How To Be Impressive On The Phone Interview

Phone interviews are often a cost-effective way for employers to begin their screening process. Either as an initial conversation with an out of state candidate or as a way to get the process started, phone interviews are becoming more and more popular.

Phone interviews typically run anywhere from 30-60 minutes and are an important opportunity to make an impression with the client.

Use the right phone: It is always best to use a landline when doing a phone interview. If you must use a cell phone, locate a quiet area ahead of time, and make a test call to your recruiter to ensure the line is clear.

Be serious: The phone interview is usually your first interaction with the client, so be sure to take it even more seriously as you would do for a face-to-face interview. Because it is over the phone, you need to make an extra effort to capture the interviewers attention by focusing on the conversation.

Don’t be deceived by the "casualness" of a phone interview. This interview will usually determine your chances for a face-to-face meeting, so make sure you limit background noise and don't let yourself get distracted by your surroundings.

Do your research: Visit the company's website to familiarize yourself with the firm's history, services, or products.

Hold your information: Be prepared. You should have a copy of your resume as well as the job description in front of you so you are looking at the same thing the interviewer is.

Be prepared: Take a few notes beforehand about the skills, experiences, and achievements that you want to talk about in the interview.

Finish on a positive note: At the end of the conversation be sure to thank the interviewer for their time, and let them know you are interested in the position and looking forward to the next step.

Get in touch with your recruiter: Immediately after you finish the interview take the time to debrief your recruiter before the client does. This will give your recruiter the insight on how to best handle the next step in the process.