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Career Directions, 4/e
Donna J. Yena, Johnson & Wales University


How to Nail the Phone Interview

by Karine Blackett

The first phase of the interview process often takes place over the telephone. Your ability to make it to the next round of the interview process depends upon how well you prepare for this interview and carry it off. There are several things you can do to ensure the success of your phone interview.

Prior to the Phone Interview

  • Remember to communicate professionally even when you are emailing with the prospective employer.  The following is an example of an email message to a prospective employer:


    Dear Mr. Bruce,

    I received your message regarding my application and I am very interested in scheduling the phone interview with you as the next step. To answer your question, some of the times that work for my schedule are: Monday through Friday, any time from 10 am to 2 pm (ET). Also, any day of the week after 7 pm (ET). I look forward to hearing from you and visiting more about the marketing position.

    Thank you for contacting me.

    Sincerely,

    Your name
    Your phone number
    Your email address


  • You need to confirm who is going to make the call and confirm the time zone for the appointment.
  • Make certain you find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted during the interview.  If necessary, take your cell phone to your parked vehicle. A coffee shop is not a good idea.
  • Bring the following with you for the interview:
    • Your résumé or vitae. This is so that you can quickly refer to your employment history and skills during the interview.
    • Your questions for the interviewer, written down so that you can refer to them if necessary.
    • A pen and pad to write down information.
    • A glass or bottle of water to drink.
  • Take a few minutes before the phone call to breathe and to visualize a successful interview.
  • Have a friend conduct a mock interview with you via the phone a few days before your actual interview so you are in your comfort zone for the real thing.

During the Interview

  • The interviewer will introduce himself/herself. You may need to ask the interviewer to spell his/her name and provide the correct title. You need this information for the follow-up correspondence.
  • Use your listening skills. Make certain you use examples to answer the questions; in other words, “prove it.”
  • Do not give lengthy answers. Keep all answers less than 2 minutes in length.
  • Do not interrupt the interviewer. If you accidentally do this, apologize and ask the interviewer to please continue.
  • Write your questions down so you can ask them later in the interview.
  • Use your best telephone skills:
  • Remember to speak slower than normal and speak clearly.
  • It has been shown that when people smile on the phone it comes across to the listener. So remember to smile!
  • Stand if you can, your voice will have better resonance.
  • Match your voice to your enthusiasm.
  • Do ask questions.

At the end of the interview

  • Remember to thank the interviewer.
  • Find a way to “ASK FOR THE JOB!” For example, “I want you to know that after visiting with you today, I am even more interested in this position and I want this job!”
  • Ask what the next step is in the selection process or let the interviewer know you are interested in the next step.

After the Interview

  • That day, e-mail a thank you note to the interviewer (or your contact person if this was a group interview). This is very important.
  • Follow this up with a snail mail (hard copy) thank you to the interviewer, if you have an actual address. This way you will once again be fresh in their minds when they are interviewing others, or making the decision to hire. 
  • The Thank You is your networking tool; use it.

 
Here are other Web sites for interviewing tips:

Consider posting your résumé and searching for jobs on these sites.