Businesses use telephone interviews for a variety of purposes. Some firms use telephone interviews to screen qualified candidates and sort out the ones they want to look at further. Some companies use telephone interviews to cut costs. Others see the telephone interview as a crucial test and an integral part of the hiring process.
No matter how the company you are interviewing with views the phone interview, you need to give it the same importance you would assign to an in-person interview. Many candidates do not assign the telephone interview the importance they should – and end up sabotaging their chances as a result. Whether you are unemployed and trying to rejoin the workforce or just looking for a more lucrative opportunity, the following tips can help you ace your telephone interview.
Don’t Rely on Your Monitor
Do not just read your resume off the computer screen – print it out and have a physical copy with you throughout the interview. You cannot afford to rely on memory alone; you need to have exact dates and figures at your fingertips.
Printing your resume, job description, recruiting ad and other documents ahead of time will make your job a lot easier. Instead of searching through your computer, you will have everything you need right in front of you. That will keep the interview flowing smoothly and show the hiring manager that you are well prepared.
Be Online
You will need Internet access for your telephone interview, so make sure you are online well ahead of time. Having online access makes it easier to look up information about the company and get the facts and figures you need.
Do not let the Internet distract you from the task at hand. Resist the urge to check your Facebook page or personal email, even before the interview begins. The purpose of your online access is to have the information you need at your fingertips.
Use Your Landline
No matter how good your cell service is, you should not rely on it for the telephone interview. Make the call from your landline, and make sure you have a clear connection. Turn off any external sources of noise, including the television and radio, and make sure the kids know you should not be disturbed. If you have a dog, you might want to put him outside until the interview is over. The sound of a barking dog can be quite distracting for both you and the interviewer.
If you have call waiting or an answering service on your phone, be sure to turn it off before the interview begins. You do not want anything to distract you from the task at hand.
Choose a Location You Can Control
It is important to set the telephone interview in a location you can completely control. That generally means making the call from home, where you can eliminate outside noises and other distractions.
If you cannot control those outside distractions at home, you may need to hold the interview at a friend’s home, or even rent an office for an hour or two. Just make sure that you have online access from wherever you are making the call.
Set Aside Plenty of Time
If you are already working, you might be tempted to cram the phone interview into your lunch hour, but that would be a big mistake. You will need plenty of time to prepare for the interview, from printing off your resume and job description to making sure all distractions and external noises have been eradicated.
It can be extremely difficult to do a telephone interview from your current office, since it is impossible to completely control the situation. Even if you have the time blocked out, there is always the danger that an emergency will arise and interrupt the interview. That kind of interruption will reflect badly on your professionalism and could even torpedo your chance at the job.
A better strategy is to take a couple of hours off and go home for the interview. That will give you plenty of time to prepare the space, print the documents you need and practice your interview questions. You will be more relaxed, and you will be ready to answer those tough questions with grace and style.
Take Charge from the Start
If the interviewer is calling you, answer by stating your name. Answering the phone with your name allows you to take charge of the interview and display your professionalism right from the beginning.
Smile as you go through the interview; that smile will be reflected in your voice. Portraying a pleasant demeanor throughout the interview is important, since the person on the other end of the phone will be able to sense your mood. Projecting a positive attitude is even more important on a phone interview, since you cannot rely on body language to convey how you are feeling.
At SCR our goal is to find our clients the best talent in the energy sector. This, in turn, helps you find the right employer to make the best use of your skills. We encourage you to submit your resume and sign up to be notified of new opportunities that could be the right fit for you!
