Telephone job interviews are something companies use more and more. They are a quick way to identify candidates and rule out those who are not suited to the job, although often the only purpose of a phone interview is to carry out an initial screening of the candidates who will move on to the next stage: the face-to-face interview.
Although at first these interviews may seem similar to in-person ones, they are not at all.
In a face-to-face interview, things like body language, your appearance, your clothes, the way you greet people or your punctuality can be decisive. In a phone interview, what mainly counts is the quality of your answers to the interviewer’s questions, your tone of voice and the way you handle the phone interview as a whole.
(See: 9 body language mistakes that can cost you the job)
These tips can help you get through this kind of interview.
1. Stand up
Sitting down can limit the strength of your voice. Standing, you will breathe better and speak with more confidence. It may even help to walk around the room instead of staying still in one spot.
2. Keep pen and paper handy
Have pen and paper at hand to take notes or jot down any relevant information during the interview: details of the position, information about the company, people’s names, email addresses… and above all the name of the person who called you.
3. Research the company
The interviewer will probably ask you why you are interested in working for that company, so it is a good idea to learn about the company to be able to answer this question. Visit the company’s website, read about its latest projects… in short, get to know the company.
4. Know your CV
You should reread your CV, but you can also have an outline with the basic facts at hand during the phone interview in case you need to look at it. Bear in mind that the interviewer is very likely calling you with your CV on the desk, so a mistake (even one caused by a poor memory) could lead the interviewer to think you are lying.
5. Use the right language
Don’t be too informal, even if the interviewer seems to invite it. After all, you don’t know this person.
6. Take the call somewhere quiet
It is very unprofessional to do an interview with background noise. Whether you are at home or get the call while out in the street, find a quiet spot where you can talk. Interviewers analyse everything, and if what they hear in the background is a reality show on TV, they may think you spend all day watching that kind of programme.
In the same way, it would not be very appropriate to do the interview while your children are shouting and interrupting you. And if the call catches you in the bathroom, try as far as possible not to flush the toilet once you have answered.
7. Give short, concise answers
Give precise answers that clearly relate to the questions asked. Hesitating or taking a long time to answer will cost you points with the interviewer. An answer that goes on too long can also bore the interviewer or make the call drag. Remember that this person cannot see you and does not know you either.
Try to build a connection with the interviewer. Remember, too, that as a rule people who come across as likeable naturally tend to be liked, and that may be enough to get you through to the next stage.
8. Close the interview
At the end of the interview, ask what the next steps in the selection process are and when you can expect to hear back. Don’t forget to thank the caller for their time, and express your interest in the position.
Important: your goal during a telephone job interview is not to get the job, but to get through to the face-to-face interview. So give the interviewer a reason (or several) to want to meet you in person.
Further reading
- How to stand out in a group job interview
- 40 work skills you should put on your CV
- The 5 real reasons you will get hired
Featured image: Stephen Dann, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.
