The 4-1-1 on the Phone Interview

The phone interview can make or break making it to a face-to-face interview and it’s more often than not used as a weeding out tool. So how do you come out of the phone interview smelling like a flower?

First, expect the phone interview to be a real interview. Be ready and prepared for the same kind of questions the face-to-face used to be reserved for. In other words: DO YOUR HOMEWORK before the interview. Questions covering your experience, strengths, weaknesses, knowledge of the job and the company, etc. need to be answered intelligently and in its entirety.

Next, YOU need to shine through the phone. Think of the phone interview as a first date and impress your date with you shining smile (yes, smiles are “seen” over the phone), your “up” personality, your intelligence, skills, speech…the whole enchilada. I suggest you even dress for the occasion. Yes, the interviewer may not see you, but you will see you and that counts and comes through. 

Phone interviews can last a long while, so be sure you schedule ample time, just as you would for a face to face interview. If you’re one of those folks that feel you connect best if you walk as you speak and you have a hardwood or tile floor, take your shoes off! If you have noisy critters or kids, lock them up! OK, that may be going a bit far. Make sure any noise makers are far, far away from you to keep distractions (for both you and the interviewer) to a minimum.

Let the best that you are within rise to the top and you’ll blossom the next time you’re in a phone interview.

To your success,
Rita
I like my new telephone, my computer works just fine, my calculator is perfect, but Lord, I miss my mind!  ;)