Preparing For A Phone Interview

The world could easily be divided into two types of people. Those who love the phone and those who don’t. What? Yes, there are actually people who can handle anyone and anything as long as it’s face to face. But over the phone, they start sweating and wishing they could hang up. Now imagine if such a person had to face an interview on the phone?

Also, even if you do fall into the other category of people who love the telephone, this article will still provide you with some important pointers to face during a phone interview. So read on my friend, and don’t despair. Help is at hand.

• Keeping resume at hand – In the earlier days when there was a single land phone, which was basically kept in one place, it was easier to locate it when it rang. Now, with cell phones ringing on and off, and you never know when the prospective employer will call you, it’s a good idea to keep your resume some place where it can be located easily when you get a call. Keep it right in front of you.
• Asking questions – You may have a number of questions in your head about the organization but you freeze up when you’re on a call? Or simply forget? Write down a list of questions that you want to ask and paste it somewhere prominent like on the door of your bureau or refrigerator so you can reach it easily.
• Notepad ready – It’s almost like your worst nightmare come true. The pen won’t work, there is no paper to start with, so how will you note down some of the important stuff the interviewer is saying? Unless you’re prepared beforehand, it will never work. Keep a notepad ready and remember to have a pen that works or better still, a few sharpened pencils.
• Be serious – That goes without saying you might think, but then it’s not necessarily true. Some people tend to relax on the phone subconsciously, thinking that they’re not providing visual cues. But your tone of voice and pauses could signify much more to the interviewer than you want to display.
• Talk slowly – Enunciate each word clearly. It’s not that difficult. Practice before a mirror if you think there’s a chance you talk too fast. Another good idea would be to record your conversation over the phone as most cell phones have the technology to help you do it. You could also try a mock phone interview with a friend, record it, and then see for yourself how you perform.
• Belie your nervousness – You might well be a mass of quivering nerves but the best part of a phone interview is that the interviewer doesn’t get to see it. So, try to convey a calm outlook through your voice which will be your only aid at this time. Your voice is your friend and try to make sure it doesn’t betray you by stammering.
• Sum up – During a phone interview it’s easy to forget that you wanted to emphasize on certain aspects of your experience. So make sure you jot down these important pointers on a paper and tell them to the interviewer at a suitable time.

Phone interviews are often popular because it’s an easier method for employers to touch base with you and see whether you fit the bill, or even to let you progress to a face to face meeting. So it’s important to crack them. And if you follow the tips outlined above, you can do it in a snap.

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