With
more and more candidates applying for the same position, many
employers now look to phone interviews as a quick and easy
method of screening applicants or as a precursor to one-on-one
interviews. This form of interviewing also has numerous practical
advantages, particularly for candidates applying from abroad
or from other parts of the country.
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Cool Interview Tips
Phone interviews, however, are not as
straightforward as they seem. Researchers believe that 80%
of jobs are won or lost during the first five minutes of the
conversation. Given these circumstances, it is essential to
prepare thoroughly for the interview and to master the relevant
techniques.
Ensure that your contact information is accurate
When filling in your application form, it is essential that
you provide prospective employers with accurate contact information.
No employer wants to waste time trying to contact you if you
have changed your phone number or have moved to a new address.
Most employers will reject those candidates who provide inaccurate
contact information.
Keep things professional
If you aren’t available when the employer calls, he
or she is likely to leave a message for you on your answering
machine. Make sure that your answer phone greeting is professional
– an overly long or silly message is never endearing.
Practice!
Phone interviews can often be quite intimidating. Practice
with a friend – have them ring you up and ask you interview-style
questions. This will also provide you with the opportunity
to assess your style. Because you are being interviewed over
the phone, you might feel tempted to adopt a more colloquial
tone when answering questions. However, doing so could damage
your chances of obtaining the job. Instead, try to sound confident
and professional.
Alternatively, use a cassette recorder to record yourself
giving answers to mock questions. Are you prone to stuttering?
Are your answers interrupted by multiple ‘ums’
and ‘ahs’? Taping yourself speaking can help highlight
these problem areas. Employers generally want to hire someone
who can communicate confidently and comfortably.
Get comfortable
Some people prefer to stand when being interviewed over the
phone. Researchers have found that people tend to sound more
professional when standing upright compared to when they are
lying curled up in an armchair. However, other interviewees
claim to find the experience less stressful when sitting.
Either way, make sure this isn't an issue before the interview
itself. Obviously there’s no reason to wear a business
suit for an interview that’s being conducted over the
phone. Remember, however, that it is always harder to sound
professional if you are answering interview questions dressed
in an old bathrobe and slippers.
Don’t forget memory aids
Use flash cards to provide you with an outline of the things
you want to mention during the course of the interview. However,
it is essential that your responses don’t sound memorised.
Keep a copy of your CV at hand if you are liable to forget
details of past employment, training or work experience.
There’s no need to fill the all the silences
If you have finished answering a question, but the interviewer
has failed to ask you another one, don’t try to fill
the gap with garbled chatter. Wait patiently for the interviewer
– he or she might want to discuss something with his
colleagues or co-interviewers. Alternatively, you could always
ask the interviewer a related question about the job.
Other practicalities
At the start of the phone interview, confirm the caller’s
name and organisation and take down their telephone number.
You could always create a phone interview log. This is a useful
way of recording calls from potential employees.
Try not to cough or sneeze during the interview. If it’s
unavoidable, say ‘excuse me’ after the interruption.
Needless to say, don’t chew or munch during the interview.
Noiselessly sip water if you need it. If you are being interviewed
over your landline, switch off your mobile phone. Also, disable
the call-waiting feature on your telephone and never place
the interviewer on speaker-phone.
If you have a cordless phone, move to an area free of distractions
and ensure that its batteries are fully charged. If you choose
to take the phone interview over a mobile phone, make certain
that the reception from your present location is good. Never
take the phone interview when outside, particularly if it
is windy. Wind noise can make it harder for the interviewer
to hear your answers and for you to answer his or her questions.
If you are hearing impaired…
If you find phone interview situations difficult to handle
on account of a hearing impairment, email the employer beforehand.
It is likely that the interviewers will be more than willing
to make alternate arrangements to accommodate your condition.
Finally...
Don’t forget to thank the interviewer once the interview
is complete. It’s always a good idea to follow up with
a thank you note to the employer, as this helps to emphasise
your interest in the job.
Conclusion
By following these simple instructions, you will be able to
master the techniques necessary to successfully complete a
phone interview. Remember to stay calm during the actual interview
– your hard work and preparation are sure to pay off
in the end.
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Cool Interview Tips
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