Ah, the phone interview. In recent years, more and more employers have chosen phone interviews for preliminary screening. After reading the resume, an employer wants to learn about the candidate as the person behind the piece of paper.
Phone interviews allow employers to evaluate more employees faster. Job seekers also benefit because they get a chance to interview in their comfort zone with their job search investigation resources in front of them prior to the face-to-face interview. It is an excellent opportunity to make a great first impression, connect with an interviewer, and gain a deeper understanding of what would be expected from a second or third interview.
Interviewing over the phone is great, but job seekers need to be prepared for what happens when they pickup that call. There are plenty of ways to blow a phone interview. Here’s how:
Don’t prepare
The beauty of a phone interview is that you don’t need to prepare nearly as much as you would for a face-to-face interview. You don’t need to drive anywhere or even get out of your pajamas (who is going to see you anyway?). However, you still need to prepare. Rehearse what you might say, research potential interview questions, and keep a “cheat sheet” in front of you for quick reference. Keep close by relevant information about the company, recent news, products, industry, and your responses to standard and possible non-standard questions that you researched.
Check out: 5 Different Types of Job Interviews & How to Prepare for Them
Use an unreliable phone
This is not the time to risk having your call dropped or occasional interference when you’re selling yourself to an employer. Use a phone that you know is clear and reliable-and if you must use your cell phone, check the reception beforehand. Speakerphone is fine as long as you know where the microphone is. Don’t take this opportunity to try out your awesome Pittsburgh Steelers football phone you got on eBay or your never tested Skype account with the so-so Wi-Fi connection.
Sit in a noisy area
Just like an unreliable phone, unwanted noise can leave a poor impression with a potential employer. If you have kids, pets, or a gardener that comes by in the morning, then find a room (or your car!) to interview in silence. Let the others in your home know that you need silence to ensure they don’t interrupt.
Stress out
This might be your first interview in a long time or your tenth in a week; but you need to make a point to relax and keep calm. While some interview jitters are totally fine, spazzing out, talking too fast, and being overwhelmed with “um”s, “uh”s, and “er”s can break an otherwise fine interview. Before you answer the phone, take a deep breath, lie down, or do anything else that’ll calm you down and get you in the right zone.
Check out: 5 Ways to Banish Job Search Stress
Forget
You might not be meeting someone face-to-face, but a phone interview is just as important. Be ready for the interview at least 10 minutes before the call is scheduled. Typically the interviewer will call you, but pay attention to any specific instructions that are given to you.
In what other ways might a candidate blow a phone interview?