You're in an interview and you're asked "what are your thoughts on remote work". How do you respond?

When asked about remote work in an interview, it's important to be honest and thoughtful in your response. You might say something like, "I believe remote work can offer flexibility and work-life balance. It allows employees to be productive in a comfortable environment, potentially saving time and reducing stress from commuting. However, effective communication and collaboration are important in remote settings, and I'm committed to maintaining open communication with my team and adapting to remote work tools to ensure successful collaboration." This response shows your positive attitude towards remote work while also acknowledging the importance of communication and collaboration in a remote environment.

Also just know where you personally stand on what you need. Honesty here is the best for all parties. If you can’t make in office work be upfront about it. Some companies may have flexibility, some may not, but creating a clear agreement upfront on what is possible is key to long term success!

It's important to understand what you need to be successful, but finding common ground when applicable is also important. In office/onsite measures have and will continue to change. Setting the expectations that you are open to company policy is needed so that you don't disqualify yourself before you get the job and then as you grow into the role there will often times be more flexibility depending on the role and potential life situations that may arise along the way.

Each organization is going to have different expectations and in some cases the manager/department may have their own set of expectations. Be open to the options and be careful to be disqualified by TA because you won't abide by the expectations. There are times when TA may not know what the teams' expectations are. Be prepared to explain all the different settings you've worked in (remote/hybrid/onsite), discuss the positives and the challenges, and understand that it could also depend on the role itself. Keep an open mind and try to understand the "what" and "why" the organization has the rules that they have. Who knows...maybe you find an amazing coffee shop or gym that's in or near the building :)

An interviewer is attempting to determine whether or not you're an appropriate fit for the organization when they inquire about your remote work schedule. If you say you desire remote or hybrid employment and they are working entirely onsite, it's possible they will reject you. Rejection might occur not just from your request for the remote control, but also from your inability to adjust to the surroundings and eventual need for change. In order to ensure that you are ready for any interview, you should research the company policies beforehand, ideally on Glassdoor or LinkedIn.