A phone interview is a significant part of the interview process. Many companies are doing two or three phone interviews before giving you the chance to walk through their door for an in-person interview. Screening candidates via a phone interview is a money saver for out of town candidates and a time saver for busy hiring managers. Since phone interviews are a fact of job search life here are 15 Do’s for your next phone interview:
- Prepare. Do as much research as you would for an in-person interview.
- Use a Land Line. You never know when cell service is going to go out.
- Take the call in a quiet, closed door room. Distractions will ruin your interview.
- Don’t be late.
- Have your resume in front of you, and a pen to take notes to remind yourself of a point you need to make or a discussion you want to return to.
- NO smoking, chewing gum, eating or drinking, but do keep a glass of water handy in case you go dry.
- Smile. An easy way to bring energy and enthusiasm into your voice when you don’t have the ability to sell them on your in-person charisma.
- Speak slowly and enunciate.
- Be articulate through practicing your answers to typical interview questions. This helps to avoid “um”, “uh”, and “like” filler words.
- Keep your answers short. You won’t be getting any visual cues so err on the side of clear and precise answers.
- Don’t interrupt. It’s rude but easy to do in a phone conversation.
- Never put your interviewer on hold. Yikes!
- Prepare three questions to ask your interviewer. Make a note of others to ask as prompted by your discussion.
- Next steps. Always ask at the end of the interview what you can expect to happen next. Express your interest in the job!
- Send an email thank you note. See our slideshare on Thank you Note No-no’s.
