Top Phone Interview Tips to Help You Ace Your Next Job Interview
It can be hard to get your points across during a phone interview, so it’s important to prepare beforehand. Read these tips on how to prepare for a telephone interview so you can make sure you’re ready! f you have an upcoming phone interview with your potential employer, then you might be feeling nervous about it, but there are plenty of things you can do to help prepare for it. Here are some tips that will help you feel more confident when the big day comes around.
Record your phone call
Here are some tips that may help:
1) Be mindful of your background noise. Make sure the room is free of any distracting noises or people so that your interviewer can hear and understand you clearly.
2) Clear your throat before answering questions.
3) Listen carefully for instructions on what information the interviewer needs from you and be ready to give it without being prompted multiple times.
4) Check out this guide for more information on how to ace your next phone interview!
Dress up as if it were an in-person meeting
When you are going on a telephone interview, it is good to dress up as if you were going on an in-person meeting. The person interviewing you will be less likely to think you are slacking off from the comfort of your home or business office. Plus, they will be able to see your body language, which can be important when you're speaking over the phone. Make sure that your voice is professional and strong. Practice answering a list of commonly asked questions such as What would make you the best candidate for this position? and What can you tell me about yourself? I've linked an in-depth guide for those questions below for more information. Good luck!
Check the time difference
Double check the time difference between where you are and where the interview is taking place. Ideally, call before your interview day and find out the local time at that location in order to come up with a plan for when to make your call. Some interviewers will want an email introduction before they give you a phone number; others may want an instant conversation without going through an email back-and-forth. Follow their guidelines so you don't keep them waiting on the line or delay the process of calling them in case there's any sudden complications with your travel plans.
Don’t rehearse too much
Get a good night’s sleep and drink lots of water beforehand to ensure you’re well-rested and not dehydrated. Make sure you go to the bathroom before the interview and wear something comfortable that feels like you. Take deep breaths when you are nervous. And finally, take some time before your interview to come up with a list of ten accomplishments so that when you get asked about them during the interview, you can recite them from memory with confidence.
Take notes during the interview
Treat the interview as if it were an in-person meeting. Have a pen and paper ready to take notes on anything that stands out. Take care of any note-taking needs before the call starts so you can stay focused on listening to what is being said. Stay polite, stay upbeat, and don't interrupt the interviewer. Make sure you’re sitting comfortably with good lighting when making phone calls. When you're finished, send a thank-you email for setting up the interview and reiterate how interested you are in the job opening!
Practice with a friend
1. Prepare for your interview with a friend as you would an actual job interview. Think about the questions you might be asked and come up with possible answers so that you are well-prepared when it comes time for the real interview.
2. Take a few moments before you start the call to set your tone: what's your goal in this call? Do you want them to think of you as enthusiastic, knowledgeable, or assertive?
3. When it's time for the person on the other end of the line to ask their first question, take a breath and prepare your answer before they speak again.
4. Prepare three 'talking points' (points where they'll want some feedback) and have ideas ready so that you're ready with solutions if they happen during your conversation.
Practice asking questions
The best way to ace a phone interview is by practicing with at least five different questions you might be asked. Here are some examples:
What do you think makes the ideal work environment?
Give me an example of how you solved a problem in the past.
What was your experience like when you worked at (insert company)? What have you learned from that experience that you would apply if given this job? How would your supervisor or co-workers describe you as an employee and person?
What are your strengths and weaknesses, and how will they affect this position?
What is one thing that stands out about yourself that relates to this position?
Know your resume
It might feel repetitive, but go through it step by step and make sure that you have everything listed in the best possible order. It will show during the interview when you are asked a question about something on your resume, and you don't know what they're talking about.
Always make sure you have your resume on hand in the event you are asked for it. This is the first thing most companies will ask for. Some also might ask for a cover letter, so it's best to be prepared with one of those as well. It doesn't hurt to brush up on your interview skills and know what types of questions are most common, too. Finally, remember this isn't just a live interview - if you take notes during the conversation, that could help you out when looking back at them after the interview has finished
