Post-Covid Interview Prep 101

Now that the job market is opening up, my clients are going on more job interviews than ever. The interview landscape post-Covid has changed, and I am working with clients to prepare them to answer the Covid-related questions that have been popping up during recent interviews. Here are a few common questions and how to prepare ahead:

1)    What have you learned during the pandemic?

This question allows the interviewer to hear about what you learned either personally, professionally, or both. For instance, perhaps you never were much of a cook, and learned how to master bread baking or make a killer rigatoni Bolognese—tell your interviewer this and be sure to explain how learning how to do this taught you important skills such as following directions, patience, and the ability to pivot if something didn’t turn out as planned.

If you did spend time during the pandemic upskilling, let the interviewer know. Classes and certifications done on your own time to add to your qualifications is a great way to answer this question.

2)    How did you adapt to remote work?

Many of us worked remotely during the pandemic and there were certainly challenges associated with WFH. Answering this question provides you with a great opportunity to talk about the skills you possess that enabled you to be successful as you worked from home. Some of those likely include the ability to work independently, stay organized and communicate with bosses and co-workers. Since everyone had some type of challenge working from home whether it was managing “Zoom school” or carving out a quiet space for your home office, be prepared to discuss how you were able to overcome these challenges and what you learned about being resilient in these difficult times.

3)    How do you feel about returning to in-person work?

Now that the vaccination rate is higher and most Covid restrictions are lifted, many companies are having employees return to the office at least part-time if not full time. A potential employer wants to know that you would be comfortable with a job that required you to be in the office. Be truthful, and direct here. If you are looking for a position that allows you the flexibility to work from home a few days per week (a hybrid position), let them know. You want to make sure that your values align with those of the company. If you are willing to go back to in-person work, this is your opportunity to say so, and to ask what procedures and policies the company has in place to ensure health and safety protocols for employees.

Good luck on your interviews and feel free to reach out with comments or questions!