It is just as important to prepare for a telephone interview as it is for an in person interview. It could be more important as this determines whether or not you ever meet the employer. Following are five tips that can help you prepare for and ace the phone interview.

1. Do not take an unexpected interview – If an employer calls you and is interested in conducting a telephone interview on the spot tell them you are not in a place where you can speak in detail and schedule a later time to call them back. This will give you the time you need to get prepared for the telephone interview.

2. Find a quiet place to conduct the interview – Prior to calling back, make sure you are in a location that is quiet and where you will not be interrupted for the duration of the interview. A phone interview can last anywhere from ten minutes to an hour depending on the position and the interviewer.

3. Get Prepared – Gather everything you will need for the interview. This will include your resume, job description, an outline of your experience, skills and accomplishments as they relate to the position, information on the company you are interviewing with, a list of questions to ask the interview and a pen and paper to take notes.

4. Sound Enthusiastic about the position – You do not have the advantage of being in front of the employer, therefore you must do everything you can to appear upbeat and enthusiastic. Make sure you smile while talking to the interviewer. Even though they cannot see you it makes you come across on the phone as pleasant. Also, be sure to answer the questions directly without giving to much additional information. The goal of the phone interview is to land an in person interview.

5. Lastly, let the interviewer end the call. Thank them for their time, reiterate your interest in the position and ask what the next steps are.

The key to any interview whether in person or on the telephone is preparation. Follow the above steps and it will flow smoothly. Good luck.

Author: Theo James

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1. Research the Company

The job interviewer is very likely to ask you why you are interested in the job for which you are interviewing. If you are able to respond in a way that demonstrates an accurate understanding of the company, the researcher will likely be very impressed with you.

The fact that you took the time to learn the organization’s mission or that you have a clear understanding of the company’s primary product line sends the right message. It lets the interviewer know that you have both initiative and a genuine interest in the job.

2. Dress the Part

First impressions definitely make a difference in how an interview perceives your suitability for a particular job. If you are dressed inappropriately for a job interview, the interviewer may well subconsciously exclude you from being considered before the job before the questions even start.

Conventional wisdom regarding appropriate dress for job interviews is that you should dress as if you already have the job. It’s even better to take it a step further and dress as if you already have a job one step above the one that you are trying to get.

3. Punctuality Matters

Being on time for a job interview is crucial. One of the biggest challenges for employers is having deal with employee tardiness and absenteeism. By being late to a job interview, regardless of the reason, you are sending a message to the interviewer that you are likely to have issues with punctuality.

You should plan to arrive at the location of your job interview approximately 15 minutes early. By planning ahead and allowing some extra time, you will have enough of a cushion to deal with traffic slowdowns that might occur along the way.

4. Prepare for Common Interview Questions

There are a number of questions that most job interviewers tend to ask in interviews. Almost every interviewer is going to ask you to describe your greatest strengths and weaknesses. Employers usually ask why you are interested in the particular job for which you are interviewing. You are also likely to be asked to describe your long-term career goals.

By thinking ahead about the best way to answer these types of questions you will be better prepared to give appropriate responses.

5. Be Ready to Ask Questions of Your Own

At the end of a job interviewer, it is very common for the interviewer to conclude by asking the candidate if he or she has any questions. This is another area where you can distinguish yourself from other applicants by being prepared to ask good questions. You can always ask the interviewer when a decision will be made about the position. You can also ask for permission to follow up with the interviewer about the position. This demonstrates a genuine interest in the job.

What you shouldn’t do, particularly in a first interview, is ask questions about the amount of vacation time, holidays, the cost of health insurance, or even pay. Such discussions are more appropriate once a job offer has actually been made. Asking such questions early in the interview process is presumptuous, and sends the wrong message to the interviewer.

Author: Mary Gormandy White

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