BY PETER JONES
So you have followed all the best resume tips
and land yourself a job interview. You’re prepared to interview, you’re just
not prepared to do it on the phone.
Here are nine ways to adapt your interviewing
strategy to the phone format, without losing your cool.
1. Be ready
Sometimes you’ll be notified to schedule.
Sometimes the call will come straight out of the blue. If you’re not somewhere
where it would be convenient or possible for you to chat, ask the interviewer
if it would be possible to fin! d a mutually suitable time. If not, don’t
panic: You can do it. Once you’ve applied for a job — any job, make sure you
start mentally preparing for the interview in case you find yourself thrown
into one just by picking up the phone.
2. Be organized
Have a copy of the job description and
whatever information you’ve gathered about the company at your fingertips
before the call begins. While you’re at it, make sure to also have a copy of
your resume and your application materials as well. Otherwise, the interviewer
will be able to hear that frantic stalling and rustling around.
3. Be prepared
The phone interview is just like any other
interview. You should be well versed in your answers to common interview
questions, or questions you think will b! e likely to come up for that
particular position.
The
only difference is you’ll have to be charming without your knockout smile and
friendly face. Try compensating with more vivid answers.
And cut the rambling and verbal fillers like
"um," which will stand out more over the phone.
4. Smile
Seriously. Not only can people hear the
difference when someone is smiling over the phone, smiling will have a massive
effect on your demeanor. You’ll sound much more upbeat and confident.
Keep a mirror by the phone if you need
reminding.
5. Use the Internet
If it would be too compli cated to explain
something, or you want to be able to provide a visual! , try directing your
interviewer to your website, portfolio or LinkedIn page.
That way, you can talk them through it during
your actual interview, narrating each accomplishment for them.
6. Be easygoing
Initial interviews, par ticularly over the
phone, are not the time to start making demands or asking very particular
questions about personal time off, benefits packages or job duties. Make them
want to talk to you again; hopefully that will score you a proper faceto-face
interview where you can proceed with your usual interview protocol.
7. Be smooth
Just like in any other conversation, try and
match the tone and speed and volume of your interviewer. Ask a friend to assess
your telephone voice for you in a! dvance and give you feedback.
8. Be firm
Don’t let your interviewer off the phone
without scheduling another interview. Or the name and contact information of
someone you can be in touch with at the company to follow up.
9. Say thank you
Even though it’s a phone interview, the normal
rules apply. That means a written thank-you, emailed or handwritten. Don’t be
too pushy, but it’s always OK to subtly remind them of your strengths in your
thank-you note.
Peter Jones is a career advice journalist for
TheJobNetwork.com, where this article was originally published. He investigates
and writes about current strategies, tips and trending topics related to all
stages of one’s career.
