"It all depends on the proper impression that you manage to create in the phone job interview."
Phone Job Interview Tips and Techniques
Phone job interviews are resorted to as a cost-effective method for initial screening of job applicants before they decide to spend hours for actual job interviews for the successful phone-interviewed candidates. This way they do not only save time, they can also select right candidates for the actual job interviews. This tells you something. You obviously want to come out of phone job interview with flying colors. So, you need to develop expertise in successfully facing job interview by phone.
But one of the drawbacks of a phone job interview is that the interviewer cannot see how well you are attired or what body language you have for the phone interview. What all they can do is to listen to your voice and the force with which you answer their questions. They can easily assess your confidence level. The only advantage that you will have in a phone job interview is that you need not drag yourself to their office to attend the interview.
Phone Job Interview Tips and Techniques
The most significant thing to bear in mind is that you are putting efforts towards achieving your personal goal of crossing this initial hurdle and arrive at the main face-to-face interview at the prospective employer's office. It all depends on the proper impression that you manage to create in the phone job interview.
The following are some useful phone job interview tips and techniques that should be of help to you.
In the absence of any eye contact with your interviewer, you have to make up with assertiveness and exuding enthusiasm. Your interest in the job should be reflected in your tête-à-tête with the interviewer. But you have to avoid talking fast. The interviewer should be able to understand what you are saying.
Remember that your goal is to hard sell your talents and skills. Note down all past achievements and accomplishments and narrate them in a concise manner when the interviewer provides an opportunity to you during the course of the phone interview.
Keep yourself ready with right answers for obvious questions such as:
Why you want to change your present job?
How you consider yourself suitable for this job?
How your skills are useful for the company?
What are your past accomplishments?
How can you achieve balance between your ambitions and leadership?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What is your assessment of the company?
etc. The company details can be had from their website, or from some trade association.
If you want to get the hang of what the phone job interview is all about, practice hard, do rehearsals, perfect your diction, fine tune your voice level, balance your flow of talk with an occasional pause for effect, and inculcate the habit of adding pleasant smile to your conversation.
Choose a comfortable place in your house and ensure that they will be no disturbances, noises, or interruptions during the phone interview. Remember to avoid chewing, drinking, or munching during the interview period. Give a pause for smoking, or better yet don't smoke at all. Avoid coughing and sneezing also.
Do not try to say something in between silences between you and the interviewer. Aimless chat will create problems for you. Let the interviewer resume the conversation.
Keep a check list of all you would want to say when asked by interviewer. It will ensure full exposure of your talent and knowledge.
It is better to talk in your normal accent only. Do not try a new accent for the interview.
Stay fully focused during the entire interview. Do not allow any distractions. Ensure that you do not miss even a single word of the interviewer.
Do not assume that the interview has ended until confirmed by the interviewer. And do not forget to thank the interviewer for the gesture.
