7 Steps To A Winning Phone Interview

Many interviews are preceded by a phone screen, which seems friendly, but don’t be lulled into complacency. A phone interview is not a friendly chat; it’s a process to eliminate you. You need to prepare for it just like you would an onsite interview.

If the company is conducting a phone interview with you, it could mean one of several things. If you’re an out-of-town candidate this is standard procedure. It’s a safeguard step in the interview process to further qualify you prior to spending the money to bring you for an onsite visit.

If you’re a local candidate, the meaning is usually a little more concerning. It typically means they aren’t convinced from your resume and cover letter that you’re worth their time. Sorry to be blunt, but it’s true. That means you have work cut out for you, and you have to convince them to bring you in.

Phone Interview Preparation

Make a list of these few points so you can have everything ready when they call. These are common-sense items that everyone should know, but it’s amazing how many people disregard them.

• Prepare a quiet space, away from disturbances.

• Have a good phone connection. A land line is best.

• Have water, or something to drink at hand.

• Note pad and pen/pencil.

• Have your questions prepared and with you.

• Turn off call waiting.

• Tell your family/friends you’ll be on an important call so they don’t pick up the line or otherwise disturb you.

Let’s Go Through These One At A Time.

Prepare a quiet space, away from disturbances. 

If you have animals, go somewhere they won’t bother you or distract you while you’re talking. Trust me, “Murphy’s Law” always comes into play. You might have a dog who hasn’t barked in two months, but something will happen to set the dog off while you’re talking to the prospective employer.

Have a good phone connection. A land line is best.

It’s important that you conduct the interview on a land line. There are few cell phone connections as clear or crisp as land lines, and you don’t want the person on the other end struggling to understand what you say. If you have a headset, and you know the sound is clear on both ends—use it. A good headset frees up your hands and allows for a more comfortable conversation. If you like to walk around while you talk, that’s fine. It makes some people more animated and that comes through as enthusiasm in their voice. Just make sure you’re not making noise while you walk.

Have water, or something to drink at hand.

You’ll be doing a lot of talking, and talking makes your mouth dry, so make sure you have water.

Note pad and pen/pencil.

This is a no brainer, but you’d be amazed how many people forget. I have often been interrupted with, “Hold on a minute while I get something to write with.” (In case you’re wondering—yes, that pisses me off.)

Have your questions prepared and with you.

Another no brainer. You have gone to the trouble of preparing questions to ask so make sure they’re with you. The questions should be prepared long before the call. Don’t wait until ten minutes before the interview. It would also be great to practice the questions you anticipate from them. Remember, the questions you get on a phone interview will probably be different than ones they throw at you in a face-to-face session. If the position you’re considering requires relocation, they will, or at least should, press you on whether you have discussed a move with your family and if relocation presents any problems.

Turn off call waiting.

There isn’t much that is more irritating than to be conducting a phone interview and have it interrupted numerous times by incoming calls. If you don’t know how to turn off call waiting, it’s usually fairly simple. If you check with your service provider it’s normally a simple process that takes a couple of minutes or less.

Tell your family/friends you’ll be on an important call.

This one speaks for itself.

Before We Continue Let’s Cover A Few Key Points About Phone Interviewing Etiquette.

Don’t interrupt. It’s never wise to interrupt any conversation, but it’s even more important during a phone interview because it’s often difficult to get back on track. If the person says something that sparks a thought…that’s what the notepad is for. Jot it down and discuss that thought later. You’ll get a chance to talk.

Don’t ever discuss things like salary or benefits or relocation. This is not the time or place to discuss it. This call is for them to determine if they’re interested in bringing you in for an interview. Don’t do anything to get off that line of thinking.

Don’t Forget To Be Excited

I have conducted more phone interviews (by far) than I have personal interviews. The number is certainly in the thousands. When you’ve done as many interviews on the phone as I have, you get good at picking up on subtle clues and fluctuations in a person’s voice. Things like hesitation, excitement, disappointment, enthusiasm, anger, frustration, and just about any other emotion you can imagine. If I can pick up on those emotions, others can too, so make sure the message you’re sending is a positive one. Be as excited as Adalina is in the picture to the left.

The Bottom Line?

Maintain a positive attitude. Show enthusiasm and interest in the company and the position. Be excited! It will go a long way to helping your cause.

You can turn a phone interview into a win for you if you stay focused on what matters. Always remember what the company’s primary need is. Focus on being the solution to that. 

(If you don’t yet have a clear picture of what the company is looking for, this is a good time to discuss it. Ask the manager or human resources representative for more detail on what is expected from the person in this position and what the key requirements are. It’s critical that you have a clear understanding of what the company wants prior to going for an onsite interview.)

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Tags: careers, interview tips, interviews, jobs