“Did The Pandemic Affect Your Career Goals?” 6 Pandemic Interview Questions & How To Answer Them

We are still reeling from the stressors of Covid-19 and the pandemic will likely be on our minds for the foreseeable future. For your next job interview, whether it is a phone interview, a video interview or an in-person socially distanced interview, there are bound to be questions about your adaptability during Covid-19.

Pandemic-related interview questions can be used to identify key traits such as a person’s willingness to learn, resilience and their ability to adapt. Most Covid-related questions are ultimately focused on underlining whether the candidate has key qualities in order to this job well.

In this article, we offer examples of pandemic-interview related questions so you can understand the flow of questioning and learn about any potential gaps or shortcomings.

1. So, how are you holding up during this pandemic?

The icebreaker question of ‘how are you holding up?’ may be the classic opening style for interviews during and post-pandemic. Experts say that this is the equivalent of small talk or asking about the weather.

You don’t need to go into detail over here but there’s no shame in being honest and admitting struggle, difficulty as well as uncertainty. When speaking up about the struggle piece of it, be sure to highlight how you’re adapting and the steps you have taken to navigate through this tough time.

2. How did the pandemic affect your career goals?

In other words, what are you looking for in your next role and are you the right fit? It is important to decode the interviewer’s question and answer succinctly about how the pandemic may have altered your job search but made you realised the kind of career you’re looking for.

Did you realize you wanted to be specialised in a different area that is more in line with your values? This could be a great opportunity to share your journey and pitch your transferable skills.

3. How did you adapt to working remotely?

Most people are navigating working from home for the second time. For this question, you can explain how the switch was challenging at first – the nature of the job, the improvisation and how you managed to successfully stay organized.

Use the STAR method to tackle this question: start with the Situation, explain the Task at hand, describe the Action you took and conclude the Result.

This is a good time to underline how you separated “work” life from “home” life, created 1x1s with your managers and coworkers, or changed up your working hours to take advantage of your most productive hours.

4. What skills have you learned during the pandemic?

Companies are always looking to hire people who are creative and solutions-oriented. They want to know that you can make the most out of a bad situation.

You could bridge your answer by providing the balance of skills you have learned personally and both professionally. With the rise of LinkedIn Learning courses and online-only classrooms, you could highlight the areas you decided to focus on specifics related to your industry, be it finance or tech. Perhaps you learned new Excel skills or focused your time on data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming in C++.

5. How do you feel about returning to work in person?

Depending on what type of setup you’re looking for (in person, hybrid, or remote), you’ll want to be sure to clarify: Will there be an option to work remotely? Will you need to be in the office full-time?

Most candidates would often ask the company about their return-to-office plans. If you’re aiming for a hybrid work setup, you can ask about the company’s policies around working from home a couple of days a week.

6. What is one good thing that came out of the pandemic?

Hiring managers are looking for the right fit; someone who is resilient enough to push through challenging times. Questions like this can be tricky and triggering at worst.

If you’ve experienced a COVID-related loss or hardship, being asked to identify something good that came from it could be incredibly painful.

Maybe the pandemic made you realize how much you value time with your family time, or you have picked up a new hobby.  Or maybe you think it’s great that so many people have started paying attention to inequality issues.

Here are few pandemic-related questions to ask when it is your turn:

The right kind of questions about how the prospective company has navigated the pandemic can tell you a lot about their culture and workplace policies. Was the business agile enough to adapt to the changing economy? What’s expected of you if you come on board?

• How did the pandemic affect the way work was distributed among team members?
• What is your policy on working from home? Do you plan on implementing a long-term flexible or remote work option?
• Do you have any new programs, perks or benefits to encourage employees to be productive?
• How has Covid-19 affected the business?
• How has the pandemic changed the team or company’s goals and priorities?

If you are wondering where to work once Covid-19 is over, explore our list of recommended cities where work opportunities will be available in abundance.

We are always in the hunt for experienced candidates and if you are looking to have a confidential discussion on your desired role, get in touch with us at The Edge.