Top 9 Tips for Crushing Your Next Phone Interview

Top 9 Tips for Crushing Your Next Phone Interview You’ve made it past the initial application, and the in-person interview is on the horizon. This in-between place is the domain of the phone interview. Your resume and cover letter were deemed worthy of a call, but is your personality worth the up close and personal?A phone interview is, in some ways, a precautionary measure. It is time-consuming, and in some cases expensive, to bring someone in for a face-to-face interview. It may seem like a mere formality, but a phone interview can be a make-or-break experience.You have many advantages during this type of interview: You can dress comfortably, be more relaxed in a familiar environment, have your papers and information right in front of you without having to shuffle around, and can discreetly take notes.But, on the other hand, treating the phone interview as a light-hearted step towards getting the job is a mistake. It’s here that the hiring manager will ask specific questions about job history or projects from your past, to ens ure you are being honest in your resume and are truly qualified for the position.Job seekers should prepare for a phone interview as seriously as they do for an in-person one. A seemingly cursory phone interview is actually the most important step. If you don’t ace this step, the next steps never happen. How does one ace it?Inside Big Interview, our complete training system for job interviews, we give you video lessons, sample answers, and an interactive practice tool to help prep you for the phone interview. Watch this brief video to learn a little more about Big Interview, and click here to take a quick look at the program..embed-container{position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%}.embed-container iframe,.embed-container object,.embed-container embed{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%}1. Print Out Your ResumeYou should have a physical copy of your resume, cover letter, and any emails from the interviewer. Since this isn’ t a regular interview, in which you’d use certain non-verbal tactics, you can be free to look at your resume throughout the call, instead of studying it beforehand to recall key points.2. Use a LandlineThis may not be attainable for every candidate, but if possible, use a landline phone instead of a mobile phone. Drop-outs and bad connections, while understandable, ruin the cadence of the interview, and requests to repeat questions are frowned upon. If you can’t get yourself to a landline, be sure you’re in an area with good service. And turn off call waiting.3. Have Questions PreparedAs with any interview, you should have done your research on the company and should have a list of questions ready. As with the resume, you have the advantage of writing these questions down and having them in front of you during the call.4. Clear Out Your EnvironmentThis phone interview should be conducted in a quiet place in your home. Send the pets, kids, and other distractions out of the room . This space should be as controlled as possible, and you should have no fear of any distractions or unanticipated interruptions.5. Make TimeSet aside plenty of time for your conversation even if you expect the phone interview to be brief. Most phone interviews last 15-20 minutes, but if you end up hitting it off with the interviewer, the last thing you want to do is have to cut them off.6. SmileThis one might seem silly, but enthusiasm in your voice shines through on a call like this, and the interviewer will notice. Because you cant rely upon the facial expressions and body language that speak for you in a face-to-face interview, you have to get your personality and eagerness across with just your words and your vocal quality. A small gesture like smiling while you speak will help to communicate enthusiasm.7. Be HonestIf you’re interrupted, despite your best efforts to prevent distractions, communicate this to the interviewer and do whatever you can to return your full attentio n to the call as quickly as possible. Being honest, instead of hiding a blunder or faking attention, could earn you style points.8. Speak UpThe phone interview is usually about screening candidates and validating resumes. The questions may be easier to answer than those in an in-person interview. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be engaged in the process. You have to impress the interviewer on the phone before you get your shot at meeting a decision maker in the flesh. Thats why its important to ask questions of your own once the interviewer has gone through his. This will help you demonstrate the interest and enthusiasm that the interviewer is looking for.9. Say ThanksOf course, a thank you noteis imperative, but the difference here is the time frame. You won’t need to commute after this interview, and your thank you should come within minutes or a couple of hours, not a full day, after the interview.Your mission is to score the in-person interview, and a successful p hone call can establish a firm foundation for what could become a job offer.Connect with Pamela Skillings on Google+