"Politeness is the rule of law as far as phone interview etiquette is concerned."
Phone Interview Etiquette - 18 Tips to Successful Phone Interviewing
Phone interview etiquette is all about your behavior at the time of the phone interview. Such phone interviews come along when the recruiters have initially screened your application along with your resume. These phone interviews are meant to find out whether you are as good as you have claimed to be in your resume. They will look for coherence and free articulation from you. So, you need a set of helpful tips to get habituated to the phone interview etiquette that will make you come out successfully from the interview.
Tips for Phone Interview Etiquette
You have to keep your phone free from receiving other calls. Unimportant calls should be ignored and other calls should be directed to other phones. Your telephone instrument should be able to receive the call without any hitch or disturbance. You have to ensure that the call from the interviewer is responded at the first attempt itself. It is not etiquette when interviewer is forced to try your number again and again. You may as well lose the interview chance.
It is imperative and crucial that you only respond to the call from the interviewer. The phone interview is meant for you.
All background noises should be avoided and phone area should be free from any disturbance.
Keep copies of the resume, application, and other relevant material handy for reference. The phone interview etiquette demands that you do not waste interviewer's time by endlessly resorting to searching for relevant papers to answer questions.
You have to keep track of what the interviewer says. You should be able to recall earlier queries to answer subsequent questions. A notepad and a pen should be kept handy so that you can immediately scribble briefly for later reference.
Do not confuse the interviewer with your perplexing talk and aimless banter. You should be able to articulate your viewpoints as clearly as possible. The interviewer will only be interested in listening to you as long as possible. Realize that you are being assessed for your eloquence and comprehension while you are putting across your views.
Never go for overkill when given an opportunity to talk freely. Do not boast about the things that you know. Do not bluff about things that you do not know. Remember that the interviewer can be an expert in human psychology and can clearly see through what you are saying. Do not create embarrassing situations for yourself.
Keep your tone pleasant and audible. Politeness is the rule of law as far as phone interview etiquette is concerned.
Address the interviewer in formal terms only. Listen carefully when the interviewer introduces himself (or herself) to you. Address the interviewer with proper salutation. If you are asked to be informal, then address them accordingly.
Think before you answer queries from the interviewer. If you commit a mistake, then it will be hard to take back that word. Do not tie yourself up in knots trying to justify a wrong answer with some more wrongs. Let the wrong pass and try and make up with other queries.
You can expect to be asked about your suitability for the job. Just state in a matter of fact manner your accomplishments and expertise in the field. Do not boast about yourself. It reflects badly on you.
You can also be asked about your strengths and weaknesses. Say relevant things about these qualities. Do not add strengths to your personality at the time of the phone interview, you can easily be exposed. Certain weaknesses can be admitted safely that are minor in nature. You are expected to admit at least some weaknesses, because these are all existent in every human being.
Do not make the interviewer to answer your questions. Role reversals are not allowed in any type of interviews.
Do not joke with the interviewer. You are not in for a game at the playground. This is serious business and so keep the atmosphere formal and businesslike.
Do not keep any stuff in your mouth. Do not munch, do not chew, and do not drink.
Do not smoke while attending phone interview. It distracts your attention. Wheezing sounds may create unpleasant noise to the interviewer. It may induce unnecessary cough that will disturb the smooth rhythm.
Try and avoid sneezing as best as you can. If it was inevitable, apologize immediately to the interviewer. Never blow your nose when the interview is still live, and never clear your nose noisily when the interview is still on.
Do not forget to thank the interviewer for the time he or she could allocate for this phone interview. You may as well follow it up with a formal 'thank you' letter to the office.
