In most cases, telephone interviews are very important to employers in “pre-screening” the most appropriate applicants for the job. The selected ones will then be offered a personal interview; However, there are some cases when an interview is performed on the phone. Whether or not you are pre-selected or asked to an interview, you should prepare better if you are in a personal interview (such as a phone one) than in a regular one. Here are some tips that may help you succeed in a phone interview.
1. Know which zone gives you best comfort. Many people are well-performed in such a quite room; in contrast, the rest would rather pace around. If you are just interested in sitting still, the perfect choice for you is to be in a room freely from being bothered. In case walking and talking is your style, a prepared route should be put under careful considerations. This will be a help in ensuring that no outside noise or unwelcomed distractions such as sirens can appear. Make certain that the walk is totally fresh and leisure so that your breath maintains calm.
2. Smile. Pessimistic or strained attitude can be easily revealed through a phone call. Before the interview, relax yourself with some minutes of listening to a favorite song or enjoying a funny video on YouTube. Being in a good mood is of great importance.
3. Set call waiting in disable mode. In case you cannot disable call waiting, you must ignore if there is someone calling you.
4. Be well-dressed. Facts have shown that if you look best dressed in at least business casual attire, it will create such a great difference in your capacity of concentrating on the interview. Putting on the appropriate clothes and having a serious approach to the call is a good way that makes your behavior become professional no matter how your surroundings are.
5. If the call is made on a cell phone, ensure that it is not windy nearby. The noise of wind may avert you from clearly hearing the questions and the interviewers may find it much more difficult to get your answers.
6. Chewing gum, cigarettes, food or other stuffs are not advised to be used. They can butt in vocal chords while the interview is in progress.
7. Listen. If there is no visual communication during a personal interview, it will be very difficult to know what time is best to stop talking. If you are too nervous and your blood flows too fast, the mistake of over-saying is easily apparent. Be certain that you speak slowly and clearly. As soon as you have finished answering all the questions, feel fine with such probably inconvenient moment of silence. Accordingly, the interviewer can see that you are done, and then they will continue to ask. You should listen and be patient to wait for them, and afterwards, fulfill their wonders, and then proceed. It is advised that you note down some key points of each question.
8. Stand up. A stretch of your body will help you relax with a full strength of your lungs. Accordingly, you can speak more accurately and powerfully.
9. Practice makes perfect. In all cases, practicing before the real interview offers you better preparations for the popular interview questions. Do not forget to “act in practice as you will in the game”. You can see a big difference.
10. If you wear earrings, they should be put off before the phone call. A lot of people get used to adjusting the phone’s headset while the call is on. It is likelihood that such earrings will rub up against the phone; an awful and bothering noise can be created for those who are now on the call.
11. No speaker phone.
12. Do not forget to ask for the names of your interviewers. And then, remember to give them a polite thank you.