Hiring managers & corporations are currently dealing with crisis management & are looking to hire professionals who can assist them in solving biggest problems unique to the post Pandemic world.
If you are looking for a change/next big challenge, you should be prepared to answer this “ MOST IMPORTANT” question. You should be well prepared to seize this opportunity & demonstrate your ability to deal with ambiguity & showcase your calmness in the middle of such unprecedented & un-welcoming changes.
Since COVID-19 impacted people globally, the world of work- including big corporations, SME(s) & start-ups, is spinning on a new wheel thereby adding a new aspect of work to be discussed & understood.
Job seekers also follow a conventional & standard advice on preparing for some specific type of questions interviewers are likely to pose & those you are inclined to ask. However post COVID-19, the interview & selection mechanics has changed & interview question pattern which corporations used to follow earlier is now a thing of past. You should be well prepared for a new set of questions. You will also have new questions of yours own to ask
Now the focus of interview questions would be on three basic parameters:
- Safety
- Remote Work
- Employee’s financial stability.
Get to read, learn & practice your responses. Your answers should not only demonstrate relevant of you experience but also depth of your knowledge surrounding the employment landscape & your ability & willingness to adapt to the new normal.
Companies are phasing out their return to work plan & would be relying on remote works for next few months & even extending upto the year 2021. Some jobs have that potential to be transitioned to be delivered on work from home model
You should be prepared to expect & answer several questions related to how much you are adaptive to technology & possess that mental mindset to be self directed & motivation without need for infrastructure & management support available in a physical office setting.
With unemployment rates skyrocketing & companies shutting down, lot of job seekers must be wondering if this is the right time to look for a job. However, it is important to note :
- Companies are still hiring.
- The bandwidth or access to the talent pool has been enhanced given that remote work has taken a giant leap.
- The employee switching cost has reduced & job seekers do not mind switching as long as the prospective employer are providing a conducive remote working environment & is not looking to exploit this situation( salary cuts, micro management, fear of losing jobs) to their advantage.
Be prepared for a new kind of interview. Do the traditional preparation needed & gather required information from colleagues, friends, network & LinkedIn connections. Pay special attention to your employer’s twitter feed to learn how they are responding to various stakeholders with regards to Pandemic issues. Many employers have been transparent enough to disclose back to work plans on their website. Also learn government & company’s response to COVID-19. Find the answers to your questions contained in these documents before you arrive for an interview. Then prepare a list of additional questions related to return to work topics not included in the guidelines.
You should take the new video interviews seriously. I have heard a lot of stories from job seekers experiencing a comfortable setting for interviews conducted via video conferencing post COVID. You cannot control how a prospective employer’s representative chose to behave, however you can make sure that you follow professional protocols during the interview. Hiring managers may receive 15 minutes for you to ask any questions you may have. Have your questions written down & respect the time limit.
The prospective employer would be keen to understand how you have managed working remotely & how you have adapted to the environment. Your participation in the video interview will demonstrate how well you have adapted to & embraced the technology. Questions may include:
- Have you worked remotely?: The employers want to know if you have dedicated workspaces & have connectivity to run business on their behalf which will directly impact your productivity of working from home/remote location. While you should not disclose your personal situation, you should convince the employer that you have a distraction free work place at home so that you can deliver the work on time. You should include your remote work experience in your resume & LinkedIn profile. Your LinkedIn profile should be populated with keywords such as “ work from home”, “remote work” & should also mention the technologies you have used such as “ zoom”, “google meet” & “Skype”. Other keywords can include “ agile”, “self-directed” & “managed distributed teams”
- What aspects of working from home/working remotely you enjoyed?:This question will help employers ascertain what kind of work environment you thrive in at home & in the office. They may also be evaluating & investigating your comfort level with the technology you are using to conduct your business. They may also be considering whether you are open for permanent work from home/remote working position.
- How do you organise your time while working remotely?: Remote working requires self discipline since no eyes are supervising you daily. Therefore, employers would be keen to learn how you organise your day. If you have worked remotely in the past, this question should be a cakewalk. The employer may be evaluating your ability to work autonomously.
- How would you communicate with your manager & team in a remote setting?: Express an understanding of accountability reporting needs on a daily basis. Do not assume you know your manager’s work style. Give examples of how you have managed communication & reporting in the past. You should be able to plainly demonstrate how you would be collaborating with the team.
- How our team can collaborate & how should we interact with clients safely once we return to work?:Corporations are now preparing for the new normal with plans for conference rooms, common areas, workspaces & are keen to learn about your forward thinking. Many employers are seeking help & suggestions from their employees to restructure & reconfigure their office space. You should be ready to share your views on how to make a safe workplace.
- How have you handled stress of Coronavirus?: Acknowledge the fact that you are passing through a stressful situation & how you are coping with it. What ways have you adopted to cope up with stress? Daily walk? Workout? Mediation? Employers will evaluate your ability to be productive in the time of stress. You will also have an opportunity to ask the hiring manager how they are supporting their employees.
- How would you ensure safety at workplace?: Employers would like to maintain how have you maintained safety in your personal life? Hand wash? Social distancing? What would you do if you saw someone not following safety measures at the workplace? Demonstrate your willingness to make it a safer workplace.
- What life sessions have you learnt?: Employers would be keen to know if you have taken advantage of free online resources offered- webinars, podcasts etc? Have you developed appreciation for the value of other people? Have you invested in your personal & professional development? Employers would want to know the positive impact pandemic has made in your life.
Having no questions for employers portrays lack preparation for interviews & lack of interest in the job. You should have questions ready for employers. Some of these questions could include:
- Has your organisation laid off employees?: What areas have been downsized & why? Are they financially stable? Will there be another lot of people losing their jobs? Carefully evaluate solvency of the company & undergo self investigation & research about company’s financials.
- What tools does company provide to employees to self manage while working from home?: you should set clear expectations of the employee’s onboarding process. What would the first 2 weeks look like? Is IT support available? Do they provide laptops? What is the best way to communicate with remote employees?
- How do you communicate with remote employees?: Ask managers their preferred way of getting updates & reports from employees & how someone would be available to answer your questions? Will there be weekly team video conferences? Do they have defined work timings?
- How company’s leadership views work from home post covid?: You should inquire about the level of trust employers have on employees. Do they consider remote working as a short term arrangement or a long term solution?
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