Phone Interview Tips

Long gone are the days when virtually every job candidate was granted 30 – 60 minutes with the HR Manager to discuss possible employment opportunities. In today's economic environment with a scarcity of available resources and funds, telephone interviews are used not only to rule out inferior or unqualified candidates, but to conduct follow up interviews as well. It's not unheard of for a company to wait until the third interview to finally appropriate a significant amount of time for a personal meeting.

Some companies have even reached the level of "tech savviness" where they use web cams combined with internet based IM systems (Yahoo, AOL, etc.) providing a phenomenal opportunity to exchange files between company and applicant. This method is very popular with professions that typically request backup documentation, samples of work (photography, blueprints, writing, etc.) and can even be used to present job offers and benefit packages.

When you are asked to schedule a phone interview, though, don't think you're being let off easy! A telephone interview is no less important than the in person variety. This is not meant to be a casual conversation or a friendly chat. This is the real thing.

Here are some simple but important phone interview tips to remember before scheduling any telephone interview. Each and every point below needs to be adhered to or you could find yourself in the unemployment line longer than you envisioned.

• When the call comes in to arrange the interview, make certain you know which job they are talking about! Too many job seekers don't keep track of the jobs they apply to and end up trying to interview for the wrong position! It's OK to ask the caller which position they are talking about if you have any doubt at all.

• Add this appointment to your calendar. It's amazing how many people forget to remember! As a business owner, I have personally scheduled hundreds of telephone interviews over the years and it never ceased to amaze me how many people were caught off guard when the phone rang.

• Make certain you understand who is supposed to call whom.

• Schedule a time when you know it will be interruption free. You can't have a productive phone interview during a timeframe when you know the dog will be barking for his afternoon walk, the kids will come running in from school, or everyone is gathering in the kitchen waiting for dinner.

• Remember – this is a real interview. Be prepared to have a detailed discussion of your background and experience as it relates to this particular opening.

• Research the company if you haven't done it already. You still need to sound interested and be able to handle an intelligent conversation about their products and services.

• Watch your tone of voice and manner of speech. I don't want to sound like your mother here, but it's human nature to be more casual on the phone than sitting in front of someone who is dressed in a suit and staring back at you. On the other hand, don't be too formal. You might come off as stuffy.

• Get dressed! You'll feel better and function better than sitting around in your jammies.

• Sit up straight, at a table, with a pad of paper and a pen to take notes, and any documentation you need to get you through the conversation. Don't stretch out on the couch, in the back yard, or even on your bed, during the interview.

• Have your resume in front of you so you can reference it if necessary.

• If you plan on using a cordless phone or a cell phone, make certain it is fully charged. You don't want to get cut off just as you hear, "So, when can you…."

• Whatever you do…do not use the bathroom while you're on the phone! There is nothing more disturbing to an interviewer than hearing a toilet flush in the background! Too much info, too many visuals.

• At the end of the interview make sure you understand what the next step will be. If you are told, "We'll be in touch", ask when that might be. If the only thing you hear is something like, "Thank you for your time", again, ask what the next step will be. Even though this sounds like a brush off, many times it's not.

• No matter what, ask if it's OK to follow up with the person who called by perhaps email. I love email simply because you aren't putting someone on the spot. The interviewer can read your question or comment and think about a proper response.

• Send a thank you note via email (if possible) within a few hours. This serves two purposes. It's always in your best interest to thank someone for their time and interest, and reiterate how qualified and interested you are in the position (even if you're not!). The email also provides the opportunity to open an ongoing dialogue with you and the interviewer; a nice way to further build rapport.

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