Acing the phone interview

“So, tell me about yourself.”

“Well, um (dog barking), I am 23 years old. Um, I have two older sisters and a brother. My parents live in South Carolina with my grandparents. I really enjoy painting, um, going to rock concerts, and (TV fuzz) hanging out with my boyfriend, Carl.”

As you can probably guess, this person didn’t get the “good news” call after their phone interview. Not only did the interviewee incorrectly answer the question, there were other distractions giving the interviewer a poor first impression. However, that could be turned around with a little coaching and preparation. Preparing for a phone interview is just as important (if not more important!) as a face-to-face interview. Your first impression with a company begins the second you pick up the phone – whether it is the actual phone interview or a call to set up a face-to-face interview. If you want to make an impact over the phone, here are some helpful tips to ace the phone interview.

Jump out of bed – While no one can see you in your footie pajamas, you still want to look the part so you can act the part. The employer cannot physically shake your hand or watch your body language, so it’s even more important to convey your personality over the phone. This starts with getting out of bed, showering, brushing your teeth, and drinking coffee or tea if that will help. You don’t want to sound groggy or come off as lazy. Make sure to find a quiet, controlled environment for the interview. No dogs barking or blaring TVs!

Once you are dressed and ready to go, try some power poses before you pick up the phone. These poses will raise your testosterone levels, making you feel more confident, while lowering your cortisol levels and reducing your anxiety.

Smile and take a walk – Think back to when you were in middle or high school talking to your crush on the telephone (probably on one with a cord). If you were like me, you walked around the kitchen table about a thousand times; smiling all the while. Moving around while interviewing increases blood circulation and keeps you energized. Smile as you answer their questions; interviewers will be able to hear the sincerity and happiness in your voice!

Create a resume cheat sheet – Print a copy of your resume and use it to take notes. Make note of any details you’d like to bring up regarding a job or activity you participated in. Depending on when your resume was last updated, you may not remember specific details, especially under pressure. This will help you sound more prepared as you are answering questions. Remember, they can’t see you and your resume filled with notes!

Research the company – Make sure you know what the company does and about the position in which you are being interviewed for. Ask what the job will entail and express sincere interest in what the interviewer is saying. Carefully consider what you are hearing about the job to see if these job characteristics match up with your interests. This is also a chance for you to get to know the company and find out if this position is a good fit for you. With that in mind, do not dominate the conversation by asking all the questions. The employer should control the questioning during this time. Should this switch, you could give the wrong impression.

Same ol’ interview questions – Prepare for any possible interview questions. Are you willing to relocate for this job? What interests you about the job? How soon can you start? And, of course, the infamous: Tell me about yourself. Jot down answers to these questions and keep them in front of you, if it helps. Avoid sounding too rehearsed by writing your answers in bullet points. If you need any other additional questions to prepare for, visit this great Forbes article.

Send a “thank you” email – After you have left a great first impression over the phone, it is incredibly important to send a simple “thank you” note. If you have the office address at hand, a written thank you is the most heartfelt. An email will work, too, if that is all you have. There are hundreds of thank you templates available online. Here is a great example.

I hope these tips help you land your dream job or at least get you to the next level in the hiring process! For any other questions about phone interviews, please feel free to contact me.

 

janae-shillitoJanae Shillito started with Aureus Medical Group in June 2015 as a recruiter for the Advanced Practice Division where she recruited Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. She now works with students, guiding them on their transitional journey from school to the workplace as a Student Outreach Coordinator for the Rehab Therapy division. When Janae isn’t traveling and visiting college campuses all over the country, she is usually found reading a good book, kickboxing, or hanging out with friends and family, especially her husband, Cory, and favorite Rottweiler, Hank.

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