5 Tips for an Interview over the Phone

One of the best feelings in the world is being asked for an interview on the phone for a job that you have always wanted. In this post, we will discuss the 5 best tips for an interview over the phone.

You put in so much work on the application- carefully editing your resume, crafting the perfect cover letter, compiling relevant writing samples, and filling in endless forms- that it is highly rewarding when you are selected for the interview. But once the excitement dies down, the panic starts to build up.

You start worrying about what you are going to say, how you will answer certain questions, and whether you will be able to impress the interviewer. Don’t worry if that is the case, as we have put together some helpful tips for your next phone interview.

Let’s understand this by reading further 5 best Tips for an Interview over the Phone:

First of all, you need to get all the necessary details. Jot down the date and time for the interview so that you don’t forget.

Ask who you will be speaking to so that you don’t have to try to figure that out during the interview awkwardly.

If you have any doubts at all, don’t hesitate to write an email about it to get clarity. Having all the relevant information will help reduce the anxiety you might be feeling for the interview.

Do the Proper Research

Treat it like a normal job interview and do thorough research on the company and the job position they are trying to fill. The secret to acing an interview is preparation.

It’s essential to carefully go through the job description so that you can tailor your answers according to their requirements.

The most common mistake people do is taking a phone interview lightly. They realize that they have messed up when they find themselves sputtering and unable to answer simple questions coherently. Remember, preparation is always essential.

Practice Your Responses

After preparedness, the second most important thing is practice. After you have prepared answers for the most likely questions that you will face in the interview, practice them by speaking them aloud to yourself.

For this exercise, you can also call a friend to have a mock interview. Speaking on the phone is not the same as speaking face-to-face, so practicing with a friend to make sure that you are properly delivering the answers will be very useful.

The mock phone interview will also help with your nerves. Your friend can give you feedback, and you can improve your responses.

Make a Cheat Sheet

The most significant advantage of a phone interview is that all the essential information isn’t only in your head. You can have a paper with all your responses right in front of you, and the interviewer will have no idea.

In case you freeze at any point in the interview, you can simply glance down and get right on track. But it is also important to not get too lazy and start to read off the paper simply.

Your tone would get monotonous, and the interviewer would realize that you are simply reading something out instead of actually responding to their questions.

Be Prepared with a Number

Be ready with the number that you are going to give when the interviewer asks you how much salary you expect. You do not want to be unprepared and stumped when they pop that question.

Conclusion

You could end up aiming too low or too high, neither of which would be good for you. Do your research in advance and be prepared with your answer.

What has been your experience so far with phone interviews? How did you prepare for them? Let us know in the comment section below.

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