I've done about 20 in-person interviews and 35 remote interviews over my career. They are not the same thing. I used to think a remote interview was just a regular interview but on Zoom. That's like saying a phone call is the same as a face-to-face conversation — technically similar, but the dynamics are completely different.

After bombing my first few remote interviews — looking at the wrong camera, getting thrown off by audio delays, failing to convey energy through a laptop screen — I figured out what makes remote interviews unique and how to actually perform well in them. Here's everything I've learned.

Remote Companies Are Evaluating Different Things

This is the most important thing to understand, and most candidates miss it completely. When a remote-first company interviews you, they're not just assessing your technical skills — they're assessing whether you can work effectively without an office. That's a specific skill set, and they're looking for evidence of it throughout the entire process.

Written communication is being judged from your first email. How you communicate in writing before the interview matters enormously to remote companies. Your email responses, how you handle scheduling, the clarity of your messages — all of it. I know a hiring manager at GitLab who told me she eliminates candidates whose emails are unclear or require multiple back-and-forth exchanges to resolve simple questions. At a remote company, your Slack messages are your presence. If those are confusing, you're a liability.

They want to see self-direction. Remote managers can't look over your shoulder. They need people who can take a vague objective, break it into tasks, and execute without daily check-ins. This is why behavioral questions at remote companies often sound like: "Tell me about a time you worked on a project with minimal supervision" or "How do you prioritize when you have multiple deadlines and nobody's telling you which comes first?"

Time zone awareness matters. If the company has team members across multiple time zones, they want to know you've thought about async collaboration. Mentioning your experience with async communication tools, your willingness to have some overlap hours, or your approach to documentation shows you understand the practical realities of remote work.

The Technical Setup Nobody Talks About

I lost an interview once because my internet dropped three times during a 45-minute call. The interviewer was gracious about it, but by the third reconnection, the conversation had lost all momentum and I could tell they were frustrated. That was entirely preventable.

Test your internet beforehand. Not just "is it connected?" but run a speed test. You want at least 10 Mbps upload for smooth video. If your WiFi is unreliable, use an ethernet cable. If your home internet is spotty, go to a coworking space or even a quiet room at the library. Don't leave this to chance.

Your camera and audio quality send a message. You don't need a $300 webcam, but the built-in camera on a 2018 laptop in a dimly lit room makes you look like a witness protection interview. Sit facing a window for natural light, or invest $30 in a ring light. Use headphones with a built-in mic — they're more reliable than your laptop mic and eliminate echo.

Your background matters. A clean, neutral background is best. A messy bedroom with an unmade bed behind you tells a story you don't want to tell. If your space isn't great, use a tasteful virtual background — but test it beforehand. Nothing's worse than your head disappearing into the blur every time you move.

Close everything else. Slack notifications popping up, email dings, your Spotify changing tracks — all distracting. Close every app except the video call and any tools you need for the interview. I even put my phone in another room. One glance at a notification can break your concentration during a critical answer.

How to Actually Come Across Well on Video

Here's something weird about video calls: looking at the person's face on screen feels natural to you, but to them, it looks like you're staring down at your desk. To make eye contact on video, you need to look at your camera lens, not the screen. This feels completely unnatural, and the only way to get used to it is practice.

I position my Zoom window right below my camera so the difference is minimal. Some people stick a googly eye next to their camera as a reminder of where to look. Whatever works — just don't spend the whole interview looking at your keyboard.

Energy translates differently on video. What feels like appropriate enthusiasm in person comes across as flat on camera. You need to dial up your expressiveness by about 20%. Smile more. Nod more visibly. Use your hands. I'm naturally pretty reserved, and I had to consciously work on this. The first time I watched a recording of myself in a practice interview, I looked bored even though I was genuinely excited about the role.

Handle the awkward pauses. Video call latency creates weird conversational gaps that don't exist in person. You'll start talking at the same time as the interviewer, then both stop, then both start again. It happens to everyone. Just laugh it off and say "Go ahead" — don't let it rattle you. The interviewer is dealing with the same lag.

Remote-Specific Questions to Prepare For

Beyond the standard technical and behavioral questions, remote interviews often include these:

• "Describe your ideal work-from-home setup." (They want to know you have a dedicated workspace, not that you'll be coding from your couch.)
• "How do you handle isolation or staying motivated when working alone?" (Be honest here — it's okay to say you go to coffee shops sometimes or have a routine.)
• "How do you communicate progress to your team?" (Talk about async updates, daily standups, documentation, or whatever system you use.)
• "What's your experience with async communication?" (Mention specific tools and how you've used them: Loom for video updates, Notion for documentation, Slack threads vs. DMs.)
• "How do you handle disagreements with teammates you've never met in person?" (This tests your emotional intelligence and conflict resolution in a text-first environment.)

Practice Makes a Real Difference Here

I can't stress this enough: practice your remote interview skills on video, not just in your head. Record yourself answering questions. Watch it back. I know it's painful — nobody likes watching themselves on camera. But seeing how you come across is the fastest way to improve.

LastRound AI is perfect for this because the AI mock interviews happen over video, mimicking the exact format you'll face in a real remote interview. You get feedback on your answers, and you can rewatch to check your body language, energy level, and camera presence. A few practice sessions can completely transform how you come across.

Remote work is the future for a lot of tech roles, and the companies offering it are getting pickier about who they hire. The technical bar is still there, but the soft skills around communication, self-management, and async collaboration are what separate candidates who get offers from candidates who don't. Treat the remote interview as its own skill — because it is — and you'll be ahead of most people applying for the same role.