Phone interview is usually the first direct contact with a potential employer.
This call is clearly a tool for hiring managers to shortlist the candidate list even further
from the resume screening.
Only the candidates with a potential fit will make it to the face to face interviews, that’s
why you should take your telephone interview seriously, because this is your key to a potential
future role that you have applied for.
I am Marat from EMMOTION (myemmotion.com), Human Resources and Recruitment Agency.
Look me up on LinkedIn.
I’ve been doing Recruitment for over 10 years and I’d like to share a few tips to
help you improve your phone interview skills.
The recruiter wants to know if you are a match for the job based on your skills and capabilities.
But even if you have outstanding qualifications and years of experience in the field, you
can’t guarantee your success unless you prepare.
These are my 6 phone interview tips to ace your interview and get hired faster.
Before I proceed further I would like to remind you to subscribe to my channel below, and
hitting the little bell so you won’t miss out my content, to continue your professional
and personal growth.
And if you stick with me until the end of this video I will also share the phone interview
red flags, the “dos and don´ts”.
Tip #1.
Be enthusiastic and smile The tone of your voice is so important.
There are no visual clues over the phone so remember that your communication is a key.
Smiling will change it and will make you sound more positive and energetic, it will also
makes you feel more confident and enthusiastic.
Standing up is also helpful during a phone interview, since it gives your voice an upbeat
and entertaining tone.
Your voice will keep your interviewer more engaged.
I have other Body Language Tips video, check it out to boost your confidence through the
job interview process.
#2.
Use all the advantages that the phone interview offers
Be properly ready for the call.
The phone interview allows you to have all the necessary information in front of you
and the interviewer wouldn’t know.
Prepare your CV, the job description, all your notes about the company and your responses
to job interview questions.
#3.
Get your answers ready to common interview questions
Have your answers ready for usual job interview questions.
Typical questions like “Tell Me About Yourself”, “Why do you want to work for us?”, “Why
Should We Hire You?”, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”, “What is your salary
range?”
etc. can be asked for sure.
If you are unsure what to reply, some of my other videos might help.
Having the job description, your notes and answers is very helpful, but keep it to the
minimum and easily accessible.
It shouldn’t distract you from the phone conversation.
The telephone interview will flow easier if you are not constantly pausing and desperately
searching for the note you wrote.
#4.
Listen carefully and don’t interrupt
Don’t interrupt the interviewer and wait until they finish.
Active listening enables you to connect with the interviewer and hear what is really being
said.
This call is not about you, concentrate and listen to what the recruiter is saying and
ideally take notes.
Many make the mistake of not retaining anything of what the recruiters say due to being very
nervous or anxious to speak.
Remember that the recruiter can give you a lot of information about the job and the company,
some of it crucial to adapting your answers properly.
A short pause after questions gives you a chance to think about what you’re going
to say rather than just rattling off whatever comes to your mind.
Don’t feel uncomfortable to ask for clarification if you're not sure what is being asked.
#5.
Keep your answers short and concise Be brief and to the point.
The more you talk, the more chances of losing the interviewers attention you face.
Listen to the questions and structure your answers so that they are clear and concise.
Don’t ramble, Speak with confidence.
If there is a moment of silence the interviewer is probably writing down what you are saying,
certainly not waiting for you to speak non-stop!
#6 Ask questions and for the next steps
Prepare a few questions for a hiring manager and ask those.
It could be anything that genuinely interests you and that is related to the company or
the role.
Also ask what is the next step in the hiring process and offer to provide any additional
information before saying goodbye.
A few red flags to avoid!
Don't eat, chew gum or smoke during your call.
Don’t talk about money or starting dates unless you are asked about it.
Don’t be rude or negative with your responses.
It might sound obvious but you wouldn’t believe how many candidates ruin their chances
by coming across unpleasant, irritated or rude on the phone.
Try using the recruiter’s name during the call, after they introduce themselves.
This will show that you are professional and observant.
Your goal is to set up a face-to-face interview.
At the end of your conversation, after you thank the interviewer for their time and let
them know that it would be a pleasure to meet them in person.
A lot of times, you are immediately asked about your availability for a face to face
interview, which is always a good sign.
Thank you for watching, for more professional and personal growth tips, subscribe below.