Some candidates don’t feel a phone interview is a real
interview, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this may be
your gateway for getting in the door at a company, so don’t blow it on the
phone!
Phone Interview Tips
Here are some tips to help you navigate the world of phone
interviews:
1. Treat the phone interview the same way you would
an in-person job interview.
This means that you should be focused and come prepared with
knowledge of both the company and the job. One benefit of having a phone
interview is that you can have company materials in front of you for
handy reference. Some people like to have the company’s website in front
of them on a computer screen and others like to have a copy of their resume or
job description.
Figure out what works best for you and have those things
available before you take the call. Be sure that you aren’t typing while you’re
doing the phone interview. The interviewer may be able to hear your keyboard
clicking, so pull up all the necessary websites and documents a few minutes
before your scheduled call time.
2. If you must take the call from your cell phone, make sure
you are in an area that has good reception and you’re in a quiet environment.
Background noises are very distracting to the interviewer and
you want to make sure that the interviewer knows you are taking
the interview seriously. If you take the call at a coffee shop or
restaurant, you really aren’t in control of the ambient noise. Would you want a
screaming toddler to interrupt your train of thought and be distracting to the
person on the other end of the phone? Probably not. If you don’t have a quiet
space available in your home, check with your local library to see if they have
a meeting space you can reserve for free.
3. Eliminate any distractions while on the phone.
For example, turn off your computer’s speakers, find a
babysitter for your children, put your dog outside, etc. You should only be
focusing on what the interviewer is saying. It’s very difficult to do so when
there are other things competing for your attention.
After the phone interview concludes, send a quick e-mail to your
interviewers to thank them for their time. This goes a long way in indicating
that you are still interested in the position.
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