Telecommute Jobs: Interview

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2012年9月18日星期二

How to Successfully Answer Tough Telecommute Job Interview Questions

A job interview is a natural process in a telecommute job search. It doesn't matter how many job interviews you've done it doesn't get easier because every company have different questions to ask.

I'm assuming you have practiced for your most commonly asked questions like, "Why do you want to work from home?" I'm sure you have the answer down pat, but don't get caught in complete silence when it comes to responding to other tough job interview questions that may arise.

What motivates you at a job?
Give an example that relates to a previous job. Is customer service your top priority? Was it to help solve a problem or overcome a challenge? Maybe it's the job stability or the personal growth the company offers its independent contractors.

How do you deal with gossip at a workplace?
Even though you work in a virtual environment there is still workplace gossip. You will eventually hear it through the grapevine or it's talked about on a work at home forum. Explain how you feel about gossip, how you would handle it and what you would do.

What can you bring to our company?
If the company is focused on team work and creativity then let the interviewer know you possess those skills and you have the personality traits to complement the company.

Why do you want to work for us?
Of course you can't say because they pay more than ABC Company. Make sure you have researched the company thoroughly. Was there something the company did or accomplished that made an impression on you? Or did you find you liked where the growth of the company was headed?

Why should we hire you?
It may seem obvious to reiterate your strengths, skills and experience, but it's not necessary. Tell them what they don't know about you.

Are you a leader or a follower?
You don't want to imply negatives in either role so be aware of what you're saying. The best is to give examples of when you were in a leadership role and explain how you work well in a team environment.

If I called your previous employer, what three things would he say about you?
Tell your interviewer about an accomplishment or idea you came up with and they used.

Explain what this job entails.
Keep it brief and list the responsibilities and tasks of the position.

What goals have you set and accomplished?
If you don't have a professional accomplishment, then think of a personal achievement that relates to your skills or experience. It may be something you taught yourself how to do or you had a successful fundraising event.

Why did you choose to work in this industry?
Tell them how you became interested and how your skills, your commitment and professional goals match what they are looking for.

Preparation and knowledge is the key. These can be some of the tough job interview questions you're faced with. If you really know yourself, these questions should be easy to answer. Take the time to review them and expect other similar difficult questions that may pop up on your next job interview.

S McIntyre is the founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, daily telecommute job leads, articles, business resources and other work at home related topics.

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2012年8月25日星期六

5 Telecommuting Job Interview Tips

When seeking a legitimate telecommuting job, finding good leads is only half the battle. Even more important is knowing how to present yourself well during the interview process and convince the employer that you are the best person for the job. There is usually a fair bit of competition for any good job opening, but this is especially true for telecommuting jobs! Work at home positions that pay well are in high demand, so don't be surprised if you find yourself among many hundreds of applicants all vying for the same position!

The question you need to ask yourself is: How can I be sure I'm putting my best foot forward during the interview?

This article will share 5 easy tips for making your telecommuting job interview great.

Tip #1 - Be on Time

This should go without saying, but telephone and internet interviews should be taken as seriously as on-site interviews. Be sure to plan, prepare, and be there on time. If your interviewer is supposed to call you, be sitting by the phone (or computer if online) at least 15 minutes before your interview time. If you are supposed to contact your interviewer, try to call at exactly the time your interview was set for, or even just a couple minutes early - but no more than that. Calling too early will just annoy your interviewer because he or she may be trying to wrap up a few things before your interview.

Also, be prepared by having a copy of your resume and cover letter in front of you, so you can quickly reference it for answers you may be asked. You may also want to jot down some responses to common questions the interviewer may ask.

Tip #2 - NO Background Noise!

If your interview will be done by phone, I cannot stress enough the importance of having a totally quiet background. That means no children yelling or talking or begging for your attention, no dogs barking, no television or stereo blaring. This will be even more important if you are applying for a job that requires telephone work. Make arrangements to be sure you can give the interview your full attention without any background interruptions.

In addition, be sure to use a landline telephone, not a cell phone. The interview won't go well if you and your interviewer have to keep saying, "Pardon, can you repeat that?" Also be sure to TURN OFF CALL-WAITING if you have that on your phone. That would be another big annoyance if you keep getting clicks and beeps on the line while you're trying to talk.

Tip #3 - Slow and Steady

Sometimes nervousness can make you talk a lot faster than you normally would, which can make you seem scattered or flighty. Be sure to pause before answering questions and keep your rate of speech moderate. Breathing properly can help you feel calmer too, so while the interviewer is asking a question or recording your answers, take that opportunity to take a nice deep breath - quietly, you don't want to breathe heavily into the phone!;-)

Also, keep your answers brief and to the point. Avoid rambling (another sign of anxiety!). Answer only the questions you are asked, unless the interviewer indicates he or she would like you to expand on a particular answer.

Tip #4 - Honest but Positive Answers

Probably the most challenging thing about interviews is figuring out how to respond to questions honestly without casting yourself in a negative light. For example, if the interviewer asks why you left your last job, you definitely don't want to launch into a tirade about what a jerk your old boss was and you "just couldn't take his crap anymore". Instead, you want to find a way to make all of your answers positive but still honest. This can take a little creativity sometimes!

Using the above example, you might answer: "I really enjoyed that job for the first 6 months but gradually I began to feel that the position didn't allow me to use my strongest skills to their full potential." That would be a general answer, but you could be more specific too: "I felt that the position wasn't challenging enough in allowing me to build my problem-solving skills and improve customer relations." That doesn't negate the fact that your boss may have been a jerk - but you don't have to focus on THAT aspect of the truth!:-)

Overall you want to be truthful with your answers, but also find a way to put a positive spin on them. Whatever you do, avoid blaming, pointing fingers, or expressing bitterness about previous jobs, employers, managers, or co-workers. You want to portray yourself as being mature and professional, which you can't do with a negative attitude!

Tip #5 - Be Yourself

Finally, remember that your interviewer is trying to determine one thing: whether YOU are the right person to join their team. But he or she will not be able to tell that if you're busy trying to be someone else! Interviews can be intimidating and you may think that you have to become this super-polished professional that "wows" the interviewer, but it's really not necessary.

Instead, be yourself. Certainly you want to be professional and mature in the way you communicate, but you don't have to be an emotionless robot to do so. Strive for a balance between warmth, friendliness and businesslike composure. You want to be relaxed but not too casual; friendly but not gushy; professional but not stiff.

If you would like more information about increasing your chances of being hired for telecommuting jobs, visit http://www.creativeworkathome.com/telecommute.htm for step by step guidance in finding legitimate jobs, writing a powerful resume and cover letter, and more.

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2012年7月23日星期一

Telecommuting - Phone Interview Tips

Whenever you apply for a job; if a hiring manager is impressed with your resume or application, then you can expect an interview to take place. This is how they tell if you are right for the position they want to hire for.

In an onsite job, the interview will be done in a face to face manner. You, as the prospective employee, would dress to impress them and keep your body language in check to make sure you're presenting yourself in a professional manner. Telecommuting positions have a different process, however.

While some local jobs will require you to come in for a face to face interview; most telecommuting companies choose to perform the interview over the phone. A phone interview doesn't offer you the chance to present yourself as a professional in the same way as a face to face one does.

But, you can still show yourself as a qualified applicant. Here are some tips that can help you the next time you are set up to have a phone interview:

Have your resume handy- Some of their questions will be based off what they see on your resume. If you have it handy during the interview, then it will help you answer their questions easier, since sometimes one's nerves can get the best of them.

Go ahead and Dress Up and Smile - Okay, some people might think that this would be pointless since the employer won't see what you're wearing over the phone or notice whether you're smiling or not. Getting dressed up for the interview helps you more than it does them. You will have more confidence and that will show when you talk to the interviewer. Same with smiling. When you smile it helps to relax you and your nerves won't be quite as bad for you.

Give yourself plenty of time before interview - Have at least 30 min. to yourself, before the phone call, to practice some relaxing techniques and go over some things you may want to ask the interviewer or add during the interview. Have a light snack to ensure a grumbling stomach doesn't take your attention away from the interview.

Set aside plenty of time for the interview - Most interviews can last around 30 minutes. Some could go longer than that. Set aside at least an hour just in case the interview does go longer than normal. It's not too professional to cut an interview short because you have to run off for an errand 20 minutes after it started.

Offer brief, but informative answers - Avoid giving short yes/no answers. Offer enough information to answer their questions, but don't take up too much of their time giving them stories. A sentence or two usually works well.

Even though your job interview will more than likely be done over the phone, there isn't any reason why you can't still present yourself in a good way. Most employers who do these kinds of interviews look for things like confidence and ability to answer questions and take directions.

They are aware that any employee, no matter who they are, will have some degree of nervousness. So, there's no reason to worry about being nervous. Just try and keep yourself relaxed as much as you can and you'll do just fine.

Nell Taliercio has been working at home full time since 2004. She's worked as a telecommuter, virtual assistant and affiliate marketer. In 5 years she's discovered many secrets to finding legitimate work at home jobs and securing them. You can find her work at home job information at: http://www.justonlinejobs.com

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2012年7月10日星期二

Telecommuting Interview Tips

You've made it! Your cover letter and resume got you to the interview process... now what? First of all, I would like to give you a BIG congratulations for making it this far. Pat yourself in the back, do a happy dance. Okay, now let's get down to business.

Not every work at home job will require a telephone interview. Some just hire you from what they see on your cover letter and resume, but you need to be prepared for those dreaded phone interviews. I say dreaded because often the thought of a telephone interview scares people.

What you need to realize is that they understand it's a nerve racking process. So, take a deep breath, and have faith in yourself and your abilities. The most important thing to make the interviewer believe in you as a potential employee is that YOU believe in YOU as a potential employee. Again, the keywords "SELL YOURSELF" come into play.

Be friendly and upbeat on the interview, but don't talk too long or about unimportant things. Don't give away too much personal information, either. Basically, you just want to answer the questions asked of you. What I would do is really study the job, the requirements, and the company. Then write a "cheat sheet" before the interview to have on hand.

Here are some telecommuting interview tips and common questions I've run into:

Why do you want to work from home?

I personally would never say "Because I want to be home with my child". I think that's an obvious one and most interviewers will figure that that's a reason. I would say something that would make me look good for telecommuting. Examples include: "I really enjoy working independently", "I feel I really shine and thrive when working independently. I want to feel that satisfaction everyday when I'm working"

Why are you the best person for the job?

SELL YOURSELF! Again, those two important keywords! Listen folks, if you can't sell yourself to this interviewer, you could lose this job to someone else who sells themselves better. You don't need to brag, but really delve into why you would be the best for the company and job. Look at the job and company before hand. Jot down reasons why you would be best for the job so that you're prepared for this question.

What your worst quality?

Yuck, I hate this question! I could never really come up with a great answer that didn't sound like an outright lie. You don't want to really point out your worst quality. Never say "I'm lazy" or "I get distracted easily" or anything that casts you in a bad light. On the other hand, you don't want to say something that looks like a complete lie like "I'm a workaholic, and I don't know when to stop". I don't see that as a bad quality, and most employers won't either. They may call you on it and ask you to give them a real answer.

Don'ts of Interviewing:

Don't chew gum on an interview. Don't eat mints or have anything in your mouth. It's simply not professional, and someone cracking their gum in your ear is very rude and annoying!

Don't eat or drink while on the phone. Make sure you get all of that done before the interview.

Be sure to set aside time so that your household is relatively quiet. An employer will understand that you're looking to work at home and, more then likely, want to be home with your kids so there may be noise from time to time. And they should be okay with that. (If they place a lot of importance on a quiet environment and yours is not quiet, you better pass on this job because you will probably lose the job. Don't waste your time or theirs if you know it's not a good fit.) However, if you can't even take this interview seriously enough to devote yourself 100% to it, then you may lose the job because of it. The interviewer wants to know that they are the most important thing during the interview. The dogs barking, kids yelling, and you interrupting to quiet the house is not professional for business.

Don't go on and on about how much you want this job and how badly you need to get this job. It's a given that you want the job or you wouldn't be interviewing, and it's a given you need the job. The only time I would bring up that you want the job is when they ask you something like "Why do you want to work with us?" Then you can express why you want to work with the company. Don't say anything like "You can't even imagine how bad I need this job" or "I really want this job; it would be perfect for me." The employer needs to know why they would benefit from you working with them. They want to hear the word "you" more often than "me."

If you would like more tips for interviews and examples of questions, head over to http://www.mommysplace.net and once there visit the Interview Center.

Nell Taliercio is the owner and founder of TelecommutingMoms.com [http://www.telecommutingmoms.com] – which is a leading resource website with work at home jobs [http://www.telecommutingmoms.com] and everything a telecommuting mom would need. Come visit us today!

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2012年7月7日星期六

Giving an Interview - Too Hard For the Telecommuter?

Many people will agree that there are some aspects of a job that lend themselves well to telecommuting. But they will also tell you that other aspects do not. Near the top of that list of "difficult tasks to perform virtually" for all but the most experienced of telecommuters is the job of interviewing a potential employee or team member.

Well, you can probably guess where I'm going with this article.

I do agree that in general there is a lot of benefit from a live, face-to-face interview. You can learn a lot from the other person's body language, eye contact, etc. And this information can be valuable in determining the person's comfort level with the topics they are discussing, as well as their general social skills and how well they interact with others.

However, I will say that even interviewing potential team members is something that can be performed effectively by phone if need be. I have participated in many such interviews myself due to the globally distributed nature of the team I work on. In fact, we're so comfortable with this mode that we often even interview local candidates by phone rather than coordinating schedules to have them come into the office.

So what are the best ways to deal with interviewing a candidate by phone?

Well really, it's not much different than any other important interaction that, as a telecommuter, you must handle by phone.

First, when you start the interview, if the person seems uncomfortable with the lack of face-to-face interaction you can take a couple minutes to chit-chat and break the ice a bit. A small chat about the big game last weekend or the local weather can give you both a few minutes to warm up to each other.
Don't be bothered by the silences. Interviews can be uncomfortable, or downright awkward for some people. When you're face-to-face, a pause in the conversation can seem pretty natural. But on the phone it sounds as awkward as dead air time on the radio. Don't rush to interject a comment just to fill the void. Give the other person the time to finish thinking through whatever they were going to say. Continue to talk and act comfortably so the other person knows you are not judging that silence.
Without the body language to interpret, you might have a harder time judging the comfort level a person has with particular questions you ask. So you need to be a bit more explicit in how you ask them. For instance, if you ask the candidate if they're comfortable managing a customer escalation and they pause and say yes, you can't tell if they really are. So ask them how many escalations they've handled in the past, or ask them to describe their most difficult escalation and how they handled it. Or if they tell you they're comfortable learning a new technology independently without much assistance, ask them to describe the process by which they would teach themselves.

Of course, if you're interviewing for a job where the candidate needs to have really good people skills, and/or exceptional phone skills, you shouldn't have to do any extra work to put them at ease or help interpret their comments - they should do all that work for you. And if they can't, they're probably the wrong person for the job.

However, performing interviews by phone is not all downside. In fact there is one big advantage I've come to discover. Often when there's a couple of us on the phone interviewing a candidate together, we'll use Instant Messaging (IM) to communicate during the interview. We can suggest follow-up questions to the team member who is talking, compare thoughts on how the candidate answered a particular question, even lead each other a bit on the direction we want to go with the interview as we learn more about the candidate. It can be quite useful and help make the limited time we may have with the candidate that much more effective in learning what we need to know.

Bottom Line? Experience huge gains in time, money, and stress reduction by telecommuting. You deserve it! But don't dive in unprepared. Make sure you know how working from home differs from going into the office. I invite you to get your free copy of the "Top 10 Telecommuter Mistakes list" - to learn from the mistakes of others: http://avoidgoingtowork.com/free
Nicole Bachelor, the "Master of Telecommuting Success" is the author of "How to Avoid Going to Work Without Quitting your Job". She specializes in teaching people how to effectively work from home. Nicole has been telecommuting exclusively for over 4 years, and has vast experience working with teams that are spread across the world.

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2012年5月29日星期二

5 Telecommuting Job Interview Tips

The question you need to ask yourself is: How can I be sure I'm putting my best foot forward during the interview?

This article will share 5 easy tips for making your telecommuting job interview great.

Tip #1 - Be on Time

Tip #2 - NO Background Noise!

Tip #3 - Slow and Steady

Tip #4 - Honest but Positive Answers

Tip #5 - Be Yourself

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2012年4月22日星期日

Working From Home - Preparing For the Job Interview

We all go through the common nervousness associated with a job interview but an interview for a telecommuting job, holds to a higher plane and needs as much preparation it can afford. With that being said, you can't predict what questions the interviewer will ask, but you can be prepared. Here are a few tips:

Be ready.

This may seem standard; however, if it's important to make sure when the interviewer calls, you're prompt, and your background is quiet. Make sure that you don't speak too softly or too fast as the interviewer will probably be taking down notes. Also, be prepared to cover job descriptions from your resume and be sure to note how the experience relates to the position

you are applying for.

Be confident in answering questions.

You'll be asked questions like "Why do you want to work from home?" "Why do you feel you are qualified for the position?" Examples of instances from past jobs relating to customer interactions and responses. For each of your answers, be professional. Do not mention the need for a job, wanting to work home to be closer to family, or anything that does not involve your position. You want the interviewer to control the call, while being completely focused on your skills. The attitude you want to convey throughout the call, is the fact that you can get the job done and do it better than anyone else. If that type of confidence is not heard within your voice, there's a chance you've let a great career slip through the cracks. Don't let this happen.

Make sure to ask the interviewer questions.

Having prior knowledge of the job and company is key to impressing the interviewer. Make them aware that you know your stuff and ask questions related to your position using your knowledge. For example, if you read in a press release that ABC Company just released their work home program in Jan of 08, you can use this information as a base to form your questions. Your question can go something like, "I was reading in a press release about the work home program implemented in Jan of 08. I'm curious to find out about the time frame for advancement while working from home." This lets the interviewer know that you understand the job, and the company; while hinting your interest staying within the company long-term.

It's perfectly normal to be nervous. But as long as you are qualified for the position and prepared to answer questions relating to your experience, you have nothing to worry about. The key to selling yourself is confidence, confidence and more confidence. So research, prepare your environment, and stay positive and you next call about the job will be the one stating that you're hired.

Tina Lynn is a work home mom who loves helping people find legit work home employment and have been doing it for years. Search hundreds of legit work from home jobs here.

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2012年2月10日星期五

How to Have a Good Phone Interview For a Telecommuting Position

Summary: Phone Interviews are necessary in the world of work-at-home individuals. There are tips in handling the very stressful phone interview. With these tips any potential new hire can relax, knowing they are prepared.

Don't Be Scared to Answer the Phone

Telecommuting is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as, "...to work at home by the use of an electronic linkup with a central office." There are many telecommuting jobs online. These jobs are actual employment and not Independent Contractor positions. They offer benefits and paid time off. However to actually be hired by a business offering a telecommuting position, you may have to endure the dreaded phone interview. This interview will be more successful for you if equipped with knowledge.

Tips for a Successful Interview

* Rehearse what you might say before your interview. Get a family member to practice with you. Practice sample questions like, "Why do you want to work from home?" or "What attracts you to our company?"

* Have your resume in hand before the interview begins. Be prepared by also having a pen and paper to jot notes on during the interview.

* Make sure you allow yourself plenty of un-interrupted time for the interview. An hour should be enough time. You want to be in a quiet room where there is no noise.

* When the interviewer calls, stand up and talk with him. Your voice sounds stronger when you stand. Also, throughout the phone conversation, try and remember to smile. A smile can be heard on your voice.

* Be professional, courteous, and mannerly. Avoid speaking negatively about your former employer.

* Present yourself to be a good communicator.

* Speak in a clear voice, void of colloquialisms, such as, "Yeah... Uh-huh...you betcha..."

* Avoid yes/no answers and instead give answers in full complete sentences.

* Avoid mental pauses, such as, "Uh... um..."or the dreaded silence or dead air time.

* Do repeat or re-phrase questions or word choices. This lets the interviewer know you have listened to them while it also gives you a moment to think about your answer.

* Ask questions. Write down all questions you may have before the interview when you are not nervous. Check off each question as it is answered during the course of the interview. Ask any un-answered questions following the interview.

* Don't ask any questions about payment until the final stages of the interview process.

* Follow-up the interview with a thank you card. Make sure you thank them for taking time out of their schedule to speak with you over the phone. You may want to write something in the card which will jog their memory of your conversation.

Conclusion

Telecommuting is the act of working at home. Telecommuting phone interviews are much like face-to-face interviews in the fact that it gives the future employer a chance to get an impression of their potential employee. However, with a phone interview you do not have the chance to dress to impress or use facial expressions. You have to work harder in a phone interview to convey proper communication. Equip yourself with knowledge of interview skills to help you have a successful phone interview.

Learn about Working From Home and Start Your Own Work At Home Business at WAHCheck. Don't Work From Home until you do a WAHCheck!

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2012年2月7日星期二

How to Successfully Answer Tough Telecommute Job Interview Questions

A job interview is a natural process in a telecommute job search. It doesn't matter how many job interviews you've done it doesn't get easier because every company have different questions to ask.

Why should we hire you?
It may seem obvious to reiterate your strengths, skills and experience, but it's not necessary. Tell them what they don't know about you.

If I called your previous employer, what three things would he say about you?
Tell your interviewer about an accomplishment or idea you came up with and they used.

Explain what this job entails.
Keep it brief and list the responsibilities and tasks of the position.

Why did you choose to work in this industry?
Tell them how you became interested and how your skills, your commitment and professional goals match what they are looking for.

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2011年11月29日星期二

5 Telecommuting Job Interview Tips

The question you need to ask yourself is: How can I be sure I'm putting my best foot forward during the interview?

This article will share 5 easy tips for making your telecommuting job interview great.

Tip #1 - Be on Time

Tip #2 - NO Background Noise!

Tip #3 - Slow and Steady

Tip #4 - Honest but Positive Answers

Tip #5 - Be Yourself

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

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