Phone Interview Tips

Getting nervous when you have to go for an interview is very obvious. Have you ever faced a telephonic interview? Yes, a phone interview. Though, it seems to be easier than physically sitting in front of the interviewers and answering interview questions, let me tell you, these are very tricky and can be tougher than you expected. No no, I am not scaring you, but ignorance towards the preparation can surely mess up the conversation. Further, you can lose the golden job opportunity just due to a phone call. Of course the telephone interview questions and your answers will be no different from those in case of a regular interview. So, the basic job interview tips apply even in case of phone interviews.

Telephone interviews are used by the employers for identifying various features of a candidate. They are generally for shortlisting the candidates for in-person interviews. They are also used as a way to save the time or minimize the expenses involved in interviewing the candidates, especially the ones staying out of the city. The reasons can vary and it is always better to be prepared for a phone interview while you are active in job search. You never know when a recruiter might give you a call and have a conversation with you. Review these telephone interview tips and be confident to grab that job offer.

Preparing for a Telephone Interview

• Fix the place where you will be attending the phone call. Make sure the place is calm and there is no disturbance in the network. The external sound and interrupted voices can be very irritating and disturbing during the interview.
• Preferably, have a table to arrange the things required during the interview.
• Have your resume and a glass of water with you. It would be useful if you are asked your marks, year of passing, etc.
• Switch on/ off the fan or the lights as per your requirement.
• Have a pen and notepad in place.
• Remember the time fixed for the interview.
• Deactivate the call waiting system (if your phone has one) before you get the interview call, this might be disturbing if someone calls you in between the interview.
• Also, if you are on another call, a few minutes before the interview time, just disconnect it. The interviewer might call you a few minutes before. So it is better to keep your phone free.
• If the interviewer is going to give you a call and the scheduled time has passed, wait for his/her call, don't give them a call. Wait for a day and then you can call them.

Most of these things can be done only if an interview call is already scheduled. So, what if you suddenly get a call from a recruiter for a job opening? May be it is a proper interview call or just for fixing an in-person interview, but you need to be equally good while answering it. Remember, a two minute conversation can also lead to your rejection, if you don't handle it well. Here are some more telephone interview tips.

Dos and Don'ts of Phone Interviews

• Don't eat or smoke during the call.
• Don't speak very slowly or don't be very fast. Be loud enough and talk calmly so that the interviewer can easily understand what you are talking.
• The voice clarity is very important.
• Use the interviewer's title (Mr. or Ms. Followed by their last name); don't use their first names unless you are told so.
• Listen to the interviewer, don't interrupt in-between.
• Don't use monosyllables while answering.
• Don't get scared and lie, saying you are not available and ask to call back later. This may be the last chance and the recruiter might understander your low confidence.
• Take a pen and pad as soon as you get the call, you may be asked to come down to the company for in-person interview. So the contact address and your interviewer's name can be noted properly instead of you calling them back later for the same.

Important Telephone Interview Techniques

• Though you are interviewed over the phone, try to create an atmosphere of an in-person interview. This will increase the comfort level between you and the interviewer.
• Have a decent tone during the conversation.
• Listen carefully and always request to repeat the question if you are unable to understand it. This is better than giving an irrelevant answer without understanding the question.
• Think and answer, take your own time. It is just like an in-person interview, don't answer hastily.
• Give short answers and take proper pauses. Using long sentences without a pause will make it difficult for the interviewer to interpret what you are saying.
• Don't refer to any notes while answering. Mind well, the interviewer can easily make out that you are reading out a written text.
• Keep yourself prepared for common interview questions like your personal introduction, previous job background, salary expectations, joining date, etc.
• Always remember to thank the interviewer for his call and time.
• In case you are genuinely busy and cannot take the call, explain the situation to the interviewer and ask for another time slot. Do not disconnect the call. If you absolutely can't take it, send an apology message with a valid reason and call back as soon as you are free.

The above mentioned telephone interview tips will surely help you tackle a telephonic interview conversation. A phone interview can be a great opportunity to impress the recruiter with a confident voice, decent tone and a calm approach. Remember, a small-duration call can be a big test of a candidate's selection process. Don't be ignorant and scared about phone interviews, just be prepared, a single call can take you many steps ahead, towards your career goal.