The Telephone Interview — Dreaded or Welcomed!
With so many people working hard to manage their time effectively, the phone interview has become a great tool for recruiters. You may have already had a telephone interview or you are dreading one because you do not know what to expect.
As always, it pays to be prepared. If you are prepared you will radiate confidence over the telephone just as you would in person. Let’s walk step-by-step through the process so that we can welcome the telephone interview.
Throughout the interview make sure you smile and radiate enthusiasm. You can place a mirror in front of you so that you check your body language from time to time. That helps you to maintain your professionalism.
Be sure to confirm the time of the interview and double check the telephone number they will use to call you or the number that you will be calling.
Research the company, its customers and its competition ahead of time. Be aware of any factors that may effect your position.
Dress for the interview. Even though they cannot see you, you will feel more professional if you are dressed for the interview instead of sitting there in your pajamas.
Ensure that there will be no interruptions from family members or friends. If you can be in a separate room, that is where you should be. If you are speaking on a cell phone, double check that the reception is adequate.
If you happen to be on the road, pull over to a safe location away from road or any other distracting noise. Take a few minutes to prepare yourself ahead of time. Again, make sure that reception is adequate. I have found that the speaker phone on the car will project a lot of noise to the listener on the other side even though my reception is great. You might want to connect your Bluetooth earpiece instead.
No television, radio, IPod, etc. to distract you or the interviewer. You will be conducting yourself the same way as if this is an in-person interview. Smile and relax.
Have your resume in hand and any notes you may need. Have them organized so you do not spend time rifling through them.
Be prepared with questions such as “tell me about yourself,” “How did you learn about this position?” The first question should be answered with a general professional overview of your career and where you see yourself.
In addition, be prepared with questions that you will have for the company. Some of these may be answered during the interview so make sure you have six to eight questions ready. You do not have to ask them all. During the interview, feel free to take brief notes.
When the interview is completed, be sure to thank the interviewer for their time and ask when you can expect to hear back from them. You may also ask how you did during the interview and if they wished further clarification on any aspect of the interview.
These tips are very basic rules which will make you feel confident during your telephone interview.
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