It’s
crucial to impress an employer during an interview. You’ll arrive in polished clothes, greet the interviewer
with a firm handshake, and hand him or her your perfected resume. However, if you’re scheduled for a
phone interview, it eliminates the physical interaction. How will you make a good impression
now? Although phone interviews may
seem informal, you’ll be at the relaxation of your own home. Here are some tips to ace your phone
interview and impress your potential employer:
Keep notes in front of
you. You should always do your
homework and learn about the background of the company you applied for. Luckily, you will be able to keep that
information out in front of you as a “cheat sheet” during the interview. Other notes to have available may
include: concerns you may have, answers to common questions or key points to
mention.
Speak clearly. Since the interviewer cannot see you, he or
she will be concentrating on your communication skills. It’s important to speak slowly,
pronounce words correctly and avoid fillers such as “um” and “like” because
speaking mistakes are more evident during a phone interview. Also, speak with enthusiasm to show
personality and passion!
Focus on the
interview. Although you’ll be at the
comfort of your home, it will be easier to become distracted. Make sure your phone interview is in a
quiet environment where you receive good cell phone reception.
Listen closely. Facial expressions can indicate what an
employer is thinking of you.
However, it’s hard to sense his or her perception of you over the
phone. If you carefully listen to
the employer’s verbal responses during the interview, you may have a better
chance of knowing what he or she is thinking. For example, does he/she sound
bored? Surprised? Curious?
Contact information. Since you cannot swap business cards after
the interview, make sure you receive the employer’s alternative contact
information, such as an address or email, to send a follow-up. Also, make sure he or she has all of
your contact information too.
This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Kimberly Leung.
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