Remote job interviews are the norm now, but they're not just "regular interviews on video." They require different preparation, different skills, and different ways of showing you're a fit. Here's how to prepare thoroughly and perform your best.
Pre-Interview: Technical Setup
- Test everything 24 hours before: Camera, mic, internet, the platform (Zoom, Meet, Teams). Join a test meeting with a friend.
- Internet stability: Ethernet cable if possible. If Wi-Fi only, sit close to router, close bandwidth-heavy apps.
- Backup plan: Phone hotspot ready, phone number shared with recruiter in case tech fails.
- Environment: Quiet space, good lighting (face a window or use a ring light), clean background. Let housemates know not to interrupt.
Research: Go Deeper Than the Job Post
- Company website: Read their "About," values, recent news, product pages. Understand what they do and why.
- Team members: LinkedIn stalk (politely). Who would you work with? What are their backgrounds?
- Recent projects or games: If it's a game studio, play their games or watch gameplay. If it's a product company, use their product.
- Glassdoor/Blind: Read reviews, but take with a grain of salt. Look for patterns, not individual rants.
- Social media: Twitter, LinkedIn company page. What's their culture like? What are they talking about?
Prepare Your Stories (The STAR Method)
Structure answers using Situation, Task, Action, Result:
- Situation: Context (e.g., "Our game had a performance issue")
- Task: What you needed to do ("Optimize frame rate for mobile")
- Action: What you did ("Profiled code, refactored rendering pipeline, implemented LOD system")
- Result: Outcome ("Achieved 60 FPS on target devices, reduced memory by 30%")
Prepare 5-7 stories covering:
- Technical challenges you solved
- Team collaboration or conflict resolution
- Projects you shipped or features you owned
- Times you learned something new quickly
- Remote work examples (if relevant)
Questions to Ask Them
Good questions show you're thinking about fit, not just getting any job:
- About the role: "What does success look like in the first 90 days?" "What's the biggest challenge this team is facing?"
- About the team: "How does the team communicate day-to-day?" "What's the code review process like?"
- About remote work: "How do you handle time zone overlap?" "What tools does the team use for collaboration?"
- About growth: "What opportunities are there for learning and advancement?" "How do you support career development?"
During the Interview: Video Presence
- Eye contact: Look at the camera when you want to make "eye contact," not at your own face. Put a sticky note near the camera to remind you.
- Body language: Sit up straight, nod to show you're listening, smile naturally. Video can feel flat—a bit of visible engagement helps.
- Pause before answering: It's okay to think. "That's a great question, let me think about that..." is better than rushing.
- Take notes: Have a notepad (not on screen—distracting). Jot down questions or things to remember.
Technical Interviews (For Developers)
- Clarify the format: Will you code live? Use a shared editor? Whiteboard?
- Practice coding out loud: Explain your thinking as you code. They want to see your process.
- Ask clarifying questions: "Should I optimize for time or space?" "Are there edge cases I should consider?"
- Think through edge cases: After your solution, mention what could go wrong or how you'd improve it.
Behavioral Interviews
- Use your STAR stories: Have them ready, but adapt them to the question.
- Be specific: "I worked with the team" is vague. "I collaborated with 3 designers and 2 artists to ship the combat system" is better.
- Show growth: "I made a mistake, here's what I learned" shows self-awareness.
After the Interview
- Send thank-you email within 24 hours: Thank them for their time, mention something specific from the conversation, reiterate your interest.
- Follow up if you haven't heard: After a week, a polite check-in is fine. Don't be pushy.
- Reflect: What went well? What would you do differently? Use it for next time.
Remote interviews are your chance to show you can communicate, think clearly, and work effectively—all skills that matter in remote work. Prepare well, show up confidently, and be yourself.