Many employers are turning to phone interviews to vet candidates before bringing them in for an in-person meeting. This allows them to interview several candidates within a few hours and then choose the best options. Phone interviews are also useful for interviewing candidates from different cities or states because it’s cheaper and faster for both parties instead of traveling to meet them. While these calls are convenient, they can also be challenging if you’re not prepared. Follow these 10 phone interview tips to land your dream job.
1. Wear business apparel even if they can’t see you
Just because your interviewers can’t see you doesn’t mean you should take the interview in pajamas or dirty clothes. Remember to shower before the interview and brush your teeth, then change into professional business wear for the call. Career experts and psychologists both list wearing professional clothing during the call as their top phone interview advice. The act of putting on a suit can give you confidence and make you answer questions with more certainty. During the call, try to smile as if your interviewers could see you. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but there will be a difference in your voice that makes you sound more engaging and energized.
2. Find a quiet place without interruptions
Make sure kids, pets, and other distractions are out of the way for your phone interview and you have access to a quiet area where you can focus. Your interviewers don’t want to compete with a chirping parakeet or crying baby. Not only does it distract them from what you’re saying, it also throws you off because you’re too worried about the noise to answer clearly. It’s impossible to account for every sound, but by limiting the noises that you can control, you can take the call in peace. If there are unplanned noises disrupting the call (like an ambulance driving by or a lawnmower outside), apologize for the disruption and use the mute button when you’re not talking.
3. Test for service and call clarity
When choosing your interview location, you don’t just want to focus on the background noise. Make sure you have enough cell service or access to a landline to make sure your call doesn’t get dropped. You should also test for call clarity to make sure your interview won’t be interrupted by static or other problems. You may want to have a backup plan in case your call drops during the interview. If you can’t call them back, online services like Skype and Facebook calling can help you call them over the Internet with more clarity.
4. Practice questions ahead of time
Ask a friend or relative to run through practice questions before you take the call. You can find plenty of practice questions online. Make sure you find someone who is able to push you to respond in the best way possible. Have them ask follow-up questions about what you’re trying to say and even push back against your thoughts. Not only will this give you experience answering common interview questions, it will also prepare you to think on your feet. You can even have your friend call you to practice the questions so you get used to listening and answering in the environment you will be in for the interview.
5. Gather your notes so you can remember talking points
Having a phone interview is like taking an open-book test. You can keep your notes out to reference them throughout the call. Try to spread your notes across a table or other wide area so you can turn to them during the call. These notes might include job descriptions from past companies you worked for, statistics about how you improved performance, and case studies or portfolio samples that you will send after the call. These notes will help you answer questions quickly and confidently, increasing your chances of getting a follow-up call.
6. Research the company ahead of time
Before you even pick up the phone, you should be prepared with questions and information about the company you have applied to work for. Keep a copy of the job description close by so you can talk about your experience with the requirements and ask questions about them. You should also research the company’s products, services, and clients to better understand what they do. Mentioning these during the interview proves that you understand what you will be doing to grow the company. Most interviews end by asking the candidate if they have any questions about the company or position. During your research phase, draft a few questions to gain more insight into the role. You can also keep a pen and paper handy during the call to write down other notes and questions as they come up. It also helps to research the people who will interview you. How long have they worked in the company? What is their background? Knowing this will give you a better idea about your audience and how to impress them.
7. Speak slowly and enunciate
While you might have a great connection that allows you to hear and be heard clearly, it’s harder to hear people over the phone than in person. As you give your answers, speak slowly and make sure you’re enunciating your points. You don’t have to yell into the phone, but you want to make sure that your points are coming across. This is particularly true if you’re applying for a position outside of your state or country. Differences in accents might make it harder for the people interviewing you to understand what you’re saying. By focusing on slow and clear communication, everyone can be on the same page.
8. Keep a glass of water nearby
Phone interviews can range between 15 minutes and an hour depending on your stage of the hiring process. Some employees use these calls to decide who they should bring in to meet in person, while others use them as the deciding factor on who to hire. Either way, keeping a glass of water nearby should help if your mouth gets dry. If you do take a sip of your water during the interview, wait until your interviewer is speaking and quietly take a drink. The people on the other line don’t want to hear you slurping or the sound of a water bottle popping open.
9. Don’t interrupt the interviewer
If you have been practicing your answers and reviewing your talking points, then you might be excited to answer a question that your interviewer has for you. However, resist the urge to jump in and instead wait until they have finished talking. This is harder over a phone interview because you can’t see when a person has stopped talking. They might pause to take a breath, giving the impression that they are done. You can even wait for a beat until they finish before you begin to answer in order to make sure that they have finished the question.
10. Give concise answers
In the same way that you shouldn’t interrupt whoever is speaking on the phone, your interviewer isn’t going to interrupt you. In an in-person setting, you might be able to see how they react to your answers and know when to stop, but this can be harder on the phone. While your interviewer might just be waiting for you to finish or taking notes, you might interpret their silence as disapproval or an expectation to hear more. This can be problematic if you continue rambling on. To prevent this, answer your questions clearly and concisely. You shouldn’t speak for more than a minute or two at a time. If your interviewer wants to hear more detail about what you’re saying, they will ask you. A phone interview can be less stressful than an in-person one if you’re prepared. By following these tips, you should increase your chances of creating a great environment that increases your chances of success.
