Phone Interviews 101

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.