7 Tips for remote interviews and improving your WFH setup

Written By Leana Yang

It’s easy to be on your best behaviour when you’re doing an in-person interview, but remote interviews can be quite tricky. We are naturally creatures of comfort, and most of us are guilty of non-ergonomic setups. We feel safe behind a screen, and sometimes that comes across the wrong way.

When it comes to interviewing virtually, especially if this is for a hybrid or fully remote role - you must demonstrate that your setup is work-ready.

1) Optimize your audio

Most people focus on purchasing the best computer or camera. That’s great if you can do that, but it’s important to remember that improving your audio is where you should start.

You can be part of a successful organization without the greatest camera, although we’ll cover some options as our last tip. A top of the line computer is also a rarity in even the best companies, so it’s more of a nice to have. If your audio cuts out or isn’t clear, this is the fastest way to frustrate your interviewer and future team.

Here are some of the best options that we’ve tested for each budget ranging from $40-$300 USD:

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2) Reduce white noise

Buying a proper mic or headset is step one.

Step two is trying to improve your surroundings as much as possible. Noise canceling devices are great, but whenever possible - fix the source of the problem. 

Your audio will improve dramatically if you try to remove as much noise as possible. If it’s not realistic to install soundproofing foam, there’s still a lot you can do. Choosing a room with less windows/glass for example will help with an echo. Carpets are better than hardwood, and drapes are better than blinds for minimizing noise. Plants and soft furnishings can also help dampen sound.

Is sound leaking through your window or door?

Closing your windows and door is one of the most affective ways to block external sound. The irony behind this is that most people don’t think to enhance this to make it even better. Have a look at the video above for 12 cheap ways on how you the noise leaking from your door.

3) Avoid blurry or artificial backgrounds

How many times have you seen this?
A recruiter has likely seen this 100+ times.

How you appear on screen is incredibly important.

You should use every inch to your advantage, and the largest visual people see is actually your background.

Most people use a preset background or the blur function instead of trying to organize their surroundings. A recruiter however, sees this is a potential 🚩 as you may:

  1. Have many distractions around you

  2. Not have an ideal WFH setup

  3. Be too lazy to have tried to improve

A recruiter wants to see you in your natural element. Hiding your background is often seen as a yellow flag for a recruiter, because they know there’s always a reason you’ve chosen to censor it.

Instead of blurring a background or picking a fictional one, use it to your advantage. Proudly display your style. A shelf of books, a jungle of plants, or a collection of art maybe. Something interesting in the background will often help break the ice, and encourage a more natural conversation to help ease into the interview. If you struggle with interior decor, the simple act of having a clean background helps you stand out among a pool of candidates using artificial scenes.

4) Appear as natural as possible

Try to mimic a natural interview that you would be having in person like the video above. Center yourself on screen, and appear as natural as possible. Your head should be about 2-3 inches from the top of the screen, and your mouth should be in the center. Remember not to slouch, or to look away.

Be acutely aware of your facial expressions during the entire interview. Radiate as much positive energy and show as much positive body language as possible.

Don’t be too close to the camera, and don’t be too far. Don’t point your camera too high or too low as it looks quite unprofessional.

It’s always a good idea to record yourself, and to watch it back. If you’re drastically changing your setup, always do a test call with a friend first.

Practice makes perfect.

5) Complimentary lighting

Most people have fairly decent webcams, it’s the lack of lighting that usually makes someone look awful. Low lighting can make you look fuzzy and untrustworthy.

Nothing beats natural sunlight, but it’s not consistent and sometimes you don’t have luxury of being near one. In these cases, you’ll need reliable lighting as a fall back on. There are many affordable light options online to help improve your appearance.

The two most portable and easiest to use options are:

The most ideal setup includes at least two lights like the video above, however one is better than none. Due to it’s size, a single Neewer GL1 PRO 15.5” Key Light will give you a much more professional look than multiple light bars.

6) Referencing your cheat sheet

When answering a technical question, recruiters will narrow in on your eyes to see if you’re looking elsewhere for an answer. If you want to reference your InterviewPrep cheat sheet, remember to strategically place it as close to the center of your main screen as possible.

If you need time to find an answer, say something like:

  1. I’m just checking to make sure I’ve understood that question fully, you want to know if I’ve.. (summarize their question again)

  2. Oh wow, I love questions like that. Let me take a minute to gather my thoughts. 

  3. That’s a great question, two very specific scenarios immediately popped into my head. One at [Company Name], and one at [Company Name]. Let me take a moment to think about the most relevant one.

  4. My apologies, I think you cut out for a second. Do you mind repeating that question for me again please?

If you’re really struggling to give a response, consider saying something like this instead of saying you don’t know the answer:

  1. I want to give you the best answer possible, but I’m drawing a bit of a blank right now. Do you mind if we skip to the next question, and we’ll revisit this before the end of the interview?

  2. That’s a really good question, and I’ve done that [Insert Specific Thing] many times. I have the answer just on the tip of my tongue …. pause take about 5-10 seconds to think

  3. That’s a really good question, and I’ve done that [Insert Specific Thing] many times. I have the answer just on the tip of my tongue.. Do you mind if we skip to the next one, and I’ll jump right back into answering this when I have the answer?

7) Optional: Upgrade web cam

Most integrated web cams are good enough for calls if you have good lighting. We recommend you try upgrading your lighting first before buying a new camera.

If you’re still not satisfied with how you appear, here are some affordable options that work best:

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Bonus Tip: Get the best price

If you haven’t heard of CamelCamelCamel, it tracks Amazon’s lowest price at any given time. It’s never a good feeling once you’ve purchased an item just to see it for 30% off the month after. CCC shows you the trend line of any item you want to purchase, so you know if you’re getting a good deal or not.

Simply paste an Amazon link for the item you want to buy in their search bar to start. If it’s currently showing the rock bottom price, that means you should buy it now. If it’s not, and you can wait - be patient and you’ll save.

Leana Yang
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