Often, as part of the hiring process, employers will conduct a phone interview with potential applicants. If the thought of answering interview questions over the phone makes you a little anxious, you are not alone. But all it takes to have a successful phone interview is to be prepared (just as you would for an in-person interview) and practice. Below are the top 7 tips to help you.
1-Pay attention to the tone and energy of your voice. Since you are not communicating through body language while you’re on the phone, it’s important to have energy in your voice; to sound upbeat and excited about the position. Some career coaches recommend standing during your phone call.
2-Research the company and be prepared with some questions.
3-Ensure you have a quiet place to take the call so that you are not distracted and both you and the recruiter can hear each other clearly. If you are in a conference room or busy home, put a “Do Not Disturb” note on the door.
4-Make sure you know whether you are calling the recruiter or they are calling you. And if you are using your cell phone, be sure you have a strong connection wherever you are.
5-Review the job description thoroughly and have some notes ready to describe how your skills and experience relate to the position you’re interviewing for.
6-Take the phone interview seriously. Just because you’re not sitting in front of the recruiter, doesn’t mean you can take the call while driving or otherwise distracted. This is an interview and to be successful, it’s important to be prepared and act professionally.
7-Just as you would with an in-person interview, follow up with a thank you (email is fine) within 24 hours of the call. You can add any details from your phone interview that make you all the more interested in the position. Adding an extra detail makes it easier for the recruiter to remember you.
Conducting yourself professionally over the phone is a skill we can all use. After all, phone communication is a part of most job responsibilities anyway so you can prove your mastery of this skill during your interview. The goal here is to get to the next step, an in-person interview, and using these tips will help you get there.
