equipment Archives

How to rock a remote interview: Tips for shining over the phone or on video

Remote interviews are the present and the future. Why? The pandemic forced many companies nationwide to move to a remote system nearly overnight.

Now that we’ve been operating remotely for a while, many employers have seen the positive benefits of having remote employees. Increased productivity is one of them.

Many companies have decided to stay that way, so much so that your next interview could be over Zoom. Don’t panic! We’ve got you covered. Here’s how to prepare for a remote interview over the phone or on video, brought to you by our sponsor, LinkedIn.

Is your business hiring? Our sponsor, LinkedIn, is the easiest, fastest way to find qualified candidates. Tap or click here to post a job for free.

Double-check everything

You wouldn’t show up to an in-person interview 10-15 minutes late, would you? Being on time is just as important for a virtual interview as in person. Showing up late looks unprofessional, which won’t help you score points with the person interviewing you.

First, double-check your internet connection to ensure it’s stable before the interview. Run a speed test to be sure. Try the FCC’s speed test to ensure your internet works fast enough to support your interview, whatever platform it may be on.

Second, double-check you have the software needed to run the interview. If your remote interview is over Zoom, you must download the software first. Don’t wait until 10 minutes before your interview! Be sure you know how to use Zoom, or you may end up like this poor guy in this famous Zoom mishap.

Finally, ensure all your equipment is working. Ensure your laptop is charged or plugged in before starting the meeting. Do a microphone check and video cam check to ensure everything is running smoothly, so there won’t be any hiccups during the session.

Don’t assume your call is audio-only and dress accordingly

Just like you wouldn’t show up to your interview late because punctuality is important, you wouldn’t show up in sweatpants either. Don’t assume your interview will be audio-only, even if it is over the phone. Dress like you would for a typical interview and look as professional as possible.

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Best blood pressure monitor for home use

You are the only true advocate for your health. Monitoring your vitals at home helps track changes in your health and provides valuable data to your doctors. Tap or click here for life-saving Apple Watch features.

Using ineffective machines yields unreliable results that could impact your treatment in the future. Access to functional, reliable equipment is one of many ways tech can enhance your quality of life at home.

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Life in the fast lane

🚘 A smoother, cleaner, more organized ride starts here.

Clip sunglasses to your visor with a magnetic holder ($10).
These headrest hooks ($10) hold just about anything.
One car charger (20% off) = four ways to power up.
Clean your seat creases using this mini vacuum (26% off).
Get that “just waxed” shine with a scratch repair kit (22% off).

📦 Cargo or car go? A two-pack of ratchet straps (10% off) keeps your equipment locked down where it belongs.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

🚘 Check your car now: About one in five cars (58.1 million!) is driving around with an open recall. Check if yours is one of them on the NHTSA website. Enter your license plate or 17-digit VIN and hit Search. There are tabs for car seats, tires and other equipment recalls, too. Drive safely!

A hospital's responsibility for ransomware attacks

Open/download audio

When ransomware cripples a hospital, it’s not the building or equipment that suffers — it’s the patients who are denied.

🎖️ The Army’s getting new gear: Wow, some troops carry over 80 pounds of equipment, including five separate radios. To lighten the load, they’re developing new tech like the Integrated Visual Augmentation System, goggles that combine night vision, navigation, targeting and heat sensing all in one. Because I can … What rank are all cats in the army? Corpurrrrrral. (Nice one!)

🚨 Last minute tax write-off alert: Run a business? You could score a tax break if you bought new or used equipment from laptops to software. Section 179 lets you deduct up to $1.22 million (taxes filed in 2025). It jumps to $1.25 million next year. Pro tip: Track your purchases to save more.
📨 Out of the office? Set up a vacation responder to auto-reply like a pro. In Gmail, go to Settings (gear icon) > See all settings. Scroll down to Vacation responder and check it on. Then write your message, pick your dates and hit Save Changes when you’re good to go. Auto-replies are self-care with punctuation.

Don’t let me drone on: The U.S. has a fancy, new spy drone that can fly at 15,000 feet for 14 hours, even while carrying heavy equipment. Most military drones fly for eight hours, tops, so this is a game-changer. Combat teams will use it for recon and surveillance.