How do you establish and sustain healthy connections with coworkers who work in different locations?

Microsoft is an international company with employees scattered all around the globe. Many Microsoft jobs are remote, allowing people to work without ever setting foot in the office. The best way to answer interview questions about how you build relationships is to discuss a pre-planned strategy that you follow. It's best to sound like you have a trusted process that you're confident in, rather than figuring it out as you go. Discuss your approach to how you develop key, remote working relationships when needed. Consider pointing to past successes in your past role when working with remote team members.

"I've found that communication is the key to building and maintaining all professional relationships, particularly when working with colleagues in other locations. In my last role, I made use of a wide variety of platforms to remain connected with my coworkers. I found collaboration software to be incredibly beneficial, allowing us to have off-the-cuff discussions, share documents, and more. However, since having a strong bond can boost our effectiveness, I also took additional steps to forge meaningful connections. For example, I coordinated monthly video-based team gatherings that were more casual. This allowed us to have a virtual water cooler-esque experience, adding a social element that made us feel like a cohesive unit."