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The Phone Interview
By Edward A. Denison
You just got word, e-mail or voice-mail, that you landed a job interview with a company that really interests you -- only there's a slight catch.
You won't be meeting with your interviewer(s) face to face. Instead, you'll be taking part in a phone interview, the results of which will determine whether you're invited to meet with company representatives in person.
Many companies use phone interviews as an initial employment screening technique for a variety of reasons. Because they're generally brief, phone interviews can save companies much time. They also serve as a more realistic screening alternative for cases in which companies are considering out-of-town (or out-of-province and foreign) candidates.
So the chances are pretty good that, at some point in your job hunt, you'll be asked to participate in a 20- to 30-minute phone interview with either one person or several people - conference call - on the other end of the line. In many ways, the way you prepare for a phone interview isn't all that different from the way you would get ready for a face-to-face interview -- save for a few slight additions to and modifications of your list of preparation tasks.
Here's what to do:
Treat the phone interview seriously, just as you would a face-to-face interview.
A phone interview seems so informal on the surface that it can be easy to fall into the trap of "phoning it in" -- i.e., not preparing for it as well as you would for an in-person interview. Don't get caught with your guard down. Be sure to research the company (the Internet can help, or the business section of the main Library), study the job description, and practice your responses to anticipated questions, just as you would for any other interview.
Have your resume and cover letter in front of you
You'll almost certainly be asked about some of the information that appears on these documents. You might also want to have in front of you any supporting materials that relate to information in your resume and cover letter, like documents you've designed or written, a portfolio of your various projects, or the written position descriptions from your past positions.
Also have in front of you a large scratch pad and several pens, that work. You will think of questions or added info. as you are listening in phone call, but unlike a face-to-face interview, where the interviewer can pick up that you have just had a brain wave, you make not have a chance right there, and you don't want to hang up the phone and remember that you had not asked the most important question.
Make a cheat sheet
Jot down a few notes about the most critical points that you want to make with your interviewer(s). Are there certain skills and experiences you want to emphasize? Do you have certain interests or passions you want your interviewer(s) to know about and understand? Be sure these pieces of information appear on your crib sheet. Then touch on them during the interview, even if your only chance to do so is at the end of the session when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions or anything to add.
Get a high-quality phone
This isn't the time to use a cell phone that cuts in and out, or a cheaply made phone that makes it difficult for you and your interviewer(s) to hear and understand each other.
Shower, groom and dress up (at least a little)
Odd advice? Perhaps. Get on stage! Focusing on your appearance, just as you would for a normal interview, will put you in the right frame of mind from a psychological standpoint. You won't do as well in your phone interview if you're lying in bed, for example, or if you're draped over your couch in your pyjamas, flicking the remote.
Stand up, or at least sit up straight at a table or desk
And, have a mirror propped up where you can see yourself. On it have a sticky that says "Smile". Successful tele-marketers know that having a smile on your face will produce a smile in your voice. It is one little bit of non-verbal that you can use to de-tense the situation. And once in a while, smile with your eyes. It removes the tenseness from your forehead.
Again, there's a psychological frame of mind aspect to consider here. But on a more tangible level, research has shown that you project yourself better when you're standing up, or sitting straight up and looking confident - and you'll feel more knowledgeable and confident, and will come across that way too.
Phone interviews can be tricky, especially since you aren't able to read your interviewers' nonverbal cues like facial expressions and body language during the session -- a big difference from the typical interview. But if you prepare well for your phone interview, you won't need to read anyone's non-verbal to gauge your performance. You'll know for sure how you've done because you'll be invited to a face-to-face interview, where you'll have yet another opportunity to prove you're the best person for the job.
