In essence, a phone interview should be treated as a face-to-face interview. It is how you will make your first impression, so you’ll want to prepare and practice as you would for any interview. Here are some tips that can help you prepare and ace this alternative interview format:
What to have for the interview:
- Your resume, cover letter, and the job ad in clear view so that you can access them when you need to answer questions.
- A list of accomplishments related to the position.
- A pen and paper ready in case you wish to take notes.
- An area where you will not be interrupted by low cell phone coverage or other people. You may want to consider using a landline to be safe.
- A professional voice message in case the call is missed.
- Research you have done on the company.
- A few questions about the job.
- Your calendar.
- Dress up as if it were an in-person interview; feeling professional is everything.
- Avoid placing anything in your mouth, except for water.
- Speak directly into the phone.
- Stand up and look into a mirror during the interview; you’ll feel more confident.
- Smile and the employer will hear the positive tone in your voice.
- Speak slowly and enunciate.
- Use the person's title unless they let you know that you can call them by their first name.
- Let the interviewer control the conversation.
- Keep your answers short and to-the-point by providing concise, concrete examples.
- If you need time to think, say so. It’s fine to ask.
- Always say thank you and end the conversation by pulling up your strengths in a final statement.
- Let the interviewer know that you would appreciate an in-person conversation to further discuss your qualifications.
- Send a thank you note immediately after and reiterate your interest in the job.
Posts
