Now with restricted travel and more people working from home, it’s become vital to be flexible in your work responsibilities. You will more than likely be telecommuting to work now and conducting meetings through online platforms. The same is true for hiring authorities that still need to interview candidates, although circumstances might now allow an in-person interview. Conducting remote interviews is a valuable skill that you will need to know so your company can keep ticking on. Here are 5 tips to conduct a great remote interview.

Decide what method of communication you want to use depending on your needs. If you prefer to see the candidate face to face, there are many video call platforms that you can use. If it’s easier to do a phone interview, then go for that. Whatever method you choose, make sure you have the technology prepped and ready to go before the call begins. You don’t want to be testing the mic and the video when it’s time to start the call.

Make sure you are in a comfortable, quiet place to take the call. Put your phone or other devices on silent as you take the call to avoid distractions. If you happen to be taking the call from your office, put a “do not disturb” sign on your door so you don’t get people coming into your office during the call. Make sure your positioning allows the candidate to see your face properly or hear you properly if it’s a phone call.

When a candidate comes into an in-person interview, they normally know what to expect. A remote interview might be something new so communicate clearly to them what they can expect and how to prepare. Make sure they know if it’s a video or a phone call so they can plan accordingly. If it’s a video call, send them the software they need ahead of time and the meeting invite. Give them an outline of what to expect from the interview so they can prepare accordingly.

If possible, have another member of your team be on the call with you. It can serve two functions: 1) to have another opinion about the candidate and 2) to introduce them to another member of your team. Having another team member is important because it can give you another opinion of the candidate and thus help you come to a decision faster. It also serves to introduce the candidate to the team and give them idea of the people they will be working with.

Be honest with the candidate. Because they won’t be coming into the office for the interview, they won’t have the opportunity to see and feel the culture. It’s important to clearly communicate the culture of your company so that they will understand what they will be getting themselves in to. It’s important as well to be honest in your expectations of them if they are to be hired.