Ring, ring! Our telephone interview tips

Having a conversation with a good friend on the phone is great; you know who you’re talking to and you can relax as you catch up on the latest news. It doesn’t feel weird that you can’t see them either. But, what if the person on the other end is not a close friend, but a potential employer? What do you say? And where do you find telephone interview tips to help? 

Telephone interviews, for some, are more nerve wracking than a face to face interview. It’s usually the first time you will actually speak to the employer and while it is more informal, you might rather get to know them in person. 

The employer can’t see you, but good impressions can be made with the most simple of tricks.

Tips to help you ace your telephone interview

• Act like you are sitting at an interview – It’s very easy when you’re in your own environment to pick up some of your phone habits. You do not want to lie back on the sofa or pace around the room as you try to answer questions. You’ll quickly become distracted if you are not fully alert and attentive. Sit down in a chair, upright, and forget that this is a phone interview. Conduct yourself exactly as you would in a face to face interview
• Smile – That’s right, smile at your phone! It will change your tone of voice to warm and friendly, even if you don’t realise it. The employer on the other end will notice the difference between someone who is smiling and positive to someone who isn’t.
• Prepare – A phone interview is usually a way for an employer to flesh out your CV more. Have your CV in front of you at all times, so you know exactly what they refer to with each question. Annotate it beforehand so you can determine what parts of your CV will be applicable to different sections of the job specification. Simple bullet points will do, as the conversation still has to sound natural to the employer to open up a good dialogue about your experience.                       
• A clear environment – This ties into our first point, but is more about what is around you rather than your demeanour. Turn off all distractions, right down to the TV if it’s on. Just because it’s on mute, it is so easy to get distracted by the images. Place yourself in a well-lit room, with minimal background noise, to ensure the task at hand is your only focus. Always keep mobile/Wi-Fi signal in mind, as a bad line will hold up the employer who probably has a few calls to get through. While that is not necessarily your fault, just keep it in mind as it could easily put someone off.
• Answering – The time will be set for the interview so unless you’re told otherwise, the phone call at that time will be the employer. So there might be the tiniest of chances it isn’t, but treat all calls at the specified time as the interview. Rather than ‘Hello’, state who it is speaking also.

First impressions count, even if it is over the phone. Being positive, prepared and professional will ensure a successful telephone interview that leads to the next step of the process. Good luck!

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