Have you ever wondered what you need to do to conduct a successful telephone interview? The following are 10 tips you can use to outperform your competitors and move that much closer to receiving your dream offer.
1. Choose a location that provides minimal noise disturbance. In situations where this is not possible, reduce negative fallout by mentioning potential interruptions at the onset of the appointment.
2. Carefully review the job posting and for each performance requirement, identify one achievement you accomplished for a previous employer and present it during the interview using the STAR method (i.e. situation, task, action, and result).
3. Identify two or three questions you can ask the interviewer that demonstrates your understanding of the industry as well as your competency.
4. Research the company and their industry and be prepared to strategically reinforce your interview responses with information you gleaned during your research. Further, if possible discover who will conduct your interview ahead of time and learn as much about them as you can. Great sources of information are company blogs, Twitter feeds, and even LinkedIn profiles!
5. Draft your thank you letter in advance and plan to send it immediately after the interview concludes. Be sure to insert a sentence or two regarding a topic you discussed during the call.
6. Dress for the interview as if it is being done in person. This will mentally prepare you to conduct yourself professionally and position you to advance to the next stage of the process.
7. Do not consume any food, candy, or gum during your phone interview. This is extremely unprofessional as well as distracting.
8. If it can be avoided, try not to conduct the interview when you are ill as you only have one opportunity to present a good first impression.
9. Do not schedule the phone interview to occur during your commute time. If possible, schedule it when you have access to a landline phone. Otherwise, be sure to be stationary and somewhere where your cell phone has optimal coverage.
10. Consider investing in an interview coaching session to fully prepare for your phone interview. Recruiters and hiring managers frequently use these to whittle down the applicant pile to a more manageable number.
11. Bonus Tip: Offer to conduct your interview via Skype. Even if the interviewer declines, you will quickly differentiate yourself from your competitors by emphasizing your willingness to utilize video conferencing capabilities.
What other suggestions do you have? What differences have you experienced when preparing for a traditional interview versus a telephone interview? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
Article originally printed on Examiner.com by Margi Williams
Image credit: Gettys Photo on Examiner.com
1. Choose a location that provides minimal noise disturbance. In situations where this is not possible, reduce negative fallout by mentioning potential interruptions at the onset of the appointment.
2. Carefully review the job posting and for each performance requirement, identify one achievement you accomplished for a previous employer and present it during the interview using the STAR method (i.e. situation, task, action, and result).
3. Identify two or three questions you can ask the interviewer that demonstrates your understanding of the industry as well as your competency.
4. Research the company and their industry and be prepared to strategically reinforce your interview responses with information you gleaned during your research. Further, if possible discover who will conduct your interview ahead of time and learn as much about them as you can. Great sources of information are company blogs, Twitter feeds, and even LinkedIn profiles!
5. Draft your thank you letter in advance and plan to send it immediately after the interview concludes. Be sure to insert a sentence or two regarding a topic you discussed during the call.
6. Dress for the interview as if it is being done in person. This will mentally prepare you to conduct yourself professionally and position you to advance to the next stage of the process.
7. Do not consume any food, candy, or gum during your phone interview. This is extremely unprofessional as well as distracting.
8. If it can be avoided, try not to conduct the interview when you are ill as you only have one opportunity to present a good first impression.
9. Do not schedule the phone interview to occur during your commute time. If possible, schedule it when you have access to a landline phone. Otherwise, be sure to be stationary and somewhere where your cell phone has optimal coverage.
10. Consider investing in an interview coaching session to fully prepare for your phone interview. Recruiters and hiring managers frequently use these to whittle down the applicant pile to a more manageable number.
11. Bonus Tip: Offer to conduct your interview via Skype. Even if the interviewer declines, you will quickly differentiate yourself from your competitors by emphasizing your willingness to utilize video conferencing capabilities.
What other suggestions do you have? What differences have you experienced when preparing for a traditional interview versus a telephone interview? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
Article originally printed on Examiner.com by Margi Williams
Image credit: Gettys Photo on Examiner.com
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