StormStaff

Telephone interviews are becoming more prominent as companies receive a sea of applications for their job openings. A phone interview can come at any time so you should be prepared. Before you can even meet with an interviewer, your time on the phone is the first chance to leave an impression, so you need to make it count.

Prepare yourself ahead of time

First, show your interest in the opportunity by researching the company. Gather these important documents and keep them nearby: a copy of your resume, requirements and duties of the position, some key words for answering possible questions, background research on the company and a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Having these during your interview will help immensely. Since the interviewer cannot see and your documents, go ahead and highlight sections as well as write side notes on specific key items you want to focus. If you receive a call from an interview but are not in an area where answering the phone is possible, ask if you can call them back and set a time within the next hour.

Keep track of your words

Speaking slowly and clearly is vital to your interview. Give yourself time to think before you answer questions. Keep a level of enthusiasm in your voice by smiling.

Take notes during the interview

Keep a pen and paper with you so you can take notes during the interview. Make notes on any relevant information you have at hand. These notes will help later when you need to ask questions.

Follow-up

Thank the interviewer for their time and verify their contact information. Ask when to expect a follow-up or when you should follow up.

Following these simple steps will help ease your next phone interview and give your interviewer the best impression possible. Do you have any other helpful phone interview tips? Comment back on this post and let us know!