Telephone interviews are becoming a more and more popular recruitment method, especially in our post-pandemic realities. Many companies begin the selection process with a phone interview to talk to promising candidates on paper. It is usually a brief 10–15-minute call from hiring managers to learn more about you and determine if they want to set you up for an in-person interview.
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| How to Ace any Phone Interview with Ease?: eAskme |
As a candidate, your job is to move on to the next round of interviews. Although a phone interview sounds easy enough, don't take it lightly.
Treat it like an in-person interview, do your homework and be prepared to answer any questions about your skills, experience, career path, and desire to win the job.
Read on to learn some useful tips to help you make a great impression and raise your chances to get to an in-person interview.
So, how do you get through the phone interview?
Find a quiet space:
A barking dog, a noisy co-worker, the sound of the street, or even the television are things an interviewer does NOT want to hear when calling you for a phone interview.
Background noise can seriously disrupt the interview.
Even if the interviewer can't hear it, you may be distracted, lose your trail of thought and find it difficult to concentrate.
Find a quiet space at home or at work where you are away from typical distractions such as children, pets, television, and colleagues.
It is also important to close all social networking apps and remove anything else that may distract.
Make sure your signal is fine:
Most people use mobile phones these days.
The difficulty with this is that connection problems are a possibility.
Be sure to check your phone signal beforehand.
If you have a good connection, stay in the same place for the duration of the call.
Even better: use a landline if possible.
Also, turn off your phone and social media notifications to not be interrupted during the call.
Act as if you are interviewing in person:
A phone interview is just as important as an in-person one, so treat it as such. Avoid taking it lightly or adopting a more relaxed approach.
Spend just as much time researching the company, reviewing the job, and figuring out how you would be an excellent fit for the job.
If you want the job, you have to win it over the phone first.
Find the appropriate clothes, but not the pajamas:
Even if you're at home and want to be comfortable, it's essential to be in the right frame of mind.
So ditch the pajamas and choose an outfit that helps you feel confident.
Remember, even if you're on the phone, it's still a job interview, even if you are interviewing for a minor position in a small informal startup or an essay writing service.
Prepare for the call as if you were interviewing in person.
Answer the phone yourself:
Always answer the phone yourself.
Don't let your children, partner, or other household members answer the phone for you.
You know when the call is scheduled, and be ready and available to take it.
Get to know who you are talking to:
When you receive a request for a telephone interview, be sure to find out who you will be talking to during the interview.
It is important to know this information to research the person and understand their role and the hiring process.
There is a chance you will be talking to several people, which could change your approach during the interview.
Speak slowly and clearly:
All types of job interviews can be stressful.
Your heart rate will increase, you may become nervous, and you may start talking faster than usual.
Remember to speak slowly and clearly. Keep your phone close to your mouth and avoid putting it on speakerphone.
The phone can make it difficult to hear. Be sure to communicate your thoughts with maximum efficiency.
Have your CV and job description ready:
Telephone interviews mean no visual contact, which means that you can have your job description, CV, and other materials in front of you to peak into.
If necessary, make a cheat sheet for the call.
List the essential points you want to communicate.
Have written answers to frequently asked questions. Use available resources to make the most of the call.
Have a notebook handy:
Having a notebook or pad of paper and pen handy allows you to take notes during the phone interview.
You never know what the interviewer might say that you want to remember.
Perhaps the interviewer mentioned important information about the job, made an essential point about the company, offered some advice or ideas.
Be prepared to write it down.
Show your personality:
Don't be afraid to show your personality.
A telephone interview allows you to make what you say on your CV a reality.
Be warm, engaging, and friendly, and help the interviewer understand more about you through your personality.
Ask questions:
Just as in an in-person interview, be prepared to ask questions about the job.
You don't have to get too crazy at this point.
Think of 2-3 questions you have about the job description, the role, or the company. Similar to the way you should prepare for a digital interview, you need to have a bunch of questions ready.
This will show that you are interested in the job and want to be chosen for an in-person interview.
Ask about the next steps:
This is important. No one wants to be left in the dark about when they can expect to hear from a company about a job. Ask about the next steps at the end of the call.
Depending on the company, the next step could be another phone interview or a series of in-person interviews.
Knowing what to expect next may be good for planning your next steps and securing the chances to get hired.
It will also show the interviewer that you are interested in taking the next step in the hiring process.
Follow up with a thank-you email:
After the call, send a quick follow-up email to thank the interviewer for their time and reaffirm your interest in the position.
Be brief and concise.
This will help them keep you in mind when the company selects candidates for further interviews.
Have you been scheduled for a telephone interview?
Don't take it lightly.
Treat it like an in-person interview, and you'll be well-positioned to receive a call for the next round of interviews.
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