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Telephone interviews are different than live interviews and require different strategies for the job-seeker to be successful. When I ask new coaching clients to assess their interview technique, they never distinguish between phone and live interviews. Many clients don’t even realize that brief phone interactions are mini-interviews. When a long phone call is scheduled, some of my clients refer to it as a “screen.” They say this as if this is something different or even less than an interview.
Make no mistake: telephone interactions are actual interviews. Many times you can’t get invited for a live interview without passing muster by phone first. Here are some telephone-specific interview tips:
Stand up. You lose a lot of expressiveness on the telephone, so it’s harder to come across as enthusiastic and energetic. But an interview is precisely the time when you want to demonstrate enthusiasm. Therefore you need to work that much harder to get energy into your voice. Standing up helps keep you at attention.
Suit up. Without the corporate office and direct interviewer contact, you may forget you are in a business situation and start slouching in your chair and getting too conversational and casual with your speaking. Wear a suit to keep yourself professional.
Stock up. Prepare your resume, interview questions, pen and paper, a glass of water, and anything you think you might need for the interview. You do not want the interviewer to hear the refrigerator door opening or the clinking of glasses to detract from what you are saying.
Follow-up. Just as with any interview, send a prompt thank you. Since you can’t trade business cards like in a live interview, make sure you save any correspondence leading up to the phone interview, so you have at least the person’s name and email. If an assistant sets up the interview, call the assistant to get the interviewer’s name, title, mailing address, and email. Don’t forget to thank the assistant as well!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caroline Ceniza-Levine helps people find fulfilling jobs and careers, as the co-founder of SixFigureStart®, career coaching by former Fortune 500 recruiters. Caroline has recruited talent for leading financial services, consulting, media, pharmaceutical/ healthcare, and technology companies. She is the co-author (along with Donald Trump, Jack Canfield, and others) of the best-selling “How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times” 2010; Two Harbors Press. Visit http://sixfigurestart.com/ to sign up for the free e-newsletter with career tips and invites to free teleclasses.
