How to Prepare for a Phone Interview

Now that you have written a resume and got a call back, it is time for the interview! A lot of companies are doing phone interviews instead of in-person ones for health and safety reasons. Some jobs even have a phone interview to determine whether or not you will qualify for an in-person interview. It is important that you take the proper steps so that you can make the phone interview go as smoothly as possible!

What to do Before the Phone Interview:

1. Understand the position and the company

You want to show that you are a knowledgeable applicant so that when you are asked to bring value to a company you can do so more effectively. You should research the company online through social media platforms, search engines, etc., so that you can see what the company is all about. You also want to show how valuable of an asset you will be if brought onto the team and this knowledge could impress your potential employer.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

You will want to be confident when going into the phone interview. A good technique is to practice commonly asked interview questions so that you know what you will say. You will be able to have concise and impressive answers while not seeming nervous. If practicing to yourself doesn’t make you feel confident you can try rehearsing with a friend/family member or something you find around the home like a broom or a pillow. Make sure your tone and delivery are spot on!

During the Interview:

1. Turn Off Notifications on Your Phone

You want to make sure you are in a quiet and uninterrupted area in the physical world, but what about your phone? If you can’t turn off notifications all together for whatever reason, then you will need to silence your phone so that the interview is not interrupted by message notifications.

2. Get Your Paperwork Ready

You will want to make sure that you have your pre-interview notes (about the company, guidelines to your answers for commonly asked questions, etc.) as well as your resume. These will make it easier for you to reference what you practiced to say as well as what your employer is referencing when it comes to your resume.

3. Concise and Confident Answers

Just how you were concise in your resume, you also want to be straight to the point with your answers. Keep your responses short around one to two minutes. This will make it so that you stay on track and don’t start rambling out of nervousness. Not only should you be mindful of how long your responses are, you also want to be aware of how your tone is. You want to come off as eager to start the position. If you speak in a monotone voice it can lead your potential employer to believing that you are not excited to get on board. Make sure you don’t sound too enthusiastic to the point that it sounds fake. You should have your personality shine through in a professional manner.

4. Take Notes Along the Way

You want to see what questions they are asking as well as what key points they mention. These little pieces of information can help you later on if you are selected for a second in-person interview or if you start the job.

Overall

It can be a very stressful time trying to secure your next career position. However, it is important to properly prepare so that when your time does come along you will be able to handle the interviews with confidence. Take your time, prepare, and you will be able to ace your interview!