Job interview tips for remote jobs: pass the video call

Job interview tips for remote VA jobs: test your setup the day before, what to do if the call drops, what clients ask, and what to ask them back.

Most job interview tips are written for an office, with advice about handshakes and shoes, and a remote interview tests something else. The client is picturing working with you on a screen every day, so they're checking your camera and connection, how your English sounds on a call, and whether you show up on time in their time zone.

Job interview tips for the day before: test everything

Do these the day before, on the same device and in the same spot you'll use for the call:

  1. Open the exact link from the invite. For Zoom, join the free test meeting at zoom.us/test. For Google Meet, click "Check your audio and video" on the screen before you join.
  2. Run a speed test at speedtest.net at the same hour as the interview, since your line can be slower in the evening than in the morning.
  3. Sit in the spot you'll use, facing a window or a lamp, never with the light behind you, and raise the laptop on a few books so the camera is at eye level.
  4. Use earphones or a headset with a mic. A mic close to your mouth picks up your voice instead of the room.
  5. Charge your laptop, your phone and your power bank.
  6. Check the time zone in the invite. Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Manila all run on GMT+8, so a 10am Singapore call is 10am for you too.

What to do when the call drops

It happens, and clients who hire remote workers know it does. What they notice is how fast you tell them and get back on.

A calm two-line message tells the client how you'd handle a brownout on a normal workday, which is a question they were going to ask anyway.

What clients ask a remote VA, and how to answer

Expect most of these, in some form:

If they ask what pay you expect and the listing already shows it, you can say the listed rate works for you, and on DayShift every listing shows its pay.

Ask about hours, tools and the first week

Near the end, they'll ask if you have questions. Have two or three ready:

Skip anything the job post already answers. You'll look like you didn't read it.

What to send after the interview

Send a short thank-you message the same day, on whatever channel they used to contact you. Three lines are enough:

Thank you for your time today. I enjoyed hearing about the new booking system you're setting up. If you have more questions about my calendar work, I'm happy to answer them.

Swap in something they actually said in the interview. One follow-up a week later is fine if you've heard nothing. On DayShift you don't need to chase: the email we send when you apply has a link to check where your application stands, any time.

The best practice is a real listing: the roles hiring now are at /jobs, and the part-time ones at /jobs/part-time.

Sources

Questions

What should I wear to a remote job interview?

What you'd wear to meet the client in person, at least from the waist up. A plain top in a solid colour looks better on camera than stripes or small patterns.

How early should I join a video interview?

About five minutes early. Do your full test call the day before, so the five minutes are only for opening the link and checking your mic.

What if my internet drops during the interview?

Turn on your phone's hotspot, connect your laptop to it and rejoin the same meeting link. If you can't get back in within two minutes, message the client in two lines and offer to rebook.

What are good questions to ask at the end of an interview?

Ask what your first week would look like, which tools you'd use every day, and how they like to get updates.