Many companies start the interview process with a phone interview. If this interview goes well, candidates are offered an in-person interview (and maybe even a job). To land your first post-college job, it’s essential to be prepared for phone interviews.
To impress your interviewers, use these seven phone interview tips.
1. Schedule Interviews for a Good Time
During your job search, interviewers may call you for impromptu phone interviews. These phone calls won’t always come at a good time. You could be driving, cooking dinner, or working out at the gym. In these cases, it’s OK to ask the interviewer to call back at a better time.
If you’re in the middle of something during a call, you’ll be distracted, and the interviewer will be, too. However, try to reschedule for sooner, rather than later. If you push back the interview too far, the interviewer could move on to other candidates.
2. Prepare for the Interview
Phone interviews are just as important as in-person interviews, so remember to prepare for them. Before the interview, do some research and learn more about the company.
Think about your responses to common questions that the interviewer will probably ask. If you have time, consider doing a mock phone interview with a friend to get some practice.
3. Talk in a Quiet Environment
To succeed in your interview, choose your environment carefully. Background noise can be distracting for both you and your interviewer. Choose a quiet area where you know you won’t have any interruptions during the call. For example, if you’re at home, you could lock yourself in your bedroom or home office so no one can walk in and distract you.
4. Smile While You’re Talking
The sound of your voice is very important during a phone interview. Interviewers don’t have any visual cues like body language to focus on. That means they pay extra attention to the sound of your voice.
If you sound like you’re bored or disengaged, you might not be invited for an in-person interview. To make your voice sound more cheerful, try to smile while you’re talking. You may feel silly, but this is one of the phone interview tips that really work.
5. Bring a Cheat Sheet
One of the advantages of a phone interview is that the interviewer can’t see you. You can have a cheat sheet in front of you to help answer questions. Consider printing out a copy of your resume, cover letter, and the job description and keeping them in front of you.
You could also prepare a list of points you’d like to remember to mention to the interviewer.
6. Have Questions Prepared for the Interviewer
At the end of the phone interview, the interviewer may ask if you have any questions. It’s a good idea to prepare some questions ahead of time. This is your opportunity to find out more about the position, the company culture, or concerns you may have.
If you don’t ask any questions, the interviewer may wonder if you’re not really interested in the job.
7. Have Pen and Paper Handy
You may want to take some notes during your phone interview. The interviewer may provide some details about the job you want to remember.
At the end of the interview, they may even want to set up a time for an in-person interview. The last thing you want is to be scrambling to find a pen. Be prepared and ensure you have something to write with close by.
To perform better during phone interviews, try these seven phone interview tips. By performing well in phone interviews, you’ll boost your chances of landing an in-person interview, and hopefully, a job. If you need help finding a job, search our current employment opportunities.
