How to Sail through a Telephone Interview

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By Althea DeBrule
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Article Rating: (4 Ratings)

These days most employers require a telephone interview as part of the initial screening to determine which candidates will be invited to interview in person. As a result it is critical for job seekers to know how to handle themselves over the phone. To ace a telephone interview you will need to know enough about the job opportunity to sound intelligent, be able to speak with confidence, and project a non-anxious presence. These tips will help you achieve your goal of successfully completing a telephone interview and getting that much coveted face-to-face discussion.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Know the name, title and phone number of the interviewer and general information about the job opportunity's department and the company. Be conscious of the interviewer's time. If it is not mentioned initially, ask the interviewer how much time he or she has planned for the telephone interview.
Step 2

Speak clearly and concisely. Pay attention to the speed, tone and volume when you are speaking. You'll be surprised how much your speech patterns change when you are nervous, stressed on feeling low.
Step 3

Make sure to have your resume and samples of your work in front of you for easy access when you are asked questions about dates and job specifics. Take notes about the conversation to help with an in-person interview.
Step 4

To prepare for the interview, have a friend or family member role play with you by calling and asking you several common interview questions. Record the call to hear how you sound and evaluate your pronunciation and enunciation.
Step 5

Convey a positive attitude by smiling when you are speaking. Speak with genuine energy and natural excitement as you discuss your experience and qualifications for the job. Try smiling into a mirror while you are speaking.
Step 6

Listen carefully and silently and don't interrupt the interviewer. Interruptions on the phone are more damaging than face-to-face, since you usually miss important points the interviewer may be making because you are talking instead.
Step 7

To hold your telephone interview, find a quiet enclosed place free from distractions like an office or conference room. When speaking on a cell phone, make sure you are in a stationary place and not driving or riding in a car so there are no dropped calls.
Step 8

Be prepared to arrange a return call, if you have been asked to initiate the telephone interview.

Comments

CBPope said

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on 12/27/2009 Phone interviews are a breeze for me . It's the in-person ones that get me nervous:)

anthonyray said

on 11/12/2009 I seem to get very nervous during a phone interview... I think it is because I like eye contact and like to read body language... Thanks for the great article!

respite said

on 8/16/2009 5* article. Excellent tips re telephone interviewing as said, today it is foundational to making it to the next level ... a face-to-face interview.