Employers often use phone interviews as a way to screen candidates to bring in for in-person interviews and a way to interview candidates that live further away. Most often you will get a call for a phone interview without any notice, however the lucky few may get an email ahead of time asking when an appropriate time to schedule the call. But don’t fret - Simply Hired has the tips that you need to ace the phone interview and lead the way towards an in-person interview.
Preparation
Although you might not know when a phone interview will occur, there are ways to be ready when you get a call from a recruiter or hiring manager:
- Keep a copy of your resume with you or near your phone so that you can refer to it or need it to answer questions
- Have a pen and paper handy so you can take down notes or write down questions you’d like to ask during your call
- Know your answers to typical interview questions, such as your biggest strengths and weaknesses, accomplishments, past experience and even salary expectations
- Practice! Have a friend give you a call and give you a mock phone interview and get their feedback on ways you can improve
During the Phone Interview
During the call, there are a couple things to keep in mind:
- Find a place to take the call where it is quiet and free of distractions so you can focus on the phone interview (and definitely don’t take the call while driving!)
- If it is a bad time for you or if you have less than optimal cell phone reception, ask if you can reschedule the call for a more convenient time – and possibly consider giving them a landline number
- Speak slowly and clearly so the interviewer can easily understand you, and speak as if they were sitting in front of you – feel free to smile and gesture as you normally do when speaking to people
- Don’t eat, chew gum, or smoke while you’re on the phone – even though you’re not seated in front of your interviewer, they can hear what’s happening on your end of the phone
- Grab a glass of water in case your mouth gets dry or if something gets caught in your throat
Afterward
The phone interview isn’t over after you hang up the phone. Here are ways to follow up after the call:
- At the end of the call, make sure you have the interviewers’ name (including spelling) correct, and get their contact information
- Thank the interviewer for their time on the call and send your interviewer a thank you note as soon as you’re off the phone
We hope these tips will help you ace the phone interview and get you one step further in the interview process during your job search!
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