Got an interview for a remote job? The following are some good questions to ask in your interviews.
What percentage of the team works remotely?
If it’s a small percentage, you may end up feeling like, well, an outsider! what steps are taken to ensure remote team members are fully integrated into the group’s daily life?
Can you tell me how the career security and growth of the remote members compares to that of the co-located ones?
Ask the recruiter, the hiring manager, and/or your prospective teammates, if you have the opportunity for one-on-ones with them. This may be a sensitive question, so ask it tactfully and in a pleasant tone.
How often would I be communicating with other team members?
Does their answer align with how collaboratively you want to work?
How do team meetings take place?
It’s been said that 93% of communication is nonverbal. Whether that’s exactly right or not, you may communicate better and have more relationship with your co-workers if you’re meeting via video. Or not, since the time delays, camera angles and other unnatural facts of teleconferencing can make it somewhat alienating. If you have a strong preference, it would be useful to know in advance how the meetings will happen. Some companies may also bring their virtual teams together in person on occasion.
Would I be required to visit the office, or to travel to other locations? How often?
This is an important factor in job satisfaction, and may be a safety concern as well.
How do you build team spirit?
If the manager answers that they don’t make any special effort but there’s plenty of team spirit anyway, you might say, “That’s great! Can you tell me a little more about that?”
Can you tell me about any training that’s provided, initially or continuing?
If there is training, you may want to find out how extensive it is, and the format—whether it’s on-site or virtual, live or asynchronous (recorded).
What hardware and software would I need, and would it be provided by the company?
If this isn’t a make-or-break for you, you may want to ask about it after you’ve received an offer rather than before, since at that point you will be in a better position to negotiate.
Would the company provide IT support?
Troubleshooting and fixing your own equipment takes time and skills, and for some remote workers a DIY mentality is expected. As with the question above, you may want to ask this after an offer is on the table.
Will there be an opportunity to meet the team members as part of the interview process?
Sometimes this is a formal part of the process, or it may be something the hiring manager would be willing to arrange.
Just because it’s an interview for a remote job doesn’t mean there aren’t other questions to ask. See my post, The Best Questions to Ask in a Job Interview for questions to ask about the department, the manager, priorities and expectations for the role, and more. (This post was originally published in 2020 and has been updated.)
