Mastering the Phone Interview

Most people that have been in the job market lately, understand that the phone interview is becoming very popular.  Because there are so many job applicants for a single job, many recruiters and employers have determined that it is very cost effective, and a huge time saver to conduct initial interviews via the phone.

The problem with the phone interview is not many job seekers have practiced interviewing over the phone and really do not know what to expect.  Do not be fooled, thinking that this is just a preliminary interview and you do not need to be prepared.  Quite the contrary – you need to be just as prepared for a phone interview as you would for a face-to-face interview.  Here are some tips you can use to master the phone interview:

• Do you prepare for a face-to-face interview?  Of course you do.  You dress in your best outfit, you do your research on the company so you can ask intelligent questions, and you make bullet notes to remind yourself of key points you want to emphasize.  You should do the same thing for your phone interview.  You must treat your phone interview the same way you would any other interview – be prepared!
• Many recruiters and potential employers will call and ask to conduct a phone interview at that instance.  Politely ask them if you can schedule a time for the phone interview, as you are not available at that time.  You may even wish to allow all your calls to go to your voicemail and then call back once you are prepared.  It is never a good idea to interview “on the fly” as you will not have time to prepare.
• Be sure that you are organized during your allotted interview time.  Be sure to answer the call immediately and have all of your resources available in front of you.  You should have a copy of the resume and cover letter you sent them, as well as the job ad (description), and have information about the company printed or on your computer screen for quick reference.
• Make sure that the time you set for your phone interview is free from all outside distractions.  No kids running around, no music or tv running, no other phones that will ring, etc.  Remove all distractions so you can concentrate on the interview.
• Often times we forget to smile and communicate properly when we are on the phone.  Body language can still be seen via phone.  When you smile, the enthusiasm will show in the pitch and tone of your voice.  Listening is especially important during a phone interview, as cutting the interviewer off in mid-sentence will not go over well.  Be sure that you listen and communicate clearly when it is your turn.

Most often a phone interview will determine whether you will be asked to come in for an additional interview, therefore, it is important that you make a good impression.  Practice these tips above to perfect your phone interview skills.

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