How to Handle a Telephone Interview

A telephone Interview is often used at the early stage of an interview process by prospective employers to form an initial impression of a candidate and decide whether or not to invite them for a Face to Face Interview.

Phone Interviews are used:

• When candidates will have to travel a long way for a Face to Face interview or live abroad.
• When an HR team need to screen candidates before sending your CV to a recruiting Manager.
• When a large numbers of candidates needed to be short listed.
• When the job involves talking to people on the telephone e.g. Telesales or Customer Services.

The most important thing to remember in phone interviewing is that you must treat it like any other One to One Interview. Here are some tips to help you when being interviewed over the phone.

Preparation is Key - Research the company and the role before the telephone interview, and think about why you would like to work for them. A prospective employer will take into account the amount of effort that a candidate has taken to prepare and research the company prior to the interview. Plan what might be asked in the interview beforehand, e.g. personal details, education, career history, experience. The interviewer will be aiming to match your skills against the job description so make sure you know what you wrote on your CV and have it in front of you throughout the call to refer back to.

Treat it like any other Face to Face Interview - A telephone interview is used to check on a candidate's telephone manner and see how they would come across to clients over the phone. Don’t discuss salary, benefits, or any negative issues you have with your current employer during an initial telephone interview. You should treat it like any other First Interview and follow the same procedures.

Smile - Even though your prospective employer can’t see you, be enthusiastic and smile over the phone. Smiling will help you to relax and make you sound more friendly and open. If you practice a mock interview with a family member of friend you will be able to hear a difference in the tone of voice when they smile.

Get Comfortable - Make sure you are comfortable and that you won't be disturbed whilst on the telephone. Shut the door, turn off the radio, television and your mobile, put children and pets in another room and make sure you will not be disturbed. If the interviewer calls you without prior warning, ask for their phone number and call them back once you have had a chance to collect your thoughts.

Establish a Rapport - Try to build a rapport with the interviewer. The person on the other end of the phone may be just as uncomfortable as you are. Most people do not like telephone interviews and remember it is a two way process. If you sound relaxed and interested you are more likely to be invited to the next stage of the Interview Process. Also, remember to listen as well as talk and don’t forget to make notes.

Speak Clearly and Concisely - Talk distinctly and clearly and keep your responses relevant to the question. Try not to speak too fast and speak succinctly about your past experiences and accomplishments. Remember that you do not have the advantage of interview body language so it is even harder to impress your interviewer on the phone than it is in person.

End on a positive note - At the end of the phone interview, thank the interviewer for giving you the opportunity to speak to them and thank them for their time. Don't be afraid to ask what the next stage is and ask when you will get feedback.