When you’re looking for a job, you have to be flexible and prepared for anything, and that can mean being ready to do a phone interview. These days many companies begin the selection process by interviewing candidates and applicants by phone, and that phone call from a recruiter or potential employer might happen at any moment! To be sure that you are ready to impress in your phone interview, take a look at these key things to remember.
Know your stuff
If you have advance notice of the interview, then it’s important to prepare just as you would for a face-to-face interview. Do your research about the company involved, and have your answers to standard interview questions ready. Above all, you should know your CV inside out, and be able to talk about any aspect of it – from past duties to skills, qualifications and strengths - at a moment’s notice. You never know when that phone will ring!
Practice
Talking to interviewers on the phone can be very different from a face-to-face situation, so it’s a good idea to get some practice in. Have someone carry out a mock interview with you over the phone and record it. Not only will this help you to rehearse your answers, it will enable you to spot any verbal tics or other problems, such as speaking too fast or too slow, that might create a negative impression in your phone interview.
Preparation
If the phone interview is pre-arranged, ensure that you have a quiet, comfortable place to take the call and remove all distractions. Clear the room, turn off stereos or televisions, and ideally, take the call over a landline rather than a mobile, to avoid the risk of poor reception. It’s also a good idea to have your CV in front of you, along with any other useful notes.
Phone interview etiquette
Make sure that you answer the phone yourself, and give your name when you answer, so that the interviewer is sure that they’ve got the right person. It can also help to create a good first impression if you try to sound confident and friendly when you answer.
During the interview itself, keep a glass of water to hand to ensure your throat doesn’t get too dry, but otherwise avoid anything else that might inhibit your speaking voice (so no smoking, eating or gum chewing). Make sure to use the interviewer’s title unless they ask you to use their first name. Never interrupt at any stage, and try not to leave too much dead air. If you’re stuck for a reply, ask the interviewer to repeat the question while you gather your thoughts.
Post-interview steps
Towards the end of the interview, it’s important to take the opportunity to thank the interviewer, and when the call has finished take some time to review the conversation. Make a brief note of the questions that you were asked, and of your responses, and write down any follow-up questions that occur to you. This can be useful if you are subsequently invited to a face-to-face interview and will also help you to polish your phone interview technique.