How do you answer why do you want to work remotely?

Remote work is becoming popular as it offers many benefits to employees as well as employers. Employees can find a better balance between personal and work life, and their satisfaction increases efficiency, which is beneficial to the employer and saves costs.

If you are applying for a remote job, you may need to explain your motives. In this article, we will give you some ideas on how to answer best the question why do you want to work remotely.

See also our article  SHOULD I ASK TO WORK REMOTELY?

What does remote working actually mean?

Remote work permits you to work outside the office. It means “working from home.” Thanks to new technologies, you don’t need to be physically present in the office to work efficiently. Working remotely can even enhance your productivity.

Working from home provides employees more flexibility as they can usually work when they are most creative. Work-life balance has the advantage of motivating many employees to work remotely.

If you are applying for a remote job, and you are interviewed, you will need to prove that you are fit for remote work. You may currently work in a traditional office environment, want to work from home, and need a permit from your employer. In both scenarios, the interviewer will likely ask you to explain why you want to work remotely.

By asking these questions, the interviewer is eager to know the reasons why you want to work from home. Employers need to make sure you are reliable to work remotely. Your goal is to convince employers that you are trustworthy in working for the company’s benefit.

What do interviewers look for when hiring remotely?

While every business is different, some common traits that recruiters look for when interviewing remote job applicants.

• Reliability
• Communication skills
• Independent work style
• Collaboration with team
• Organization
• Conflict resolution

You may have observed that developing these are soft skills meaning that they aren’t as easy. But recruiting managers will emphasize the capability to show social skills, including tone, body language, and listening because you will likely be doing these activities daily in a remote role.

In addition, also questions about your technical features will undoubtedly come up throughout the interview.

Here we are going to look at the best answers to the employer’s questions. Let’s get started.

How do you answer why do you want to work remotely?

1. Prepare yourself before an interview

Nothing is worse than thinking fast during an interview. When you’re already nervous, you don’t even want to try to find the correct answer to the difficult question.

Therefore, it’s inevitable to think about what to say how you would answering this question, even if your interview is not yet scheduled.

Think about reasons for your interest in remote work that your employer would also find valuable.

2. Answer in a way that impresses your employer

Don’t just talk about yourself when you answer the question, “why do you want to work remotely?” Always make sure that you talk about the company’s needs and how they can benefit the company.

If your employer asks you why you prefer remote work, and you talk only about your needs, you are not answering that question correctly. It would be best to show your manager that you’re considering ways to get more work done for the company.

Your employer is responsible to get the best for the company and therefore also needs arguments to justify his decision to let you work remotely before your supervisor as well. So he will appreciate you if you answer this way.

3. Come up with business reasons for you working remote

Finding personal reasons to work remotely is very easy. There is no need to wear formal attire (except for a video call) or travel; sleep longer.
Or you will be able to pick up deliveries at home, talk to a service technician. Life is just luxurious when you work remotely.

But if you want your employer to say “yes” to your request to work remotely you must provide business reasons. You could say that;

• Your productivity soars when you work in a distraction-free environment.”
• Remote working provides the space needed to think critically to achieve better results.
• You can work for the company you admire without being restricted by geographical location.
• You will find efficient and effective ways to communicate with office colleagues when they aren’t in the adjoining cabin.
• You can also point to the time spent commuting to the office each day.
• Then talk about how productive you would be if you spent that time planning your day and work.

These are some ways to turn personal reasons into business reasons. Be creative and always list such types of reasons that will benefit your employer. Such reasons will bring you closer to your goal.

4. Make sure the interview is a conversation, not a confrontation.

It would help if you didn’t try to twist the manager’s arm to give you this privilege. Instead, you should consider this agreement as a negotiation to treat both parties fairly.

Chris Voss (a negotiation expert) wrote in a book that “NO” is not the end. It’s just the beginning of the negotiation. Therefore, if your boss says “NO” at first, don’t be disappointed. It may be against the company’s policy because some companies do not allow workers to work remotely.

You can ask an open-ended question to understand the employer’s objection to the remote work permit. Like “what are your reservations?”.

These open-ended questions are a great way to evaluate other people’s thoughts in a non-confrontational manner.

5. Be honest and do not lie

Being honest means “not to over-sell yourself.” For instance, don’t say you will be working at night and on weekends if you know, that’s not true. Instead, be honest about your potential to get work done and emphasize your eagerness for remote work.

6. Show confidence during the interview

It would help if you were confident during the conversation. Practicing your answers will help. Don’t act as if it’s a big deal or a big life-changing issue. Remote work can change your life. But you need to act as if it is a simple request that will benefit your productivity.

Always be calm and balanced when talking. Do not act like it’s a big disappointment if they say no. And don’t get so excited when they say “yes.” When asked calmly, you will be more persuasive and look more professional. In turn, you are more likely to hear the expected answer from the boss.

7. Be willing to compromise

If you do not receive a positive response from your employer after following the above steps, you can suggest a trial period. And if it does not work, you can go back to the office. You can also ask for a permit to work remotely 2 to 3 days a week instead of 5.

You can achieve the goal of working remotely in different ways. During the interview, try to understand the employer’s point of view. Explain a reason that might benefit his business.

Or start working in the office first. Then gradually show that you need to work from home.

Here are some examples,

You can tell your employer that a mechanic is coming to your home. Or you are waiting for an important shipment, and you don’t know what time it will be so that you have to be home.

Ask for remote work and go beyond what they expect in their job. Do a double job compared to what you usually do. Then after a few months, start a conversation about regular work from home.

8. Show that you are a self-starter

Always prove that you can work independently. And you can do this by;

• Reply quickly to emails
• Leave clear voice notes (including time zone) about your future availability
• Call your boss if you haven’t picked up his call
• Send thank you and follow up emails after the interview
• If your employer tries to contact you but fails, write an email to let him know your availability

These small efforts show the boss that you’re competent and an above-average communicator.

9. Practice your answer

Your answer to the question “why do you want to work remotely” won’t be perfect the first time. Because you get nervous when the boss or interviewer is watching you, practice multiple times at home to not hesitate during the interview.

Write down answers to the above question from multiple perspectives and practice them before the interview. Ask family and friends to take part in a mock interview to increase your confidence.

Also, be prepared for what to say if the interviewer says “NO.” We covered some ideas in the points above, including suggesting trial periods, etc. Continue talking to the interviewer if he says “YES” or “NO” to get the best solution to your situation. For this, you should have good communication skills.

Follow these tips if you want to increase your chances of satisfying your employer with why you want to work remotely.

Sample answers: “Why do you want to work remotely?”

Here are some examples to help you demonstrate why you want to work remotely with your employer:

• I want to work remotely to be more productive and make most of my time to focus on my work instead of spending an hour a day commuting. I will use this time to plan and get my work done.
• I want to reduce the impact on the environment by working from home. I can help the company achieve its friendly objectives by reducing energy usage. I also work hard when I work remotely.
• Remote work permits me to start my work earlier. I manage to avoid traffic jams and weather delays. It gives me two more hours a day to devote to my work.
• I want to take advantage of the flexibility that remote work offers. In the morning, I am more creative and focused. Being able to manage my schedule allows me to do my job more efficiently for the company.
• I understand your company focuses on balance and efficiency between personal and professional life. I know that I am thriving in this environment and will work more effectively from home.
• •I want to work remotely to be more efficient and make choices for the environment. Avoiding commuting can considerably reduce fuel consumption and GHG emissions. Besides, I save time to be able to re-invest in tasks assigned to me.
• I appreciate the life-work balance that remote work provides. When I work from home, I can focus on my job. Because I know my kids are safe.I am not worried about leaving the office in time to pick them up. I am well organized. I am devoted to professional tasks during working hours.
• I like that remote working permits me to work in my favorite company. I was unable to offer my services in other conditions because of distance. My creativity works best in a home office. And I will effectively contribute to the company’s success.
• I work more concentrated at home because I am less distracted. I like to build professional relationships. But I work better at home alone. Of course, during the day, I actively communicate with my colleagues and answer all emails.
• I want a remote job because I am working alone more efficiently. Remote working allows you to save space in the office. Because it would need one desk less, it also saves electricity.

These are of course just example answers. Don’t just simply memorize them. Instead, use your own words and practice as we mentioned before. When you have the concept in mind and not just words you will be much more relaxed and don’t get stuck when you can’t remember a certain word.

That would be great setback as you appear to your employer as an actor. That you can ruining your credibility.

So rather, study the different reasons and make them your own. Convince yourself first and have the reasons clear in mind. Only when you are convinced about the subject you can convince your employer.

And if it doesn’t work right away remember – it’s not over. You still can do a lot to make remote work possible for you in the future.

More tips you aso find in our article  HOW DO I ASK MY BOSS TO WORK REMOTELY?

What NOT to say in a remote job interview when you want to work remotely

Although it obvious, you don’t want to give the impression that you only have your benefit in mind. So avoid all tings that would give the impression to your boss that you only want to make it easy o9n yourself.

Below are some answer I got when I was hiring remote workers and asked the question: “Why do you want to work remotely?”

You shouldn’t mention;

• You won’t have to shower.
• You think that remote working means “you don’t have to work hard.”
• You want to look after your children while you work.
• You do not like being under close supervision.
• You want because also other employees do it.

Remote work is great in many ways and can be of benefit for yourself and the company. And with some preparation you will be able to convince your boss as well.

If you have any =experiences or have any suggestions please leave a comment below. We are looking forward to hearing from you.