4 Simple Ways To Help You Ace The Phone Interview

By Lisa Osiako

Many companies today use phone interviews during the early stages of screening candidates before inviting them for a face-to-face interview. This is especially used when there are a large number of applicants for a position.

You have just been called for an interview. Unlike other interviews you may have attended, this one is a phone interview. Well, at least you do not have to meet the employer. How do you then ensure that you are still able to ace it and emerge as the best candidate?

During a phone interview, the recruiter’s main purpose is to confirm your level of interest, match the core skills and assess the culture fit. This is all in a bid to ensure that the interviewee has experience in the required areas of the role.

1. Do your research

In many cases, phone interviews do not take a long time. As such, it is important to have a clear view on why you really want the job.

Prior to the interview, research about the company so as to understand them more deeply and synchronize it with how it fits the role you are seeking.

As you look through their vision, mission, and values among other things, you will find something that connects with your experience and interests. Speaking about that during the phone interview will show how interested you are in the opportunity.

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2. Make it a real interview environment

Just as you would when going for a face-to-face interview, bring out the best in yourself as you take the phone interview.

The mistake many of us do is taking a phone interview in a very casual manner. This will reflect in your communication style as your professional energy will be dim.

Find a good space in the house, whether at a desk or home office, and dress accordingly. Better yet, put on what you would wear to a face-to-face interview. Believe it or not, this sends a very clear message to your brain that it is time for work and not relaxation. The right posture will also ensure that your voice is projected well. In the end, when you pick that call, you will be in the right frame of mind.

3. Avoid reciting from paper

It is important to show that you are actively interested in the role, and not just taking it to know what the salary range is.

Therefore, as you do your research on the company and understand them more deeply, take some time to note down the important points. Go through them before the interview and personalize it to the role you are interviewing for.

Let the employer feel like there is a human face behind the voice and not just a robot who is trying to impress.

4. Listen

A great deal of communication happens through listening. As mentioned earlier on, phone interviews do not take a long time.

Do not make an interviewer repeat their question, and also do not take a lot of time answering a question they pose to you.

If you do not listen to the questions carefully and end up answering the wrong question, the message you portray is that you are not a good listener. What this conveys, in the long run, is that you may not be able to follow directions and instructions well.

Also, make sure the interviewer has finished their question before you start answering. Do not interrupt. If you realize you have started talking before they finish, stop and let them go on.

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Phone interviews are easier as compared to face-to-face interviews. All you need to do is research and prepare just as you would for a normal interview. Always strive to make a lasting impression to the interviewer. Good luck!