Fabulous Phone Interviews

 Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Phone interviews have become the first step for companies evaluating job candidates. You want to be successful during the phone interview so you can move to the next step of the process. There are some simple steps you can take to have a fabulous phone interview:

Do Your Research

Do your research on every organization where you apply for a job. Pay attention to awards the company has won or to the accomplishment’s listed on the company website.  If they brag about quality awards you can be sure they will ask questions about your experience with quality issues.  If you know someone working at an organization where you have applied, quiz them on what is currently going on in the company. If there is a big push for customer service, be ready to talk about your success with customers.

Practice

Practice phone interviews so you get used to the experience. Have a friend phone you and ask some of the typical screening questions. If the friend has human resources experience, get them to give you an interview and provide feedback.  Record the interview so you can improve how you answer questions.  How does your voice sound? Are you easy to understand?  Do you answer the questions in a clear and concise way? Have the practice interviewer provide you some feedback on your voice quality and content of your answers. A few practice sessions will help you to be relaxed and confident in phone interviews.

Set a Staging Area

Set aside a quiet place in your home for the interview.  It should be away from kids, traffic noise and the TV. The best place is a home office or guest room.  Have a folder for each job you have applied for within easy reach. Have a comfortable place where you can sit during the interview. Let your family know if you have a phone interview so they can make plans to be elsewhere or at least keep the noise level down. Put a do not disturb sign on the door.

Communication

Never take a phone interview while driving or doing errands.  Arrange a time with the interviewer when you can be in your staging area.  Use a land based line if possible and do not use the speaker phone feature. If possible disable the call waiting feature. Cell phones and speaker phones can have distracting background noise.  Have you ever talked to someone driving in a car on the cell phone?  The sound of wind in the background is distracting. It is also hard to concentrate on the interview if you are driving and running errands.  It is best to do the interview when you can concentrate on the experience.

Get Organized

Start a job search folder with the company name of every organization where you apply for a job.  Place the job posting and any research information you have gathered about the company into the job search folder.  Have another folder with your resume.  Keep both within easy reach.  Have a pen handy so you can jot notes or questions down right on the folder.  If you have time to prepare before the interview, jot down any questions you want to ask and place them in the job search folder.  Before you hang up, ask about timing for interviews and jot this on the folder.  You will have an idea when to expect a follow up call for an interview.

Promote Yourself

Be prepared with your 30 second elevator speech or a short listing of your accomplishments that apply to this job opening. Your research will tell you the accomplishments you need to highlight. Highlight your strengths in relation to the job posting and the facts you uncovered in your research.

Closing
Ask the interviewer when they will make a decision about interviews. Note this date on  your job search folder so you know when to follow up with HR. Thank the interviewer for their time, state your interest in the position and that you look forward to discussing the position in person. No thank you note is required.  If you are not interested in the position thank the interviewer for their time and tell them you do not want to go forward.

If you take these steps you will impress the interviewer with your knowledge and confidence. Following these steps gives you the best chance of progressing to the next step of a face to face interview.

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