Get Some Great Phone Interview Tips

Get Some Great Phone Interview TipsGet Some Great Phone Interview TipsWhile youre job searching, its important to be prepared for a phone bewerbereinstellungsgesprch on a moments notice. Many companies start theeinstellungsgesprch processwith a phone call to discuss the job opportunity with a prospective employee, determine if the candidate is a good fit, and to gauge his or her interest in the position. In many cases, yourinterview will be scheduled in advanceby email or phone. In others, you may receive a surprise phone call asking if youre available to chat about a job. You never know when a recruiter or a networking contact might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk, so always answer the phone professionally, especially if the number is unfamiliar. You should also make aya that your outgoing voicemail message is professional. Why Companies Use Phone Interviews Why do companies use phone interviews?Employers use telephone interviews as a way of identifying and recrui ting candidates for employment. Phone interviews are often used to screen candidates to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invitedfor in-person interviews. They are also used as a way to minimize the expenses involved in interviewing out-of-town candidates. For remote positions, a phone interview may be the only option. How to Ace a Phone Interview Before you get on the telephone to interview for a job, review these phone interview tips and techniques so you can ace the interview and make it to the next round. Prepare for a phone interview just as you would for a regular in-person interview. Compile a list of yourstrengthsandweaknesses, as well as a list of answers to typicalphone interview questions. In addition, have alist of questionsready to ask the interviewer. If you have advance notice of the interview, make sure to review the job description and do a bit ofresearch on the company. Take the time tomatch your qualifications to the job description so that you can spe ak to why youre a strong candidate for the position. Review your resume, as well. Know the dates when you held each of your previous jobs, and what your responsibilities were. Youshould feel comfortable and ready to discuss your background and skills confidentlyduring a phone conversation. Have a copy of your resume nearby, so that you can refer to it during the interview. Also have a copy of the job posting and a copy of your cover letter if you sent one. Practice Interviewing Talking on the phone isnt as easy as it seems. As with an in-person interview, practice can be helpful. Not only will this help you rehearse answers to common phone interview questions, but it will also help you realize if you have a lot of verbal ticks, fail to enunciate, or speak too fast or too slow. For practice, have a friend or family member conduct amock interviewand record it so you can see how you sound over the phone. Once you have a recording, youll be able to hear your um das and uhs and okays soyoucan practice reducing them from your conversational speech. Listening to the recording will also help you pinpoint answers that you can improve. If you dont have someone who can help, practice answering your own questions. You dont need to memorize answers, but having a sense of what youre going to say will help reduceyournervesandmakeyour responses soundmore natural. Get Ready for the Call Before the call,confirm all the details,including the date, time, and who you will be talking to. Be sure you know whether the interviewer is calling you or if you need to make the call. If something goes wrong and you miss the call, or the recruiter doesnt call on time, dont panic. You should be able toget the call back on track or reschedule if need be. Use a quiet, comfortable, and private space with no distractions so you can focus on the interview. Proper Phone Interview Etiquette Review these guidelines for appropriate phone interview etiquette, so you make the best impression on your interviewer. Answer the phone yourself. First,besuretolet family members and/or roommates know you are expecting a call. When you answer the phone, respond with your name, i.e.Jane Doe(in a perky tone of voice), so the interviewer knows they have reached the right person. Listen carefully to the interviewerand dont start speaking until the interviewer finishes the question. If you have something you want to say, jot it down on your notepad and mention it when its your turn to talk. Dont worry if you need a few seconds to think of a response, but dont leave too much dead air. If you need the interviewer to repeat the question, ask. Phone Interview Tips Follow these tips for a successful phone interview Create a checklist. Reviewthe job postingand make a list of how your qualifications match the hiring criteria. Have the list available so you can glance at it during the interview. Have your resume handy.Keep yourresume in clear view (either on the top of your desk, or tap e it to the wall) so its at your fingertips when you need to answer questions. Be prepared to take notes.Have a pen and paper handy for note-taking. Dont get interrupted.Turnoffcall-waiting so your call isnt interrupted. Reschedule if you have to.If the time isnt convenient, ask if you could talk at another time and suggest some alternatives. Clear the room.Evict the kids and the pets. Turn off the stereo and the TV. Close the door. Use a landline.If you have a landline, use that instead of your cell phone. That way, youll eliminate the possibility of poor reception or dropped calls. Dos and Donts During the Phone Interview Do use the persons title (Mr. or Ms. and their last name.) Only use their first name if they ask you to.Dontsmoke, chew gum, eat, or drink.Do keep a glass of water handy, though. Theresnothingworse than having a tickle in your throat or a cough starting when you need to talk on the phone. Have a glass of water ready so you can take a quick sip if your mouth g ets dry.Dosmile. Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice. It can also be helpful to stand during the interview, since this typically gives your voice more energy and enthusiasm. Do focus, listen, and enunciate.Its important to focus on the interview and that can be harder on the phone than in-person. Be sure to listen to the question, ask for clarification if youre not sure what the interviewer is asking, and speak slowly, carefully, and clearly when you respond. Its fine to take a few seconds to compose your thoughts before you answer.Dont interrupt the interviewer.Do take your time.Its perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to collect your thoughts.Dotake notes.Its hard to remember what you discussed after the fact, so take brief notes during the interview. Do give short answers. Its important to stay focused on the questions and your responses.Do have questions to ask the interviewer ready.Be prepared to respond when the interviewer asks whether you have any questions for him or her. Review thesequestions to ask the interviewerand have a few ready in advance.Do rememberthatyour goal is to set up a face-to-face interview. At the end of your conversation, after you thank the interviewer, ask if it would be possible to meet in person. Follow-Up After the Interview As the interview winds down, make sure to say thank you to the interviewer. Ask for the interviewers email address, if you dont already have it. Send out anemail thank-you noteimmediately, thanking the interviewer and reiterating your interest in the job. You can also use your thank-you note as a way to provide information on anything regarding your qualifications you didnt get a chance to mention during the phone interview. Whenthe interview is over, carefully review any notes you were able to take during the conversation. Jot down what types of questions you were asked, how you responded, and any follow-up questions you may have if you have an opportunity for an in-person interviewor a second-round phone interview.