While it feels as though we’re reaching the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to COVID-19, it will undoubtedly remain as part of our daily lives and social interactions—especially work settings. We were inspired by an incredible article on The Muse that provided guidance on how to navigate COVID related interview questions and the questions you should also ask potential employers.
We always say to job seekers that you’re interviewing your potential employer as much as they are interviewing you. It’s important to seek out what’s important to you and have a firm understanding of your non-negotiables. You should have a strong sense of what you’re looking for before any interview and leverage the data that you collect during the interview to make sure that it’s a mutual match.
When it comes to interviews, questions surrounding your personal experiences during the pandemic may be on the horizon. This an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your unique character strengths and technical skills and how they translate to the role. You can also leverage these questions to gain a better understanding of how your potential employer coped too. In the end, we need to support each other to get through the pandemic.
Top 5 COVID Related Questions Employers May Ask
Tips on Crafting Winning Answers
Questions You Should Ask Your Future Employer
Stand Out During the Interview Process: Create a Brag Book
Top 5 COVID Related Questions Employers May Ask
1. How did the pandemic affect your career goals?
2. How did you adept to working remotely?
3. What have you learned during the pandemic?
4. How did you cope with stress during COVID?
5. How did you feel about coming back into the office (or working fully remotely)?
Tips on Crafting Winning Answers
1. How did the pandemic affect your career goals?
Translation: What are you looking for in your next role and are we the right fit? Tease out what you learned and how it relates to the job you're interviewing for (e.g. a role that is more aligned with your values.)
2. How did you adapt to working remotely?
Translation: How do you navigate unexpected changes? This is your opportunity to showcase your resiliency and ability to course correct or adapt to changes. Talk about the results.
3. What have you learned during the pandemic?
Translation: Do you have a growth mindset? This is your opportunity to show how you are solutions oriented. State the problem and outline the solution.
4. How did you cope with stress during COVID?
Translation: What do you do when things get hard? This is your chance to share the situation or problem, the task at hand, the action you took and the measurable results.
5. How do you feel about coming back into the office (or working fully remotely)?
Translation: The hiring company is trying to gauge your comfort level - this is your opportunity to ask clarifying questions to see if it aligns with what you're looking for.
Questions You Should Ask Your Future Employer
1. How did the pandemic affect you and your team? (Bonus: How are you holding up?)
2. How did your team adapt to COVID-19?
3. What new strategies were implemented to make working remotely more effective?
4. How has COVID-19 affected the company culture?
5. What impact did the pandemic have on the business (e.g. revenue, hiring etc.)?
6. How has the pandemic changed your team or company’s goals and priorities?
Through these probing questions, you’re also able to assess the empathy level of the company, how supportive they were to help teams get through the pandemic. Also, if working remotely is important to you, it’s an important question to ask!
Stand Out During the Interview Process: Create a Brag Book
Are you currently looking for a new job, but you don’t know how to create a standout cover letter and resume? Create a Brag Book instead to effectively tell your value story. Check out our workbook and customized templates to create a professional experience to review with recruiters or hiring managers. By weaving in elements beyond the resume (such as example work projects), you’ll not only be able to speak to your value, but also show them the impact you’ll make on the Team.
Need help or have questions? Feel free to email etsy@rocketrygroup.com.
