October 8, 2021

It’s common these days to schedule a phone interview. This might be the only form of interview you need to attend or could be part of an interview series. Either way, you’ll want to take all steps to do your very best job. So, what should you do? 

The best way to ace your phone interview

What’s the number one tip for doing your best? Treat your phone interview like you would an in-person interview.  

Sure, it may seem like interviewing from the comfort of home makes a phone interview less formal. But an employer or hiring manager will be taking the interview just as seriously as if you were in person. You can do your very best by following these tips: 

  1. Find a quiet place to talk. You wouldn’t want any noisy interruptions while you’re on your interview. So, to avoid this, choose a quiet part of the house where you can talk without family, children, pets or roommates bursting into the room. If you must take the interview from your car for the most peace and quiet, so be it.  
  1. Smile when you pick up the phone. You’d be surprised, but a person can hear it in your voice when you smile. So, when you receive the call and answer it, be sure to smile when you say hello. Keeping a smile on your face during the call may also help your voice to sound positive and confident.  
  1. Pause briefly after you speak. Since you can’t see the person you’re speaking with, you won’t have the nonverbal cues you’d normally have. So be sure to pause briefly after you speak to give your interviewer a chance to say something if they need to.  
  1. Research the company beforehand. Just like any interview, do your homework first. Visit the company’s website, read through the job qualifications and duties, and make sure you understand why you want to work for them and why you want this job in particular. And while you’re doing your research, look up the answers to common interview questions, so you have your answers ready to go!  
  1. Have a short list of questions ready. Always ask questions during an interview. If you’re not sure what to ask, Google the topic. Not only does it show you’re invested in the job, it also helps you gather information to decide if the job is right for you.  
  1. Have your charger nearby. It would be very embarrassing to lose power in the middle of your interview. Be sure your phone is charged up, and if your battery is old, have your charger nearby in case you need it.  
  1. Have water nearby. Most people get nervous, and their mouth gets dry during an interview. Have a bottle of water nearby so you can take sips if you need to.  

Ready to go?

By following these tips, you’ll be perfectly prepared for your next phone interview. And if you are still in search of a new job, check out Inter-Connect. Visit our job page to learn more!  

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