How to Ask About Remote Work During a Job Interview

How to Ask About Remote Work During a Job Interview How to Ask About Remote Work During a Job Interview You’ve come across a job opening that sounds perfectly suited to your talents and interests, except for one thing- there’s no mention whatsoever of the option to telecommute. If remote work is really important to you, however, exploring the subject sooner rather than later can be for the best. While the need to ask about remote work during an interview can feel a bit scary, knowing where things stand helps in making educated decisions about your future. Here are some possible ways to ask about remote work during a job interview: Do research. Don’t immediately assume that just because the ad doesn’t highlight flexible arrangements that all hope is lost. While smart employers should realize that touting remote possibilities attracts a stronger candidate pool, some prefer to handle logistics once they’ve settled on who they want. As you scour the company’s website and perform online searches in preparation for your interview, pay particularly close attention to any mention of telecommuting. If you or anyone in your network knows someone who already works there, ask that employee whether or not any of his colleagues work off-site. Finding an example or two provides a good way to approach the issue matter-of-factly during an interview. Try a statement such as, “I noticed in the blog post about the company’s holiday party that some remote workers joined in the fun. Does your department contain any telecommuters?” Be direct, if you can. If remote work is a top priority in your job search and you are willing to wait until you can get it, politely putting the topic on the table can save everyone time. “Ask, ‘Do you support remote work?’” suggests Cali Williams Yost, CEO and founder of Flex Strategy Group. “If they answer unapologetically, ‘Yes, and here’s how that looks,’ then you know it’s available and supported.   If they hesitate and hedge at all, then you know to question the true commitment.” Be indirect, if you must. When you’re in a situation where holding out for a remote option isn’t feasible, proceeding with a bit more caution might be better. “If you really need the job and can’t afford to be picky, then try to figure out whether or not the culture supports remote work in a more indirect way,” Williams Yost says. “For example, ask the question, ‘In your culture, will most of the people I work with be onsite every day or will some be working remotely?’  That way it’s about how you will be expected to work with colleagues and not what you want personally. If they say, ‘We really don’t care where people work as long as they get the job done,’ then you know that chances are you will also be able to work remotely at some point.   If they say, ‘Mostly, we work onsite,’ then it’s clear remote work isn’t happening.” Want to deal from the get-go with employers committed to remote work? Download our free guide to finding a remote job!