUNE 500 ACROSS AVIATION, ENERGY, FINANCE, HEALTHCARE, TECH, MANUFACTURING, RETAIL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS. CHIP GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA WITH A BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEGREE IN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS.

Brian Gelfand

PARTNER

BRIAN GELFAND IS A PARTNER AT JENNINGS EXECUTIVE SEARCH. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AT DELOITTE & TOUCHE IN AUDIT AND ENTERPRISE RISK SERVICES, WITH A FOCUS ON THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND REAL ESTATE INDUSTRIES. AT DELOITTE, BRIAN GAINED VALUABLE CORPORATE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PUBLIC MORTGAGE SERVICING CORPORATION, AND A NOT-FOR-PROFIT FOUNDATION WITH OVER $10 BILLION IN ASSETS. BRIAN PASSED THE CPA EXAM BUT ULTIMATELY DECIDED ASSISTING CLIENTS WITH THEIR PEOPLE STRATEGIES WAS HIS PASSION.

BRIAN’S EDUCATION INCLUDES A MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY FROM KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY AND A BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN ACCOUNTING FROM GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY

Jon Jennings

FOUNDER / MANAGING PARTNER

JON JENNINGS IS THE FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER OF JENNINGS EXECUTIVE SEARCH. ESTABLISHED IN 2014, HIS VISION WAS TO SHAPE A FIRM ANCHORED IN TRANSPARENCY AND VALUE CREATION. OVER THE YEARS, JON HAS HAD THE DISTINCT OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH AND LEARN FROM LEADING INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES, GLEANING INSIGHTS FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES AND COMBINING THIS KNOWLEDGE WITH THOROUGH RESEARCH. THIS HAS EQUIPPED HIM TO OFFER A DEEPER, MORE STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE ON ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN AND TALENT IDENTIFICATION. WITH AN INITIAL FOCUS IN FINANCE, THROUGH JON’S LEADERSHIP THE FIRM HAS PIVOTED INTO BROADER COMMERCIAL AND TECHNICAL STRATEGIES AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

TOGETHER WITH HIS EXPERIENCED TEAM OF EX-CONSULTANTS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, JON COLLABORATES WITH PREMIER CONSULTING FIRMS TO ENHANCE THEIR PRACTICES. SIMULTANEOUSLY, HE ASSISTS PRIVATE EQUITY GROUPS AND THEIR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES IN REFINING AND FORTIFYING THEIR COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIC OPERATIONS.

THE CULMINATION OF THESE EFFORTS IS A BOUTIQUE FIRM THAT INC.COM CELEBRATED AS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES. BETWEEN 2019 AND 2022, THE COMPANY WITNESSED A STAGGERING GROWTH RATE OF NEARLY 600%.