How to nail your phone interview! Advice from the other side of the phone
Congratulations! You submitted your resume and the company’s recruiter was so impressed that they scheduled a phone interview with you! As a recruiter with years of experience being on the other end of that call, I’m here to offer you some advice on how to impress your interviewer and potentially move on to the next step (or maybe even land an offer during your call!).
Answer the phone. Okay, this might sound logical and like I’m offering you advice that you already know. However, you would be amazed at the number of candidates that don’t answer their phone at the scheduled time. I’m human. I understand that life can be messy sometimes. If you are unable to have your phone interview at the scheduled time, reach out to your interviewer as soon as possible. By giving them a heads up, it shows them you are still interested in the opportunity and not wanting to waste their time.
Do your homework prior to the call. Google is your best friend. Research the company before your interview. Would you want to buy a house and not know anything about it before you signed on the dotted line? Why did you apply to work at that company if you know nothing about what they do? Check out their website, do they have a facebook page or an instagram account? Put on your detective hat and do some investigating before your call. Maybe you’ll find out that they are a company that is big on community service or they just had a company picnic at your favorite park. Being able to tell you interviewer a connection you have with the company (“I saw on your facebook page that your company sponsors my favorite attraction at the zoo”) shows them that you know what they are all about and serious about your application.
Set yourself up for success. Take the call in a quiet room, free of distractions. I’ve had interviews where the candidate’s dog was barking the whole time and the candidate was screaming to quiet their dog during our call. It was a big struggle to get through the interview. Make sure your phone is in working order, this is one call you don’t want to drop or accidently send straight to voicemail.
It’s a two way street. Be respectful during your call. Use language that you would use around an elderly relative (aka cursing is a BIG no-no). Think of your phone interview as a test drive. It is an opportunity for not only the interviewer to see if you’d be a good fit for the position, but an opportunity for you to see if this company aligns with your values and goals in life. Make sure you have some questions prepared to ask your interviewer to help you decide if this is the business for you.
Master these steps and you’ll be well on your way to success! Now take a deep breath, remember this is just a conversation between you and the interviewer and have fun!
